Austrian manufacturer KTM has expressed its interest in expanding its presence on the MotoGP grid by supplying motorcycles to a satellite team from next season, according to motorsport.com.
KTM make their premier class debut this year as a full factory effort having been hard at work developing the RC16 since late 2015. Former Tech 3 riders Pol Espargaro and Bradley Smith will spearhead their maiden campaign.
Currently, only Honda, Yamaha and Ducati supply bikes to customer teams. The latest manufacturers’ agreement with MotoGP owner Dorna Sports aims for a 24-bike grid made up of six factories supplying six private outfits.
“We are focussing on the factory team in the first year,” KTM CEO Stefan Pierer said during the team’s official launch presentation in Austria yesterday.
“We have a five-year contract with Dorna. We have already agreed that in the second year we are also providing material and bikes for a private team. That’s the plan for the next two years.”
KTM is the third manufacturer to join the premier class in as many years, following in the footsteps of Suzuki and Aprilia who debuted in 2015.
Pierer highlighted the Japanese manufacturer’s success in such a short space of time, and has set them as his benchmark.
Suzuki won their first race in MotoGP since 2007 at last year’s British Grand Prix, and head into this season running on the same rules in terms of concessions as Honda, Yamaha and Ducati.
“I’m always telling my colleagues, as a benchmark, Suzuki has done a great job. That’s basically the benchmark,” he continued.
“The first tests for us were difficult, because we were testing different set-ups. We don’t have a platform like the others.
“But it’s going very well, and Phillip Island was very motivating that we are (heading) in the right direction. Throughout these (next) three years we want to come close to the podium and touch the podium.”
KTM aren’t the first of the new manufacturers to express interest in expanding in 2018. Suzuki stated last year that they were keen, with Pramac Racing touted as a potential partner.
However, with Pramac fielding a GP17 Ducati this season a deal with Suzuki may be off the cards. And with Aspar and Avintia also running one GP16 machine each, KTM could struggle to break the close ties these teams have with the Italian marque.
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