| Tyla Rattray | |
|---|---|
 Tyla Rattray (2008) | |
| Nationality | South African |
| Born | 8 November 1985 (1985-11-08) (age 40) Durban, South Africa |
| Motocross career | |
| Years active | 1999–2015 |
| Teams | KTM,Kawasaki,Husqvarna |
| Championships | MX2-GP –2008 |
| Wins | 15 |
Tyla Rattray (born 12 November 1985) is aSouth African former professionalmotocross racer and current motocross team trainer.[1][2] He competed in theMotocross World Championships from 1999 to 2008 and, in theAMA Motocross Championships from 2009 to 2013.[3][4] He returned to the Motocross World Championships for his final two seasons from 2014 to 2015. Rattray is notable for winning theFIM MX2 world championship in2008.[1][5]
Born inDurban,South Africa, Rattray made his first foray into international racing in 1999 when he participated in the inaugural FIM 85cc world cup atGaildorf,Germany. Although completely unfamiliar with the conditions, he slotted straight into top level of international level racing and finished 3rd in the event. He relocated to Germany in 2000 as part of the Vangani Racing team, and participated in European, German and Dutch Championship events, as well as international races. In 2001, at 15 years of age, he qualified for his first GP races. He also participated in European Championship events, and improved his standing in the Dutch Championship series.
In 2002, he formed part of the Vangani Racing "dream team" withBen Townley andTanel Leok. He won the first GP qualifying race of the season at Valkenswaard, and finished 8th in the GP. Later that year, he scored his first GP podium when he finished second at Genk in Belgium. At 16 years of age, he was one of the youngest GP podium finishers ever. He won the Dutch 125cc – and Superfinal titles in 2003 as part of the Bruforce RacingKTM team.
He won his first GP at Bellpuig in Spain in 2004. He finished second to KTM teammateBen Townley in the world championship series in the 2004 MX2-GP season. Injuries kept him from challenging for the world title in 2005 and 2006. In2008, he won theF.I.M.MX2-GP world championship riding for theKTM factory racing team managed by former world championStefan Everts. Before the start of the season he opted to change his permanent race number from 16 to 4 since it was available. He joins the short list of other South Africans who have taken an F.I.M. World title which includeGrant Langston (1 world title) andGreg Albertyn (3 world titles).
Before the start of the2009 FIM Motocross World Championship season, it was announced the factory KTM team and Rattray were parting ways.[6] Both Rattray and KTM parted mutually as Ratray expressed a greater interest to ride in the United States, following the path of other South Africans such asGrant Langston andGreg Albertyn. Rattray competed in theAMA Motocross Championship for five seasons, finishing in second place in the 250 national championship for two consecutive years in 2010 and 2011.[4][7]
Rattray returned to compete in the2014 MXGP world championship for the Red BullIce 1 –Husqvarna Racing Team owned by Formula One racer,Kimi Räikkönen.[7] He retired from motocross racing after finishing 13th in the2015 MXGP world championship and, began working as the team trainer and mentor for theTroy Lee Designs / Redbull KTM 250 team.[2]