KTM launches their 2017 MotoGP debut season with their new bike RC16

KTM has confirmed its 2017 MotoGP return yesterday (13/8/16) it was confirmed at Red Bull Ring on the eve of the MotoGP Austrian Grand Prix race. With Bradley Smith and Pol Espargaró as riders for 2017.





It will also go ahead with a wildcard appearance in the 2016 season finale at Valencia, with test rider Mika Kallio set to give their new 1000cc MotoGP racer called KTM RC16 making its racing debut in mid-November.

KTM had previously dabbled in the premier class when it supplied V4 engines to Team Roberts for a season in 2005, with three times British Superbike Champion Shane Byrne as their rider.



Since then, it has remained in the 125cc, 250cc championships in the past, and the current Moto3 championship, winning the 125cc manufactures title in 2005, Moto3 manufactures title in 2012, 2013 and 2014 and winning riders' championships for both Sandro Cortese in 2012 and for Maverick Viñales in 2013.



But since 2015 it has taken part in official tests developing a new V4 motorcycle with former factory Kawasaki MotoGP riders Randy de Puniet and Alex Hofmann, with former KTM 125cc and 250cc rider Mika Kallio developing the new bike.

Both Bradley Smith and Pol Espargaro who will be ridding for KTM next season, will be their first full factory MotoGP rides for the current Monster Yamaha Tech 3 riders.





2017 will be an exciting and challenging year ahead for KTM in MotoGP.