KTM PRESIDENT/CEO STEFAN PIERER: PART 1
P86
Feature
there's no big acceleration. I think
what we did right was to make
our own in-house concept bike,
created right here close to the
factory, with the whole team here
at the heart of KTM Racing, and
now it's payback time. But I had
a lesson this year—I hoped that if
I got a second top rider, it would
push us on towards the front, but
unfortunately, it didn't work out
because it seems he's skilled at
riding a different type of engine
concept. Still, I think Pol did a
great job, and he's our leading
guy, with our young gun Miguel
[Oliveira] learning very quickly—
he's a very clever rider. And next
year, with Brad [Binder] joining
this team, they know each other
well, and I'm very happy about it.
Why will KTM exit Moto2 next
season? Don't you need to have
a feeder class producing the
likes of Oliveira and Binder?
Look, we're still there with Aki
[Ajo] doing our team, but without
a KTM-designed bike—I think he'll
use Kalex again. But the team will
still be named the KTM GP Acad-
emy, so our best young riders still
get to ride in that class—just that
KTM won't develop the concept
bike. This allows us to focus bet-
ter on MotoGP.
Do you have any financial
connection with Kalex—have you
bought part of the company?
No, Aki already has a good
connection with them, and we
think it doesn't make sense to
make this any closer; otherwise,
all we do is accelerate the costs.
I think Kalex is doing a great job,
and so is Speed Up—let's keep
them there as well.
But in Moto3, next year
you're going to have a
Husqvarna team. Will there
also be a KTM factory Moto3
team as well?
For sure. We have to. We'll be
doing like in MotoGP, with two
teams and four riders. Peter Oettl
is running the Husqvarna team.
Where do you think Honda
has taken the lead over you in
KTM's headquarters in Mattighofen.
