Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta says it is negotiating a new five-year deal which would see KTM stay in MotoGP until at least 2031.

There have been great concerns over KTM’s future in the championship following its financial crisis which has unfolded over the last few months.

Last month it won vote with creditors which saw its restructuring plan approved, with the Austrian manufacturer set to pay off only 30% of its €2.2 billion debts.

In December, a creditors hearing concluded with KTM’s exit from MotoGP “planned” under cost-saving measures, but Motorsports Director Pit Beirer said during the brand’s 2025 MotoGP launch that it was already planning its 2027 engine. 

However, the manufacturer is in negotiations with Dorna to extend its stay in the MotoGP championship beyond its current contract, which ends in 2026.

“I’m worried, because I don’t like a team to be in this situation,” Ezpeleta told motosprint.it.

“At the same time, I’m not worried about the racing sector and the brand’s participation in the world championship, this absolutely not.

“On the contrary, we are negotiating right now with the KTM Group for the renewal of the agreement that will run from 2027 to 2031.”

Other manufacturers have also expressed support for KTM amidst its financial problems, with Aprilia CEO Massimo Rivola saying MotoGP has to learn from the Austrian marque’s situation and bring the costs of the championship under control.

‘The Japanese manufacturers will be closer’: Ezpeleta on MotoGP concessions

Ezpeleta also referenced the current concession system aimed at boosting the struggling Honda and Yamaha back to the front of the grid.

Both manufacturers had a promising start to the season at the Thai Grand Prix, and while Ezpeleta doesn’t believe the Japanese brands be ahead of Ducati by the end of this season, he suggests they “will be closer”.

“Yes, even if there is still a while to go,” Ezpeleta said.

“More to Honda than to Yamaha. But I’m sure that at the end of this year they won’t be in front, because Ducati and Aprilia are very strong and KTM is also at a high level.

“But the Japanese manufacturers will be closer.”

READ MORE – KTM compares Pedro Acosta’s MotoGP approach to seven-time Formula 1 champion

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KTM Motorsport Director Pit Beirer compared Pedro Acosta’s approach to MotoGP to seven-time Formula 1 champion Michael Schumacher.

Beirer highlighted the value Acosta brings to the organisation as he made his factory KTM debut in Thailand at the start of March.

The 20-year-old started his sophomore year in the premier class after finishing sixth in his rookie campaign, racking up eight podiums across both Sprint and grand prix races.

“We see that he wants to ride a motorcycle every day, and is tirelessly working to find tracks to train on,” Beirer stated to GPOne in pre-season.

“The results of his fitness and performance tests are all extremely good. Pedro [Acosta] gives it his all.

“We call him a rough diamond. But he wasn’t just born with a great talent, and he’s not resting on his laurels. He certainly has a huge amount of talent, but he also works day and night to achieve maximum success.

“He rides his motorcycle day and night. In my opinion, more than anyone else, and he’s certainly the last rider to leave the paddock because he studies the data very thoroughly with his crew chief Paul Trevathan.

“With his meticulous approach, Pedro reminds me a lot of Michael Schumacher, who always got the most out of his technical package.”

KTM ‘promised’ Pedro Acosta a race winning bike

Beirer heaped further praise on Acosta and called him a talent “you probably only find once in a decade.”

The Spaniard immediately impressed in his second ever grand prix by winning in Qatar, after starting the race from the pit lane.

When asked if Acosta is the most gifted talent to climb up the MotoGP ladder in KTM colours, Beirer didn’t think twice.

“Yes. And during his Moto3 debut in Doha, he even had to start out of the pit lane.

“Pedro is an exceptional talent, the kind you probably only find once in a decade. He’s not the normal Moto2 world champion who then moves up into the higher category, but he’s an exceptional diamond in the rough. The whole scene agrees on that.

“But he has big shoes to fill if you compare him to Marc Marquez, already after his first MotoGP season. Besides, these comparisons are of no use to us. We have to focus on working with him.”

He admitted that he promised Acosta a winning RC16 for the 2025 season, though it remains to be seen whether a victory is attainable.

“Pedro gives us everything, and he demands everything from us. For example, when it comes to the question of whether we’ve done everything to put the best possible motorcycle in the pit for him.

“When during the winter, he asked us whether we were prepared to give him a winning motorcycle, we said ‘yes’. We promised him that.”

READ MORE – KTM: Stefan Pierer resigns from board of directors

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Stefan Pierer has stepped down from his role on the KTM board and has handed over the management of KTM AG to Gottfried Neumeister.

