Marco Bezzecchi
KTM no longer have to worry about whether they will be allowed to compete in MotoGP this season but may face a new issue as a result of their financial situation.
The Austrian manufacturer entered self-administration last November in an attempt to tackle debts of up to £2 billion, which threatened their participation in MotoGP.
Creditors approved KTM’s restructuring plan on February 25 and they will now be allowed to compete until at least the end of the 2026 season.
Their performance appears to have already taken a hit though, with both Brad Binder and Pedro Acosta suffering difficult weekends at the Grand Prix of Thailand.
Neil Hodgson can’t see a happy ending for KTM despite the positive decision regarding their future. He thinks a miracle is required to save them from major debt.
Another thing that doesn’t help is Acosta being angry at KTM, which could unsettle his position and leave them without their most prized asset in the future.
KTM face a ‘massive problem’ after Brad Binder suffered vibrations in Thailand
While the team looks for an investor to support its running in motorsport, they may have to face the consequences of being cash-strapped.
Development may take a hit and their riders could end up with less upgrades and a slower bike to work with.
Mat Oxley believes that they have another issue too. The rear of their bike is still unstable and they’re suffering from vibrations.
“KTM are in a massive hole,” he said. “Binder says ‘yeah, they’ve still got the vibration.’ Miller was saying yesterday, even though he crashed out of the sprint, he said ‘I’m happy.’ I said why?
“He says because the back of the bike isn’t trying to, the rear tyre isn’t trying to jump out of the back of the bike every time I go into a corner. I’m enjoying riding again.
“Although they’ve got this mass-damper of some sort at the back of the factory bikes that Acosta and Binder are riding, they’ve still got a massive problem.”
READ MORE: KTM manager privately issues blunt response to BMW takeover rumours
KTM have made 2025 bike change which is ‘exactly’ what Brad Binder needs
Despite featuring on the podium just once last season, Binder managed to finish sixth in the riders’ championship.
He has been affiliated with KTM for 10 years now, dating back to his Moto3 days. He did win a title with them back in 2016.
Ahead of the 2025 campaign, KTM made a bike change Binder ‘exactly’ needed to make him feel more comfortable on their machine.
On the evidence of the season-opener, it appears that he may need a little more help after struggling to finish in eighth place.
Acosta’s early crash also indicates that the vibration and rear end issues aren’t limited to one rider, and rather something that should be addressed for the sake of their four bikes.
Receive racing news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
