KTM reveal plans for Moto2 entry

KTM have revealed shock plans to make their debut in the Moto2 class, unveiling a finished bike using Honda’s standardised CBR600 engine. The move has been long rumoured, but it has always been thought that being forced to use another manufacturer’s engine had deterred the Austrian firm.

However, that appears to have been dismissed, as they pulled the covers off a finished bike jointly developed with sister brand WP suspension.

But KTM boss Stefan Pierer says that with the imminent debut of their MotoGP machine, set to race in 2017, it became essential for KTM to have a way to develop young talent from Red Bull Rookies Cup to MotoGP.

“The Moto2 project has a great significance for us. Through our growth and long-term investments we are in a position to close this final gap in our activities in the sport of Grand Prix road racing. A young rider can gather his first experience in the Rookies Cup and then advance to our own in-house Moto3 team, then further, via the new Moto2 project into the MotoGP class.

“These are concepts that have repeatedly proved to be successful for KTM and WP in professional racing, and in the future we want to have riders for our MotoGP project that have advanced right through the entire KTM Academy.”

KTM have not yet announced when their new machine will make it’s racing debut, but it looks likely that it will race in 2017.