KTM’s restructuring plan was approved by creditors on the 25th of February, meaning the Austrian brand will need to pay €548 million by the 23rd of May.

The brand’s chances of survival improved after acquiring a near total of €900 million investment from external parties.

Pierer founded the Pierer Mobility Group in 1987 and has spent over three decades in KTM’s senior management board, joining in 1992.

Pierer accompanied Nuemeister as co-CEO until the restructuring plan was finalised and will now leave the company altogether.

“I wish Gottfried Neumeister all the best from the bottom of my heart,” Pierer said in a statement.

“In him I have found the perfect successor and I am firmly convinced that he will lead the company successfully into the future.”

Neumeister commented: “I would like to thank Stefan Pierer for his trust in allowing me to continue his life’s work.

“I see it as an honour and an obligation to continue the history of KTM and to break new ground together with our great employees.”

The company revealed that Verena Schneglberger-Grossmann has been appointed to the board, who previously served as head of its legal department.

“Ms. Schneglberger-Grossmann has done an excellent job in her previous role and was instrumental in the successful completion of the restructuring process.

“We are convinced that she will also make a major contribution in her new position,” Neumeister stated.

READ MORE – Pierer Mobility Group restructuring plan approved by creditors

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The Pierer Mobility Group’s restructuring plan to ensure KTM’s survival has been approved by bank creditors in Austria.

On Tuesday in a regional court, KTM will now pay €548 million, which will be paid back by the end of May 2025.

The Austrian outfit will pay back 30% of its over €2 billion debts after entering self-administration in November 2024.

Once this initial payment has been paid, the courts will confirm the restructuring at the start of June.

Reportedly KTM has up to €900 million worth of raised from external parties already.

KTM can begin production again in mid-March after a freeze. It has been reported a €50 million loan from its shareholder Bajaj Auto, who owns a 49.9% stake in KTM.

The marque has reaffirmed its commitment to the MotoGP program for the upcoming season, but its future beyond 2026 remains uncertain.

Pierer Mobility AG released a statement: “This plan provides for creditors to receive a cash quota of 30% of their claims in the form of a one-off payment (cash quota),” read a statement from Pierer Mobility AG.

“In order to fulfil the quota of 30%, KTM AG must deposit an amount of EUR 548 million with the restructuring administrator by 23 May 2025 at the latest.

“The court will then confirm the restructuring plan at the beginning of June 2025 and the restructuring proceedings of KTM AG will end once it becomes legally binding.

“The planned full capacity of the four production lines in single-shift operation is to be achieved within three months.”

READ MORE – BMW Motorrad looking to buyout KTM – report

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Reports indicate that German manufacturer BMW Motorrad is looking to buy Austrian motorbike manufacturer KTM.

KTM is set to have an important meeting with creditors on Tuesday to vote on its restructuring. If the vote is approved, the marque will pay back 30% of its €2-plus billion debts by the end of May.

This important vote could result in KTM declaring bankruptcy if the restructuring plan fails to go ahead.

The Bavarian giants reportedly want to buy KTM but reportedly want to take the brand out of Austria.

BMW want to operate research and development at its Motorrad site in Munich, Germany while producing its bikes in India. The Indian Bajaj Group already manufactures KTM motorbikes.

The report from oe24 indicates that this plan would result in all 4500 members of staff facing unemployment by the end of 2025.

As a result of this action should it go ahead, €225 million of Austrian taxpayers’ insolvency fund would have to financially compensate the members of staff who would be made redundant. This could amount to up to €50,000 per person per year.

This news could see the introduction of BMW in MotoGP after the Bavarian brand had previously expressed interest in joining the series in 2027.

Previously, BMW acquired Suzuki’s team data when the Japanese marque was in the series.

BMW currently races the in the WorldSBK series and won its first two-wheeled title last year with Turkish rider Toprak Razgatlioglu, who one day stated he wanted to ride in MotoGP.

READ MORE – Creditors approve Pierer Industrie AG restructuring plan

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It has been revealed that creditors have approved Pierer Industrie AG’s restructuring plan after proposals were agreed.

This plan being accepted could lead to KTMs survival after debts were reported to exceed €2 billion. In addition, it was reported that around 2,500 claims have been made by its own employees.

On Thursday, these plans were accepted at the Wels Regional Court in Austria, with €247.5 million approved which will be paid in full.

The hearing lasted for approximately one hour. Reportedly, this vote on the European restructuring plan signalled the first time this procedure was undertaken within the country since its introduction on June 17th 2021.

