Despite his Kove Rally 450 not clearing customs until just hours before the start of the Dakar Rally, defending W2RC Rally 2 Champ Mason Klein was Top American. In a season of firsts, including moving up to the top class and being the first person outside the KOVE RACING TEAM based in China. After crashing out of the 2023 Dakar, Klein found himself without his former KTM support ride (despite winning a Stage in Dakar and the W2RC Rally 2 title two years in a row). KOVE stepped up and Klein rewarded them with a Top 10 finish in the Prologue Stage.
Klein told KOVE he was interested in the Chinese bikes in early 2023. In July he went to Barcelona, Spain, where the KOVE RACING TEAM is headquartered, in order to learn more. By the time EICMA rolled around, KOVE USA dropped the bombshell that Klein would be running his own program with assistance from KOVE USA. With a solid year of de-bugging the 450 RALLY, Klein concludes he has confidence in the bike and the company. With Howes having his issues and Brabec conservatively finishing lucky 13th, Klein and KOVE finished Top 10 and Top American on hist first day in the saddle.
Mason Klein
Nationality: USA
BIRTHDAY: October 12, 2001
Height: 185 cm
Weight: 76kg
2023 RALLY DOS SERTOS OVERALL WINNER
2023 DAKAR RALLY STAGE 2 WINNER
2023 W2RC RALLY 2 CHAMPION
2022 DAKAR RALLY 2 CHAMPION 9th OVERALL
2022 DAKAR RALLY RIDER OF THE DAY
2022 DAKAR RALLY ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
