Icelandic off-road pioneer Karl Gunnlaugsson has died

Karl Gunnlaugsson, the Icelandic motorycle pioneer and importer for KTM motorcycles in his home country since 1994, has died.

Enduro21 is sad to report that Karl Gunnlaugsson has passed away at his home in Mosfellsbær on Saturday morning, March 2, at the age of 57.

Karl was born on August 17, 1966 and won numerous Icelandic championship titles in his career and was elected motor sportsman of the year in 1991.

Karl worked various jobs in his career but soon founded his own company, Karls Neon but later progressed to form a company around his hobby and in 1994 started importing KTM motorcycles. Karl was successful and continued to work in the business until his last day having helped many people take their first steps in the sport along the way.

KTM has been the biggest selling motorcycle brand in Iceland since 2003. In the later years Husaberg was added, followed by Husqvarna and GASGAS.

Karl founded MSI, Motorcycle and Snowmobile Sports association of Iceland, which is now part of Iceland’s Sports association and FIM.

He was chairman of the federation from its start in 2006 until the end of 2015, Karl was honorary member of the association and helped with various projects until his death.

Karl touched many people in our sport globally through KTM and MSI. Both importing and inviting foreign competitors to come to Iceland to ride or compete. This includes multiple world champions David Knight and Gio Sala.

His son Gunnlaugur Karlsson and family will lead the company and his legacy from now.

Enduro21 joins those who knew him around the world and those in the motorcycle industry in Iceland is paying respects to “King Karl”.