Ashkenazi quits KTM for Yamaha.

After lengthy discussions and some disagreements, Kim Ashkenazi and Bott Motovision.com KTM are no longer together, with the Australian now attempting to complete his season aboard a Yamaha.

With four months of the year already gone and several races under his belt, the moves leaves Ashkenazi in something of a compromised state, with negotiations still in progress with several of the sponsors that accompanied him at the KTM team and no trackside technical back-up yet in place.

"I am not taking this opportunity to undermine the team, or any of those who were part of it," Ashkenazi said in a prepared statement, "All I want to say is that I busted my arse for four months and, unfortunately, did not gel with the team or the bike and therefore was struggling badly.

"After proposing a possible change within the team, my request was denied immediately, therefore making no sense to me to go further down the path I was already heading - especially when it was evident that I was going nowhere. So, in a drastic move, I have now moved to the 250cc class in the British and World Motocross Championships - pending acceptance of entries - and will be riding a Yamaha YZ 250cc for Team Motovision Racing.com

"I am still in talks with many of the team sponsors from the original team to try and continue their appreciated support and will notify everybody as soon as they are all agreed. At present agreed continued support will be coming from Motovision Racing.com, Azonic, Smith, Gaerne, Tag, One Industries, Dunlop, FINNA, Langcourt, DEP, V-Force and ARC levers. Additional support includes engine tuning and technical support from Dixon Racing and Xtreme Sports.

"For sure, I feel that It will be tough now having no permanent mechanic and no big transporter to work from. However, to be perfectly honest, I must persevere and look forward to the remaining races in the season. My apologies for those people who may be a little disappointed in my decision, but the truth is I am a man of my word and I stand up for what I believe in. This decision was only made for the intention of myself and associated sponsors progressing forward and hopefully achieving results that are expected of me."