Source: Supplied.

KTM officially introduced its factory MotoGP project at the Red Bull Ring round of the MotoGP World Championship over the weekend, completing a series of demonstration laps ahead of its 2017 series entry.

The Austrian manufacturer will carry Red Bull backing into its MotoGP debut next season. Its been a rapid nine and half months since the RC16 made its circuit debut, including nine tests with the likes of Mika Kallio and Alex Hoffman.

“Almost two and a half years ago we made the decision that when we become number one in Europe we would be forced to take the last step,” explained KTM Group CEO Stefan Pierer. “Meanwhile we’re now selling more than 60 percent of our 200,000 bikes on road and to get accepted at the highest level of the sport you must take part in MotoGP. Racing is our philosophy, our motivation and if we enter the segment, for sure we will have a learning curve but we will reach to podium – and my life’s dream is to be the world champion in MotoGP.”

KTM motorsports director Pit Beirer added: “It was already a big challenge in 2012 to come back into Moto3 and to win the title in the first year was something outstanding. But our dream was to be part of MotoGP and our boss Mr. Pierer never gives up until we’re really there.

“This time we’re ready to be a strong competitor in this class but it was a couple hard months for the whole company and everyone was stretched to the limit. We created the facility with our race factory. We had to bring in the people. It was a tough call but we can also be proud to be here amongst the highest ranking in the motorcycle world.”

Source: Supplied.

Dorna Sports CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta welcomed the Austrian manufacturer to the MotoGP World Championship, in which it joins official representation from Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Ducati and Aprilia. There will now be three Japanese factories and three European entries on the grid.

“It was not difficult to convince them because the spirit of competition is in the heart of KTM,” Ezpeleta said. “This is a very important step for us. We have a balance of Japanese and European manufacturers and KTM has proved its capability in all sporting activities.

“I am very impressed with how KTM does things and not just with MotoGP. When they started with Moto3 they were immediately very competitive. KTM does things in the proper way and everything is connected in a very good way, I believe. Later on, races are races and you need some luck, but they prepare everything in the right way.”

In 2017 KTM Factory Racing will have a presence in all classes of the sport from Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup to Moto3 and Moto2, right up to the premiere class of the world championship series in MotoGP. The team will make its debut in a wildcard at Valencia this year with Kallio at the helm.