As a result of the hearing, the company will pay back 68.69% of the money owed by the 31st of December 2026 and 2027.

Due to the investment from over 20 external parties reaching up to €900 million, the timeline to pay back its outstanding debts has been shortened.

KTM will face a crucial vote on its plans next Tuesday ahead of the MotoGP season opener in Thailand. Reportedly 30% is expected to be paid to creditors by the end of May, instead of after two years.

According to ORF, €150 million is needed to end the Austrian marque’s production freeze on its product range and MotoGP endeavours. €600 million is required to match the repayment quota.

If the plan is rejected on Tuesday, it is reported that bankruptcy could be on the cards for the Austrian marque.

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Brad Binder says KTM have made “some small steps” in the final MotoGP test before the season opener in Buriram.

KTM had a slow start to the test, but were able to build some momentum to finish the final day of running 4th with Pedro Acosta, while Binder was 12th following a couple of crashes. 

These results come despite the Austrian manufacturer’s documented financial woes, which had previously prevented new upgrades being available for its RC16.

However, Binder thinks there are just some “small pieces” that KTM need to adjust ahead of the first race of the new season. 

“Two days here have gone quickly,” the South African said via Crash.net. 

“We did some time attacks in the morning and then a longer run in the afternoon and it was not too bad. 

“Some small steps for sure, and better than when we were here last time.

“I feel that we are doing quite well and we need to put some more small pieces together for when we come back here in two weeks.

“It will be nice to have a full race weekend: I feel like we have done a lot of testing already!”

Pedro Acosta: KTM ‘can go faster’ than shown in MotoGP testing 

Acosta also insisted it was a good pre-season for both him and the team after ending the final day inside the top five.

The Spanish rider also suggested he can go faster than the lap times he set during the test.

“We need to be happy,” Acosta said, “Again, we tried many things and we are getting the pace quite fast.

“It’s been a good pre-season for me and also for KTM because all four riders are thinking the same way, and the bike has already improved from last year.

“We are faster and it is easier for me to go faster. We need to be calm and then see how we can start the season here.”

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Maverick Vinales shared his number one goal for the Sepang MotoGP test as his new chapter with KTM commenced earlier on Wednesday.

The first day of MotoGP’s first pre-season test has concluded and the whole grid will conduct two further days, finishing on Friday.

Vinales joined Tech3 KTM after a multi-year stint with factory Aprilia as the Spaniard looks to win four MotoGP races with four separate manufacturers.

The Spaniard was the only non-Ducati grand prix winner across the whole 2024 season and finished seventh in the championship standings.

“There’s a lot of work to do,” he stated to Crash.net.

“For me, a successful test will be to understand the limit of the bike, to understand what happens when I’m on a time attack, what happens in race mode, what happens when I try to follow someone.

“To solve all these questions will be a key for me to have a successful test.

“Obviously I don’t know the bike enough to say ‘this is better, this is not better’.

“You can feel it and you can tell. But my target is to answer all these questions I have on my mind.”

Maverick Vinales reveals KTM ambience is ‘good’

The Spaniard revealed that despite its ongoing troubles off-track KTM’s ambience is in a “good” spot.

Vinales highlighted that KTM’s current working atmosphere is what he needs to be successful.

The 30-year-old will race for a satellite outfit for the first time in his MotoGP career but doesn’t think this is a hindrance considering how the tools he has compared with the factory team.

“I think the ambience is good,” he added.

“We all work – and this is the feeling I have – for one mission, and this is very important.

“Last year the championship was decided by a satellite team, so I don’t think right now it’s a question.

“Maybe in the previous years, yes, in another era. But now the bikes are fully equal, all the same.

“The feeling with the team is good and positive, so probably this will work really good.

“And this is the most important thing right now, to keep it simple and work in a good way.

“At the end, the support is there from the factory also. Technically, it looks like that, but when I go inside it doesn’t look like this.”

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Ahead of the 2025 MotoGP season there has been concern over the future of KTM and whether it will be able to line up on the grid in Thailand.

Despite boasting its best-ever team in the premier class with Brad Binder and Pedro Acosta, the financial crisis looming over the Austrian manufacturer has been threatening its MotoGP participation, though it has consistently reaffirmed its commitment to the championship.

KTM has been forced to freeze its development on its RC16 as a result of entering self-administration, and the consequences of the financial crisis are uncertainties over what to expect from the Austrian factory and whether it will be able to snap its two year winless streak.

