KTM managing director confirms decision on MotoGP future amid financial crisis

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KTM and satellite team Tech3 will launch their 2025 bikes in around a fortnight’s time. But that event will feel like a sideshow in the midst of a crisis at Mattighofen.

KTM enter the MotoGP season with more than £2bn of debt. With the launch date pencilled in, they’re clearly committed to racing in 2025.

But beyond that, their plans have been unclear. Withdrawing from motorsport would significantly reduce expenditure and, in theory, allow the company to pay off some of their creditors.

Inevitably, their riders are already unsettled. The jewel in KTM’s crown is Pedro Acosta, who enjoyed a memorable rookie season in 2024.

Acosta may already regret signing a KTM factory deal in light of recent developments. Rival manufacturers will be monitoring his situation closely.

Meanwhile, Enea Bastianini has signed with a new management company, aware that he may soon have to negotiate a move away from Tech3. Bastianini agreed a ‘relatively small’ deal for 2025, easing some of the pressure on KTM.

KTM vow to continue racing until at least the end of 2026 – and maybe beyond

KTM’s MotoGP contract runs until the end of the 2026 season. And they still intend to honour that agreement, aware that they’d face penalties for failing to do so.

But speaking to the Austrian Press Agency, via Sky, Christopher Schipper said they could continue racing into 2027, when the regulations will change significantly. Schipper, the managing director of KTM Austria, has been in constant conversation with motorsport chief Pit Beirer and administrator Peter Vogl.

KTM see their motorsport division as essential because of its marketing power – their slogan is ‘ready to race’. Even though withdrawing would save money, it could therefore hurt them in the long run.

Regardless of who invests in KTM, Schipper says, motorsport will be at the core of the ‘business plan’.

“We need motorsport as the main instrument for marketing our products,” he said. “[Vogl] is clearly heavily involved and now knows the importance of motorsport as a marketing tool. Motorsport is part of the future business plan, whoever the owner and investor will be.

“We will be in MotoGP at least until 2026, as planned,” he added, before confirming that an extension into 2027 was ‘conceivable’.

Why Aleix Espargaro thinks Pedro Acosta can win 2025 MotoGP title at KTM

KTM have a title sponsorship deal with Red Bull, who oversee an extensive motorsport empire. If they took over, they’d surely recognise the importance of racing.

However, Red Bull aren’t a ‘serious candidate’ to buy KTM. It’s unclear how long the team have to find a suitable investor.

Mercedes are a potential KTM saviour, with Beirer already involved in their meetings. But there have been no firm developments on that front.

Many will be wondering whether the off-track situation will affect the team’s development this year. But Aleix Espargaro still thinks Acosta can win the title due to his ‘incredible’ talent.