KTM Troubles

[westers151]

Development on the 2025 bike to be paused until the next test. It was inevitable that their poor business choices would have some impact on the race team.

I doubt KTM will be a challenge next year as you can't afford to stand still.

https://www.motorsport.com/motogp/news/ ... /10678780/

[Skub]

Bad news for all sport fans. I hope Honda,Yamaha and Aprilia get their act together soon,or it will be a Ducati cup.

I bet Pedro Acosta,Brad Binder,Enea Bastianini and Maverick Vinales are a bit glum after that news.

[crust]

Whilst the MotoGP team might survive I can't see the moto 3 teams or Red Bull rookies having a future unless Ed Bull/Dorna bail them out.

[mangocrazy]

Bad news for all sport fans. I hope Honda,Yamaha and Aprilia get their act together soon,or it will be a Ducati cup.

I bet Pedro Acosta,Brad Binder,Enea Bastianini and Maverick Vinales are a bit glum after that news.

Yes, it's looking like a rather poorly-timed move for Enea and Mav. Make the switch just before a development freeze is announced.

Having said that, KTM seem determined to keep the MotoGP project alive:

KTM is expected to present a strategic plan in the coming days that aims to isolate the sporting division. Within the company itself, it is considered essential that the racing arm remains active, otherwise the blow to the company's image would be even greater than it is at present, as it would most likely be even more damaging to sales.

[mangocrazy]

Whilst the MotoGP team might survive I can't see the moto 3 teams or Red Bull rookies having a future unless Ed Bull/Dorna bail them out.

It all depends if those activities are self-funding or not. If the Moto3 and RBR programs are profitable, even if only marginally so, then they will probably continue. If they are directly funded by Big Orange, then their days are probably numbered.

Back in the days of 250cc 2T GP racing, Aprilia had a really nice little earner for quite a few years supplying most of the 250cc paddock with bikes and spares. It was one of the reasons Honda came back into 250cc racing as they wanted part of Aprilia's pie. Ultimately they swiped the pie entirely, replacing 250cc 2T racers with CBR600-engined diesels.

[Horse]

https://www.paddock-gp.com/en/motogp-le ... abu-dhabi/

MotoGP, Lewis Hamilton savior of the KTM RC16 project?: this is the sensational rumor coming from F1 which is playing its final in Abu Dhabi!

The rumour is setting the paddock alight: Lewis Hamilton is about to buy the KTM MotoGP team. A hypothesis which, if confirmed, would shake up the world motorcycling landscape.

[Skub]

https://www.paddock-gp.com/en/motogp-le ... abu-dhabi/

MotoGP, Lewis Hamilton savior of the KTM RC16 project?: this is the sensational rumor coming from F1 which is playing its final in Abu Dhabi!

The rumour is setting the paddock alight: Lewis Hamilton is about to buy the KTM MotoGP team. A hypothesis which, if confirmed, would shake up the world motorcycling landscape.

I hope there's something in the offing for KTM. I've no idea if an F1 driver will be a good thing or not. I know he's a bike fan,so maybe it's a heart thing,rather than a good business opportunity to lose a few million on a regular basis.

[mangocrazy]

https://www.paddock-gp.com/en/motogp-le ... abu-dhabi/

MotoGP, Lewis Hamilton savior of the KTM RC16 project?: this is the sensational rumor coming from F1 which is playing its final in Abu Dhabi!

The rumour is setting the paddock alight: Lewis Hamilton is about to buy the KTM MotoGP team. A hypothesis which, if confirmed, would shake up the world motorcycling landscape.

Strikes me as pre-Christmas silly season stuff. I'm sure that Lewis is very, very wealthy, but absorbing the running and development costs of the KTM Race team? And for what benefit? What does he get out of it in monetary terms? I'm calling BS.

[Skub]

KTM say the LH thang is bollox.
https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/10614 ... 1733731801

[mangocrazy]

It makes zero sense from either side; KTM's or Lewis's. KTM's ace in the hole is their racing heritage - they're not going to gift that to an outsider with zero experience of running a MotoGP team. And right now Lewis has his hands full with his imminent move to Ferrari. He'll be giving that his undivided attention, not trying to become a MotoGP team owner/principal.

