Photo: KTM
It looks like KTM is going to fill all the slots in their road-racing program, and they will be able to field teams from the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup to MotoGP. We knew about Mattighoffen's premier class plans for some time now, but learning that they are already testing a Moto2 frame on the track is something different.
Moto2 represents the final gap in KTM's road racing activities, but the Austrian maker plans to fill it as soon as possible. House Mattighofen has been working with their subsidiary WP and engineered a tubular trellis frame that is ready for track testing.
Suspension specialists WP are also in charge of engineering the suspensions of KTM's RC16 machine that will make the debut in the premier class next year. The WP Racing Department is, however, developing an entire motorcycle for the Moto2 class, anticipating an end to Honda's engine supremacy.
KTM already tested the bike at the Almeria circuit in Spain, but no official results were revealed to the public. The 2015 Moto2 champion Johan Zarco won the world crown using WP suspensions, thus proving that the Austrian company has a real potential in terms of Grand Prix performance.
“The Moto2 project has a great significance for us. Through our growth and long-term investments we are in a position to close this final gap in our activities in the sport of Grand Prix road racing. A young rider can gather his first experience in the Rookies Cup and then advance to our own in-house Moto3 team, then further, via the new Moto2 project into the MotoGP class. These are concepts that have repeatedly proved to be successful for KTM and WP in professional racing, and in the future we want to have riders for our MotoGP project that have advanced right through the entire KTM Academy.”
If KTM can build such a racing structure, it might change the sport, and why not, inspire other manufacturers in trying to replicate the “recipe.”
Suspension specialists WP are also in charge of engineering the suspensions of KTM's RC16 machine that will make the debut in the premier class next year. The WP Racing Department is, however, developing an entire motorcycle for the Moto2 class, anticipating an end to Honda's engine supremacy.
KTM already tested the bike at the Almeria circuit in Spain, but no official results were revealed to the public. The 2015 Moto2 champion Johan Zarco won the world crown using WP suspensions, thus proving that the Austrian company has a real potential in terms of Grand Prix performance.
Theoretically, a rider can start off in the Rookies Cup and become a MotoGP star
After KTM's Moto2 team becomes operational, a rider can, at least in theory, climb the performance ladder without changing the manufacturer, KTM CEO Stefan Pierer says.“The Moto2 project has a great significance for us. Through our growth and long-term investments we are in a position to close this final gap in our activities in the sport of Grand Prix road racing. A young rider can gather his first experience in the Rookies Cup and then advance to our own in-house Moto3 team, then further, via the new Moto2 project into the MotoGP class. These are concepts that have repeatedly proved to be successful for KTM and WP in professional racing, and in the future we want to have riders for our MotoGP project that have advanced right through the entire KTM Academy.”
If KTM can build such a racing structure, it might change the sport, and why not, inspire other manufacturers in trying to replicate the “recipe.”
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