KTM Motorsport director talks about his ‘revolution’ in MotoGP: “No one can decide everything”

In KTM is not happy. The 2024 MotoGP season left a bitter taste for those from Mattighofen, since its best drivers in the formation classification are in fifth and sixth positions. Brad Binder added 291 points less than Jorge Martín, the world champion, while Pedro Acosta closed his locker 293 points behind the best classified.

“I have to be honest and our expectations are a little higher, especially for Brad Binder and Jack Miller; we had ups and downs“, Pit Beirer, director of KTM Motorsport, recently acknowledged for the official MotoGP website. “We had a really difficult summer, but at least we managed to stabilize the situation and get some decent results (…) we have six podiums on Saturdays and six on Sundays. We’re the second best manufacturer, so that’s great. But of course We thought we were closer to Ducati” he added.

Looking ahead to 2025, only one driver in four retains his position. Brad Binder will continue in the official team, but this time he will be joined by Pedro Acosta who has been promoted from the box led by Hervé Poncharal. In its part, Maverick Vinales and Enea Bastianini They will form a pair with the rest of the KTM team after the Spaniard left Aprilia and the Italian Ducati.

Change of address

Another very important change is in the position of team manager. Francesco Guidotti has been fired and will be replaced by Aki Ajo: “Unfortunately, we didn’t get the success we wanted for many small reasons. We made the decision for Ajo because he is a man who works really closely with the pilots and I think he can give you some good advice on what to do on the track. There is major work to be done in the factory to build a good bike, because you can’t close the gap between the bikes at the weekend with just the riders (…) “we don’t think Aki will come to solve all our problems, but it is also about team planning: when to get out of ‘qualy’, when to do the attack timeand all those organizational aspects“, Beirer pointed out during the conversation.

Beirer also spoke about position of technical director, after Fabiano Sterlacchini left KTM to join Aprilia: “Fabiano is the man who tries to do everything. Now, obviously, we made a separation. Sebastian Risse is 100% responsible for our technical decisions on the track, along with Aki, and at home we have a very strong team on both the engine and chassis side.. They will take on other responsibilities, as well as our test team program leader with Dani Pedrosa. You can see it as a team where all the names I mentioned will make decisions after each race (…) I strongly believe that no one can decide everything for a MotoGP project“.

these days, The test team, with Dani Pedrosa and Pol Espargaró, is conducting a test at the Jerez-Ángel Nieto circuit. Maverick Viñales is also at the Andalusian track facilities, but due to regulations he cannot ride a motorcycle.