Opinion – MotoGP: Are KTM Ready for the Final Breakthrough?

When KTM joined the MotoGP class in 2017, they had a five-year-plan to success mapped out that would take them to the very top of the grid and have them fight for race victories by 2021.

Even though that, in hindsight, may have been slightly ambitious, the Austrian manufacturer’s performances have been far from a disappointment.

A combination of progressive development work and clever rider recruitment steered the project in the right direction – and KTM look in better shape than ever before.

Leaps and Bounds

At KTM’s debut GP in 2017, the two RC16 machines, piloted by Pol Espargaró and Bradley Smith, qualified three seconds behind pole sitter Maverick Viñales and last on the grid. Fast forward to Misano two and a half years later: Espargaró starts the race from the front row.

KTM steadily built up their project and demonstrated more than once that they are on the right way.

The factory achieved a podium in only their second season when Espargaró rode to third in a rain-soaked Valencia GP. 2019 was another step forward when they became consistent performers with eight top 10 finishes.

KTM scored a coup by securing Dani Pedrosa as their test rider when the Spaniard retired in 2018. Motorsport Director Pit Beirer praises the 31-times premier class race winner’s commitment and the improvements he brings to the bike – Pedrosa’s impact has already become decisive.

Moreover, KTM got the highly respected Tech3 team on their side and supplies the French outfit since 2019 – a valuable expansion of their MotoGP profile and a sign of confidence in their potential.

“We are trying to create something new here and we are still far away from our target. We are still building up our project. But I think at the moment the project is stronger than ever and I’m really looking forward to the future.”

Pit Beirer, KTM Motorsport Director

The Mattighofen factory ran with the momentum and completed an extremely positive winter test schedule ahead of the 2020 season. It is fair to say that the vastly improved RC16 is a genuine top 6 contender and might, on a good day, spring an even bigger surprise.

The bike is significantly smoother and the bike is significantly quicker. No doubt, KTM found the right direction and followed it.

Finding the Right Riders

Let’s make one thing clear: the KTM RC16 is not an easy bike to ride. In fact, it is known to be a physically demanding machine to manhandle that requires an aggressive and all-in riding style.

Espargaró comfortably outperformed all of his previous teammates because his way of riding clicked perfectly with the RC16. The Spaniard loves to push the bike, to almost override it and that is precisely what is required to excel aboard the KTM.

But Espargaró will leave the team at the end of 2020 and KTM faced the difficult task of finding a suitable replacement.

You cannot put any rider into the KTM garage and expect the partnership to work – exhibit A: Johann Zarco. The highly rated and undoubtedly talented Frenchman moved over from Yamaha for the 2019 season. What was meant to be the next big step in Zarco’s career ended in a prematurely terminated contract after he struggled heavily on the less smoothly running machine.

So how do you find a rider that will get the best out of the RC16? Mike Leitner, team manager of the factory squad, found the answer in focusing on KTM’s own riders and in developing long-term partnerships.

The Austrian company prides itself on what has been labelled the ‘KTM GP Academy’, a scheme that recognises talent early and supports riders from the Red Bull Rookies Cup through the World Championship categories.

This system produced the KTM dream team of Miguel Oliveira and Brad Binder and will bring them back together in the MotoGP factory effort for 2021.

The 2021 Rider Line-Up

KTM decided to promote Oliveira from Tech3 and stick with Binder in the factory team for the 2021 season.

Oliveira stepped up to MotoGP in 2019 after building his career with KTM. He showed good progress, the highlight being an eighth place finish at KTM’s home GP in Austria, until a shoulder injury hampered his season.

Binder had already been with KTM in the lower categories for five years when he got the call to replace Zarco as a factory premier class rider in 2020. Yet to make his debut, the former Moto3 world champion arrives with great kudos.

Reuniting them is a clever move by KTM – not only are both riders vastly talented, they have also proven that they work well together as a team.

“We have a very good relationship off the track and we have been teammates for many years. We know each other, so I think that is a basis for a good environment in the team and that we both agree on the changes to the bike and the direction we take for the whole project. I’m really happy to share the box with Brad again.”

Miguel Oliveira

Oliveira and Binder were teammates at Red Bull KTM Ajo in Moto3 in 2015 and in Moto2 in 2017 and -18. While they were highly competitive with each other, they were also harmonious. The two riders push each other in a positive way and shared a Grand Prix podium six times so far in their careers.

The Garage Next Door

Alongside the factory outfit, KTM have another promising Mattighofen regular at Tech3 in Iker Lecuona. To partner the young Spaniard, the team have secured outgoing Ducati rider Danilo Petrucci for 2021.

The Italian will be a valuable asset to KTM, bringing not only heaps of experience but also commitment and the right attitude to push the project forward.

Petrucci has been linked with a move to the Austrian manufacturer since losing his seat at Ducati. It came somewhat surprisingly though that the former race-winner would join Tech3 rather than the factory squad.

When thinking about it however, KTM’s decision to place the 29-year-old at Tech3 and run the factory team with Oliveira and Binder makes sense. Petrucci might be a more rounded rider at the moment, but the youngsters’ ceilings are higher – they are a promise for the future.

Losing Espargaró will hurt KTM, he has been the heart and soul of the project since 2017, but they took the right steps to secure future progress with their rider recruitment.

More than a Satellite Team

At a first glance it may look like Petrucci came off with the short end of the stick, leaving a factory for a satellite team. But regarding Tech3 as merely a KTM side project does not do the outfit justice.

It has been assured that all KTM riders are on the same machinery. The four bikes are identical, the support is identical and should there only be one new part available, it will go to the rider sitting highest in the championship, regardless of his team.

KTM thereby underline their commitment and strengthen their profile – with four works machines on the grid, they maximise their chances of good results and boost their development force.

“There are four factory Red Bull KTM riders on the grid with the same support, the same equipment and this shows us the support that KTM is giving to the team. The fact that we have Danilo with us highlights the fact that KTM is not having a factory team and a satellite operation. We are having four full-factory riders, the support from KTM to the four riders is exactly the same.”

Hervé Poncharal, Red Bull KTM Tech3 Team Principal

Are KTM Ready for the Final Breakthrough?

KTM do not enter racing series to hang around in the midfield. Just look at their records at the Rally Dakar, in Supercross or in the lower Grand Prix categories – it is their ambition and nature to work themselves to the top.

Realistically though, the RC16 is not a winning bike right now. KTM have made huge strides since 2017, but their package is not yet ready to run at the front every week or to fight for a championship title.

However, the team have worked tirelessly and are on the brink of their strongest-ever stage in MotoGP.

KTM have one more season with Espargaró in 2020. It seems legitimate to expect him to be a regular top 8 finisher and if everything comes together, it would not be too big a surprise if he made another podium appearance.

With the poster boy securing the results and the development team working away, 2020 gives the KTM young guns a chance to adapt to the premier class and get ready for the 2021 mission.

They will want to be scoring podiums in 2021 and that is not an unrealistic ambition. All ingredients are there for KTM to work their way up the order and gradually tick off all their targets.

The holistic approach of developing their own riders and handing major roles not only to the factory effort but also the satellite and test teams is a sophisticated long-term strategy – and the progress made so far proves it right.

KTM know what they are doing and they know how to steadily build up their project to reach their ambitions and secure long-term success. The future is bright for KTM.