Red Bull KTM’s Pol Espargaro will miss the three-day Thailand MotoGP test this week after undergoing surgery having suffered a spine injury in a crash at the Malaysia test last month.
Ducati designers are not the only ones targeting an improvement in turning ability for their 2018 MotoGP prototype. KTM has also been working feverishly to raise cornering quality on the new RC16.
In a sport where success can be decided by one thousandth of a second, MotoGP riders are constantly seeking every drop of information to gain even the slightest edge.
Motorsport Director Pit Beirer explains the reasons behind KTM’s failure in the Moto3 class in 2017; outlines a change in junior class strategy for the year ahead.
KTM Motorsport director Pit Beirer has revealed the factory offered test rider Mika Kallio “a very respectful test rider contract” on top of a bonus to ensure the Finn remained in his current role for the 2018 season.
Johann Zarco does not want development in his MotoGP career to depend on Valentino Rossi’s future. The highly-rated Frenchman said “If I show intelligence I can squeeze the bike 100%, I will not be far from the top three of the World Championship.
KTM went their own way during an impressive debut MotoGP season, initially entering the RC16 with a unique frame, suspension and engine firing-order compared to the other factories.
Paulo Ciabatti, Ducati's Sport Director, has discussed the possibility of offering new MotoGP contracts to Andrea Dovizioso and Jorge Lorenzo, claiming the negotiations will be ‘complicated’.
Kiefer Racing will continue in Moto2 under new ownership in 2018, running KTM machinery for the retained Dominique Aegerter and new arrival Sandro Cortese.
Valentino Rossi has admitted he’s “afraid of quitting” MotoGP. The 39-year-old Movistar Yamaha rider’s retirement has been a hot topic as of late but Rossi has revealed “It scares me; and one day it will be hard to find something else".
Valentino Rossi has outlined the 2018 MotoGP championship title as his main goal, insisting that this has been prevented by his tyres working with his bike and that this is an issue they “have been trying to solve” 2016.
The MCE British Superbike championship has reshaped its support classes to encourage a “development structure for upcoming young riders” with 2018 marking the start of the British Talent Cup and the Junior Supersport 300 class.
KTM's Pol Espargaro will start Sunday's Valencia MotoGP season finale from pit lane, with a five-second penalty. The punishment is for exceeding the nine engine changes allowed for each of the KTM factory riders, as a new manufacturer, during the 18 round season.
Darryn Binder will contest the ’18 Moto3 campaign with Red Bull Ajo KTM as team re-structures to accommodate presence in FIM Junior World Championship.
John McPhee has been thrown a grand prix lifeline by CIP KTM after learning at Sepang that his British Talent Team will not continue in next year's Moto3 series.