2023-08-10 09:47:38
The days go by and we still don’t know KTM’s decision on their rider line-ups for the next season. The Austrians have five riders closed for four bikes available, although everything can change and we may see that in 2024 they have an additional structure and two more RC-16s on the track.
A few weeks ago, Stefan Pierer left in the air the possibility that they could expand their structures and thus have six KTMs on the track. Initially, there was talk of LCR Honda, a team that has a contract with the Japanese until 2024, but nothing is further from reality. This unexpected movement would go through the second Aprilia team, that they are going through financial difficulties and it would be KTM that would remain in charge of these two places in the championship.
The constant rumors about the change of teams between the structures have not finished pleasing the organization, which would not see well the intentions of KTM. In some statements during the British GP, Carmelo Ezpeleta was forceful and assured that “I’d rather have four Aprilias and four KTMs on the grid than two Aprilias and six KTMs.”
Now, KTM’s intentions are different and they have not hesitated to pick up the cable they threw. According to Pit Beirer, those from Mattighofen would bet on equal conditions in the championship, so their plans would go through not touching Aprilia or Honda: “That agrees with our opinion. Currently, we have little motivation to take a team away from Honda or Aprilia. We would even appreciate it if Yamaha had a second team again.”
The director of KTM Motorsport has admitted to Speedweek that the championship is experiencing an exceptional situation with the recent departure of Suuzki, so the presence of the satellite teams in the World Cup must be regulated and everything made more equitable: “The better the manufacturers are balanced in terms of the number of MotoGP bikes on the grid, the better it will be for the championship. Each manufacturer must have at least one satellite team. There will also be manufacturers that could feed a third team. That would bring a better balance to the championship.”
At KTM they continue to hide their times, although they rule out making any kind of official announcement before the Red Bull Ring appointment. The easy solution would go through the approval by the organization of having a third team led by Aki Ajo and with the support of Pierer Mobility AG, something that does not look good at the moment: “Our best option would be to get two more places in MotoGP for three years through Aki Ajo, but, of course, we need Dorna’s approval and support for this project”, commented Pierer.
The ball is in the court of the Austrians, who will have to choose between Augusto Fernández and Pol Espargaró, the latter with a contract for next year, to be the teammate of Pedro Acosta, who has secured his promotion to MotoGP for 2024 Of course, nothing unexpected happens and from the organization they approve that in KTM they have a third structure temporarilywhich would mean that they have to look for a sixth pilot.
#motivation #team #Honda #Aprilia