Marco Bezzecchi
KTM continue to have an uncertain future in MotoGP beyond the 2026 season, with a bailout by Bajaj Auto just serving as a sticking plaster while new investment is sought.
Indian motorcycle giant Bajaj completed its acquisition of a 74.9% majority share in the KTM brand in November after finalising its takeover of PIERER Mobility. Yet it has not silenced the concerns that KTM might not be in the MotoGP field when the 2027 850cc regulations start.
CEO Rajiv Bajaj has revealed that Bajaj Auto wants to cut KTM’s costs by as much as 50% to try to balance the books. Selling the team is also possibly on the cards, with claims that Bajaj wants £88m to sell the KTM MotoGP team as KTM’s motorsport program costs £53m a year.
But KTM CEO Gottfried Neumeister has now ruled out one possible option to sell the brand’s MotoGP team after hearing an “unbelievable” rumour. Neumeister has also shown Pit Beirer his support to continue the “incredible job” the German does as KTM’s motorsport director.
Gottfried Neumeister rules out selling the KTM MotoGP to CFMoto
KTM CEO Neumeister hopes to find fresh investment by Christmas, and he would ideally like a partner who is willing to cover 30% of the costs of running the MotoGP team. But the idea that KTM may sell up entirely to CFMoto is inane, as Neumeister refuses to offer full control.
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Neumeister confirms that a delegation from CFMoto has visited the KTM MotoGP factory in Munderfing, including its CEO and owner Lai Minjie. But the Chinese motorcycle giant would want to take over total control of the KTM MotoGP team to increase its existing partnership.
“I can rule that out, because it would mean selling the project completely,” Neumeister told Motorsport-Magazin. “There are many interested parties who want to acquire a majority stake and manage our team themselves. But that’s not an option for us.
“Motorsport director Pit Beirer is doing an incredible job and should continue to do so. We have a partnership with CFMoto.
“After EICMA, I invited CEO and owner Lai Minjie, who was already in Europe, to come here [to the KTM factory]. A photo of this visit was taken and, from that, it was fabricated that we were selling to CFMoto. It’s unbelievable how such rumours arise.”
CFMoto and KTM have been in a partnership since 2017
CFMoto and KTM formalised their partnership in 2017, which sees the Chinese and Austrian brands work together on manufacturing projects in Asia. KTM even handled the distribution of CFMoto bikes in Europe from 2022 but backed out of those duties this April to save costs.
The brand’s existing ties thus made it easy to envisage CFMoto being a leading contender to buy the KTM MotoGP team if Bajaj was to sell up. There have also been indications that Red Bull buying KTM’s MotoGP team cannot be ruled out, with Red Bull another current partner.
It now remains to be seen if a party is prepared to put forward the funds that KTM desire for a stake in the MotoGP team, especially before Neumeister’s Christmas deadline. The clock is even potentially ticking on a party offering the funds that will keep KTM in MotoGP in 2027.
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