The KTM Group has proven to be a formidable force in the MotoGP World Championship paddock, with titles in the Moto2 and Moto3 categories, plus nine race victories so far in the premier class. As its home round approaches this weekend at the Red Bull Ring, CycleOnline takes a look back at the MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3 wins the KTM Group has achieved at the venue in this Three Things feature.

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MotoGP

The Red Bull Ring has mostly been a Ducati-dominated track in terms of premier-class race wins, but Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Brad Binder and former Tech3 KTM Factory Racing rider Miguel Oliveria made exceptions to that. KTM’s first premier class victory on home soil was thanks to Oliveira in 2020, following a thrilling last lap of the Grand Prix of Styria that saw the Portuguese rider slice underneath Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Racing) and Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) to capture victory in the closing stages. As the championship returned to the venue one year later, Binder delivered a memorable performance in the 2021 Austrian Grand Prix. As the rain flags came out with six laps to go and the precipitation continued to intensify, the number 33 made a bold decision to stay out on slick tyres while many pitted for wets. The decision coupled with the South African’s composure and sheer talent in riding the RC16 under those circumstances prevailed and he was able to secure a special premier-class victory on KTM’s home soil, ultimately taking the chequered flag 12.991s ahead of Ducati Lenovo Team’s Francesco Bagnaia on wet tyres.

Moto2

In the intermediate category, Binder scored Red Bull KTM Ajo’s first victory Moto2 victory at the venue in 2019, taking a 0.330s win ahead of Alex Marquez (Elf Marc VDS Racing). While Moto2 has run a control Triumph 765cc triple engine from that year, Binder achieved the feat with a KTM chassis.  Martin (2020) and Raul Fernandez (2021) have also won races for Red Bull KTM Ajo at the Red Bull Ring, but the outfit has used a Kalex chassis from 2020.

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Moto3

The KTM Group has experienced no shortage of success in the lightweight class at the Red Bull Ring, with a total of seven victories amassed between KTM, Husqvarna and GasGas-equipped teams. When the world championship returned to the venue in 2016, KTM-mounted Joan Mir notched a victory, with Marco Bezzecchi standing tall in 2018 for the Redox PrustelGP squad. In 2020, Moto3 world champion Albert Arenas (Solunion Aspar Team) won at the Austrian GP onboard a GasGas, with Celestino Vietti (SKY Racing Team VR46) also scoring a Moto3 victory at the circuit that year in the Styrian GP. The following season, it was Acosta who took victory at the Grand Prix of Styria for Red Bull KTM Ajo, while GasGas Gaviota Aspar rider Sergio Garcia narrowly edged Deniz Oncu (Red Bull KTM Tech3) for the win at the Austrian GP. Most recently, Ayumu Sasaki (Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max) overcame a double long lap penalty to narrowly edge country Tatsuki Suzuki (Leopard Racing) for the top spot in Austria last year.