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KTM: Our future is in World Superbikes |
In an interview with
Motorcycle Racer magazine, KTM has given a strong indication that - having given up on a planned move into the MotoGP class - they will instead enter the World Superbike championship in the near future.
KTM managing director Stefan Pierer explained that the Austrian marque had ditched its MotoGP project due to the enormous budget required, and now sees WSBK as a better alternative to help sell road machines.
"(MotoGP is) too expensive for a company of KTM's size to take part competitively with the intention of winning, which is the way we go racing. Although we are doing very good commercially, and are the most profitable motorcycle company in Europe, it costs much too much to produce what's needed to get on the top with a product far removed from what we actually sell, or will sell in the future," said Pierer.
"That's the main reason, but in addition I must say that we now realise this high-tech form of two-wheeled Formula 1 does not conform with KTM's established policy of selling to the customer the bikes we go racing with as a factory – and racing is the main issue for KTM: it's the fundamental basis of the company, the roots of our existence," he added. "We could never do this with our MotoGP bike – but we can make the link between going racing and our series production street models, and that's with Superbike. This is our future..."
When asked by
Racer about the controversial new rules for 2004, Pierer was positive of the plans, believing they'll cut costs and even out the competition.
"In my opinion it's a good step forward," he said. "The new technical regulations will reduce costs and make private teams competitive, but the most critical issue is the control tyre rule, which removes the imbalance between the same tyre company's most favoured teams, and the rest. I had a good discussion with Mr. Flammini at the beginning of July when he told me about his plans, which I fully support.
"Hearing of this made it even more attractive for KTM to become involved in Superbike racing, having at the same time decided for other reasons to pull out of MotoGP. Having a single make of tyre will limit the costs dramatically for everyone – tyres are so expensive, especially in road racing, as we've discovered this season," concluded Pierer.
Not date was set for the WSBK move, and it is unknown whether KTM's present 125cc GP programme will be affected by the switch.
The news of KTMs interest will provide series orgainsers FGSport with a welcome boost after the withdraw of many leading teams and manufacturers.
