The KTM 250 of French Sand Motocross Championship Vintage Champion Jessie Grondin…
Though the color orange has become synonymous with KTM, it was only 1996 when the company’s motocross machines began wearing the signature hue. At the time, the company had climbed out of an early 90s bankruptcy with a heavy investment in R&D and factory-backed racing.
In addition to their enduro models, the Austrian firm was building motocrossers that challenged Japanese dominance. The KTM 250 SX was their flagship rocket — a 231-lb liquid-cooled two-stroke screamer built off the company’s enduro bike.
“The bike holds its own, pretty impressive for a frame that has the tabs to hold a centerstand — it’s the same as the enduro bike’s. The SX’s power spread is broad and easy to ride. It pulls well off the bottom, has a healthy midrange punch and plenty of over-rev…” –Cycle World, 1991
The ’96 KTM 250 SX you see here is one special smoker indeed. It’s the race bike of 2024-25 French Sand Motocross Championship Vintage Champion (and 2025-26 Vice-Champion) Jessie Grondin. The Championnat de France des Sables Motoblouz (CFS) is an elite winter series featuring grueling endurance races on sand, with the final round at Enduropale du Touquet — said to be the world’s largest, most prestigious beach race (Jessie has finished 2nd twice here in the Vintage class).
MS Motorsport workshop of southwest France (Hossegor, specifically) fully restored the bike for Jessie, prepping it to compete in the Vintage CFS category. Highlights include a larger fuel tank for sand racing, wider-ratio enduro gearbox for better low-end power delivery in heavy sand, JSV Exhaust, upgraded KYB inverted forks, modified footpegs, orange-painted frame, and some killer graphics cooked up by Kutvek.
Jessie’s performance on the bike says it all, as she scored five podiums in last season’s six races, taking home the trophy as 2025-26 Vice-championne de France (French Vice-Champion) in the CFS Vintage class. Congrats, Jess!
She says the bike is perfect for sand racing:
“It’s not aggressive at all, but has strong low-end power thanks to the enduro gearbox and the JSV Exhaust system. It’s very easy to ride and feels perfectly balanced.”
Congratulations again to Jessie for another great season…and on such a wickedly cool vintage motocrosser! Below is our interview with Jessie about the build, along with more photos — most of them courtesy of Julie Cogis (@mxjuly).
Vintage KTM 250 SX: Builder Interview
• Please tell us a bit about yourself, your history with motorcycles, and your workshop.
I compete in the French Sand Motocross Championship (CFS) Vintage category. I was French Champion CFS Vintage 2024–2025 and Vice French Champion CFS Vintage 2025–2026. I also finished 2nd twice at the Enduropale du Touquet Vintage.
• What’s the make, model, and year of the donor bike?
It’s a 1996 KTM 250 SX, fully restored by MS Motorsport workshop, located in the southwest of France (Hossegor).
• For what class of racing was the bike built?
The bike is built and prepared for racing in sand, in the Vintage CFS category.
• What custom work/upgrades have been done?
- It is fitted with a large-capacity fuel tank for sand races.
- The frame has been repainted orange.
- The forks have been adapted for improved safety.
- The footpegs have been modified.
- The rest of the bike remains original.
- The graphics kit was made by Kutvek.
• Any idea of horsepower, weight, and/or performance numbers?
The bike weighs approximately 110 kg (about 242 lbs) with a full tank.
• Can you tell us what it’s like to ride/race this bike?
This bike is extremely enjoyable to ride. It’s torquey and very agile.
It’s not aggressive at all, but has strong low-end power thanks to the enduro gearbox and the JSV Exhaust system. It’s very easy to ride and feels perfectly balanced.
• Anybody you’d like to thank?
I would like to thank MS Motorsport workshop, especially Maxime Sot, who built me a bike that is incredibly easy to ride, very enjoyable, perfectly set up, and completely reliable with no mechanical issues.
Follow the Racer / Builder
Racer: @jessiegrondin_
Workshop: @ms.motorsport156
Graphics: www.kutvek-kitgraphik.com | @kutvek
Photo credit: Julie Cogis (@mxjuly)
