KTM's decision to temporarily halt development of its RC16 for the 2025 season marks a significant turning point for the Austrian manufacturer in MotoGP. Faced with financial and organizational challenges, KTM is forced to adapt its strategy and review its ambitions.
In recent days, worrying news regarding
KTM have surfaced. The Austrian motorcycle manufacturer, faced with financial difficulties, has taken the decision to temporarily suspend the development of the KTM RC16 for the 2025 MotoGP season. Despite this delicate situation,
KTM has confirmed that its MotoGP program will continue as planned, but with major changes to its technical structure and racing teams.
KTM will field two factory teams in MotoGP.
Pedro Acosta et Brad Binder
will form the first team, with a factory vocation, while
Enea Bastianini et Maverick Viñales will constitute the second sub-label
Tech3. The four drivers will have the same technical specifications of the KTM RC16 and will operate under entirely orange liveries on the grid.
The 2025 MotoGP season kickoff is scheduled for the first weekend of March during the Thai Grand Prix in Burirammarking the start of an intense season of theoretically 22 courses.
KTM revamps its technical strategy as it responds to financial challenges
A major change concerns abandonment of the position of technical directorpreviously occupied by
Fabiano Sterlacchinileft for
Aprilia in July 2024. KTM decided not to recruit a replacement, preferring to distribute technical responsibilities between several key figures.
Pit Beirerdirector of KTM Motorsport, explains Sir Motorsport-total: “ we made a clear cut here. With Fabiano he tried to do everything both from home and from the circuit. On the circuit,
Sebastian Risse and Aki Ajo are now 100% responsible for our technical decisions. »
This collaborative approach also includes experts based at the headquarters of KTM in Mattighofen: Kurt Trieb for engines, Wolfgang Felber
for the chassis, and Kevin Rannerwho oversees the testing program with Dani Pedrosa.
Beirer emphasizes the importance of teamwork: “ all the names mentioned can be considered almost as a committee that makes decisions on next steps after each race. There will no longer be a 'one-man show' like in the Sterlacchini era. »
He adds: “ there are so many segments that need to be considered. This requires a strong team and this is what we are working on. We are not looking for a single technical managerbut we believe we have the right people on board to be able to take the next step. »
By focusing on collective technical management,
KTM hopes to overcome his financial challenges while maintaining his ambition on the MotoGP grid. The success of this approach will depend on the cohesion and efficiency of this new multi-headed structure, which will have to compete with solidly established manufacturers.