Somebody's 'avin' a larf...

[Bigjawa]

https://www.paddock-gp.com/en/motogp-le ... abu-dhabi/

MotoGP, Lewis Hamilton savior of the KTM RC16 project?: this is the sensational rumor coming from F1 which is playing its final in Abu Dhabi!

The rumour is setting the paddock alight: Lewis Hamilton is about to buy the KTM MotoGP team. A hypothesis which, if confirmed, would shake up the world motorcycling landscape.

Strikes me as pre-Christmas silly season stuff. I'm sure that Lewis is very, very wealthy, but absorbing the running and development costs of the KTM Race team? And for what benefit? What does he get out of it in monetary terms? I'm calling BS.

Are Ducati and Ferrari still owned by the same folk? If they are, doesn't seem they'd be too pleased by one of the employees buying the rival of one of their business interests.

[ChrisW]

https://www.paddock-gp.com/en/motogp-le ... abu-dhabi/

MotoGP, Lewis Hamilton savior of the KTM RC16 project?: this is the sensational rumor coming from F1 which is playing its final in Abu Dhabi!

The rumour is setting the paddock alight: Lewis Hamilton is about to buy the KTM MotoGP team. A hypothesis which, if confirmed, would shake up the world motorcycling landscape.

Strikes me as pre-Christmas silly season stuff. I'm sure that Lewis is very, very wealthy, but absorbing the running and development costs of the KTM Race team? And for what benefit? What does he get out of it in monetary terms? I'm calling BS.

Are Ducati and Ferrari still owned by the same folk? If they are, doesn't seem they'd be too pleased by one of the employees buying the rival of one of their business interests.

Ducati is VAG these days.

[KungFooBob]

I think officially they're owned by Audi, who are owned by Volkswagen AG (VAG).

[Mr. Dazzle]

I thought it was Ducati -> Lamborghini -> Audi -> VAG?

Not forgetting that VAG are owned by Porsche.

But VAG also own Porsche.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

It makes zero sense from either side; KTM's or Lewis's. KTM's ace in the hole is their racing heritage - they're not going to gift that to an outsider with zero experience of running a MotoGP team. And right now Lewis has his hands full with his imminent move to Ferrari. He'll be giving that his undivided attention, not trying to become a MotoGP team owner/principal.

Somebody's 'avin' a larf...

What racing heritage, in the 80s they were considered a bit shit, as the former owner of a 1986 KTM 250, I can confirm they were a bit shit.

[mangocrazy]

It makes zero sense from either side; KTM's or Lewis's. KTM's ace in the hole is their racing heritage - they're not going to gift that to an outsider with zero experience of running a MotoGP team. And right now Lewis has his hands full with his imminent move to Ferrari. He'll be giving that his undivided attention, not trying to become a MotoGP team owner/principal.

Somebody's 'avin' a larf...

What racing heritage, in the 80s they were considered a bit shit, as the former owner of a 1986 KTM 250, I can confirm they were a bit shit.

Their strap line is 'Ready to Race' and that's how they view their brand. Now you may disagree with that, but they regard racing as part of their DNA, and fundamental to what they are. Because they may have been 'a bit shit' fourty years ago does not disqualify them from having a racing heritage.

They certainly aren't 'a bit shit' in Moto3, are they?

[Yorick]

Fark. Now they're not paying Xmas wages. That's a great way to inspire the staff.

https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/10615 ... -christmas

[mangocrazy]

That gurgling noise you can hear might just be KTM going down the plug hole. Hope not.

When this is finally over (one way or another) there needs to be some serious and in depth investigations to see how just such a shitshow could have unfolded. There must have been some seriously unhinged management decisions for the company to get into this predicament.

[Horse]

That gurgling noise you can hear might just be KTM going down the plug hole. Hope not.

When this is finally over (one way or another) there needs to be some serious and in depth investigations to see how just such a shitshow could have unfolded. There must have been some seriously unhinged management decisions for the company to get into this predicament.

Could be an episode of the BBC podcast 'Toast'

[ChrisW]

There must have been some seriously unhinged management decisions for the company to get into this predicament.

Let's start with "If you want to make your bikes in a different colour there's no need to buy another brand to do so".