Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1505613
KTM Holds the Cards for Yamaha, Honda Concessions K TM is in a powerful position with Dorna, who wants to grant concessions to Honda and Yamaha to bring them back up to competitiveness in MotoGP. Austrian manufacturer KTM doesn't want to grant conces - sions to the Japanese that would allow in-season engine and chassis development and is willing to exercise the veto vote given to all participating manu - facturers within the Motorcycle Sport Manufacturers Associa- tion (MSMA). Motorsport Director of Pierer Mobility AG, Pit Beirer, stated, "We will not support this pro - posal. There's a reason for that. Yamaha was vice-world cham- pion in 2020 and 2022 and world champion in 2021. Honda has conceded too many concession points over the last year and a half, with podiums for Marc Marquez and Pol Espargaro and victory for Alex Rins and there - fore does not qualify for these concessions. "We find that neither brand is in a situation to justify a revival of these manufacturers through new concessions regulations. These are good, proud works: they will find their technical way. But they don't need any conces - sions." However, Dorna may have a solution that KTM is in desper- ate need of benefiting from. KTM currently has four bikes on the grid in the two Red Bull Fac - tory KTMs of Brad Binder and Jack Miller, and two in GasGas colors with Pol Espargaro and Augusto Fernandez on board, and the Austrians are desperate to gain the two spots left vacant by Suzuki last year so they can bring their young protege, Pedro Acosta, into MotoGP next sea - son. Acosta has been promised a graduation to MotoGP, but with all their riders under contract until the end of 2024, KTM must either demote Fernandez back to Moto2 or put Espargaro into a test rider role to make room for the former Moto3 World Champion. As you can imagine, neither Espargaro nor Fernandez are particularly keen on that scenario. Dorna's big hang-up is that they are only willing to grant the extra spot to another factory team, despite there being no new factories in line to fill the void. That leaves only KTM as an option, who is willing to field two more entries, as Aprilia and Honda run four bikes, Ducati eight, and Yamaha only two after losing the RNF squad to Aprilia this year. KTM would likely bring Husqvarna into the mix as a "factory" team in its own right run by their junior Ajo team, but in truth, it would just be another rebranding exercise, as the bike would be a KTM RC16 painted white, just like the GasGas bikes are (but painted red). Expect this story to run and run for a while yet. CN WIND IN THE P44 "No dice." KTM's motorsport boss, Pit Beirer, says the Austrians won't support a bid for Honda and Yamaha concessions, but Dorna organizers may have a solution, if they're willing to exercise it.