KTM is making a paradigm shift with the Tech3 team, which will have an impact on the entire MotoGP project of the Mattighofen-based company. This is not just about the GasGas name disappearing after two years. Rather, with the signing of Maverick Vinales and Enea Bastianini, the choice of drivers is also following a different plan. KTM boss Pit Beirer explains the temporary move away from young drivers.
Too many MotoGP rookies failed: Only super talents like Acosta can survive
“It is now clear that we cannot offer a young talent a place in the next two years. If you ask me what I would like, it would of course always be to have riders from our own academy and to have them all up there and then to be competitive with them,” Beirer explains that KTM has not generally signed contracts with youngsters. But for now, four riders have a contract for the next two years.
The current MotoGP required a different approach: “When you see how complex MotoGP is, how difficult it is, you definitely need an outstanding rookie to make it make sense to go into MotoGP with him. Pedro [Acosta] proved that it is possible. But we also had problems that even a Moto2 world champion can have a very, very hard time competing in MotoGP.”
Remy Gardner (2021 Moto2 title holder) and now Augusto Fernandez (took the title in 2022) failed at Herve Poncharal’s team. The same applies to Raul Fernandez (runner-up in 2021), who, however, found a new home in MotoGP at Aprilia from 2023. Only exceptional talent Pedro Acosta was able to prevail and will drive in the factory team from next year.
KTM hopes for Ducati effect: Strong squad should push each other
In light of these experiences, KTM no longer wants to afford a ‘junior team’. “If you then look at the total investment in the MotoGP class, you take a budget of many, many millions and divide it by four. Each driver package is a multi-million package. And then I have the feeling that in MotoGP you simply no longer have the time to say: let’s do some kind of training project. It is super important to perform and not just for advertising reasons. Also for the quality of the entire team. You need four strong drivers to have the winner in your own ranks,” Beirer explains the investments in Vinales and Bastianini.
“You need the data from Friday morning immediately to take the next step for the second training session. We simply felt more comfortable bringing Grand Prix winners on board and driving the whole project forward, pushing each other. Pedro and Brad [Binder] will benefit from two more strong drivers. So it was a clear decision to focus on results and not on a training program,” he continues. The internal competition is considered one of the great strengths of Ducati. Currently four of the Ducati riders are leading the World Championship. Bagnaia, Martin, Marquez and Bastianini are all references to each other.
No Moto2 rider ready for MotoGP and Moto3 aces still need time
But then the question could also be asked: Why does KTM, by far the biggest of all manufacturers, continue to have such a strong commitment to young riders? As mentioned, the company has not fundamentally decided to stop using young riders just because Pedro Acosta is now established. There is simply no one pushing himself forward at the moment: “To be honest, I don’t think the next rider is ready yet. If the next guy, the next Pedro, was ready to make the jump in our Moto 2 project, we would definitely take him straight away. But we don’t see anyone being ready for next year or the year after that.”
In Moto2, the KTM boys are currently lagging behind. Celestino Vietti has not yet been able to live up to his potential. Deniz Öncü is a rookie. Jake Dixon occasionally makes it onto the podium, but at 28, he is no longer an option. And after his fantastic Moto3 season in 2022, Izan Guevara is only now slowly getting into his stride in Moto2, without shining. There is actually no driver of the Pedro Acosta brand.
But this could be found in Moto3. The Colombian David Alonso is showing more and more with his dominant performances that he is the next big promise in the junior sector. In addition, Dani Holgado, Jose Rueda and Collin Veijer are three other riders with great potential who ride under the KTM roof. But it will still be a while before they move up to MotoGP. Even Acosta spent two years in Moto2. The fact that Vinales and Bastianini have signed until 2026 will not block the way for Alonso & Co.