The concerns also mean that the battle for the number one spot in the factory has been heavily overshadowed. Binder, who has been the team leader since his victory at Brno in 2020 will likely come under pressure from 2024’s rookie sensation in Acosta, who will be desperate to take his first win in the premier class after fantastic performances last year.

How will Pedro Acosta fare in his sophomore season?

Acosta made an immediate impact on debut last season, earning the most podiums of any non-Ducati rider, but he was unable to convert his pace and potential into a victory.

Following the most crashes for any rider in 2024, as well as his first season on the grand prix ladder without a race win, Acosta has been clear that his aim for the upcoming campaign is consistency and better results.

The Spanish rider had been positive about the benefits of signing with the factory team, but the financial concerns have cast doubt over his future with the manufacturer.

Acosta and his manager visited KTM’s factory in Austria in the early weeks of the company’s restructuring process, and while there are still reportedly concerns in the Murcian’s camp, he continues to trust the bosses in charge.

“I’m happy to have made the step up to the official team, which was what we were looking for from the beginning,” he said via Marca.

“The objective will be to finish fine-tuning some points of the bike and look for consistency in the races to fight for better results.

“The current situation of KTM does not affect us at all, and I am sure that they will get through it.”

Will Brad Binder retain his status as KTM’s number one?

On the other side of the garage, it’s set to be a big year for Binder, who will be hoping to cling onto his spot as KTM’s number one rider in 2025.

The South African took the manufacturer’s first MotoGP victory in his debut season in 2020, and impressed fans worldwide the following year after his wet-weather heroics with slick tyres at Spielberg.

However, since the 2021 Styrian GP, Binder has not won a full length grand prix, with KTM’s two victories in 2022 coming at the hands of Miguel Oliveira. Though Binder finished last season as the top-non Ducati, it was clear that his machinery was not good enough to challenge those on the Desmosedici packages.

The lack of victories and the overall drop off in performance for both rider and manufacturer has made 2025 an important year for the South African, who will be aiming to prove why he has been a stalwart at KTM for so long. While Acosta is touted as the next big thing in the championship, it could be that Binder retains his status as MotoGP’s perennial underdog.

READ MORE – KTM riders Brad Binder and Pedro Acosta discuss 2025 MotoGP ambitions

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Factory KTM riders Brad Binder and Pedro Acosta discuss their respective ambitions for the upcoming 2025 MotoGP season.

The Austrian marque bolstered its factory line-up by promoting Acosta after he spent his debut MotoGP campaign with its sister team Tech3, achieving nine podiums and finishing sixth overall in the championship.

This resulted in the departure of four-time race winner Jack Miller, who moved to Pramac Yamaha following an unsuccessful stint that saw just one podium finish over two years.

South African rider Binder remains involved in the KTM project as he embarks on his sixth season with the team in MotoGP.

“It is crazy to think that this is my sixth season in MotoGP already,” he admitted.

“To be honest 2024 was the year where I probably learnt the most. Coming into 2025 I feel that it has made me a much better rider.

“My goal for the season is to take what I learnt and make that step forward to fight with the guys at the front. We are not far.

“We finished 2nd in the Constructors championship so we have one left in front of us.

“When I see how hard people are working at the factory and how much energy there is behind the scenes it is clear we are going to get there.”

Pedro Acosta pinpoints two areas for improvement in 2025

Though Binder has his eyes set on catching Ducati, his team-mate Acosta has set goals disclosing where he can improve on race weekends.

The 20-year-old perceived his debut season as a learning experience to adapt to MotoGP itself but believes there are two areas where he is lacking.

Speaking at the livery unveiling, Acosta stated: “For sure, 2024 was a good year, and we still have some goals that we keep in the pocket.

“I learned how to control a race, and how to adapt to MotoGP. It was a dream come true coming to the factory team after being in Moto3 and Moto2.

“Also having Brad as a teammate and helping develop the bike will be a very good point. It will help that he has a lot of experience in the class and I think we will make a good match together.

“The two main important points for 2025 will be the qualifying and then the first few laps of the race.

“Last year we saw that we had pace to fight for podiums or wins but we were struggling during qualifying.

“So, these two points will be the most important things to improve during this season.”

Acosta believes his elusive first win is coming despite multiple near misses, especially where he claimed his maiden pole position at Motegi.

He admits that his debut year has made him more measured and composed, as he enters the factory team and has a larger team surrounding him.

“For sure in the end, this is the change that I was fighting or looking for,” he said to Crash.net.

“In the end, there were many times this season that we were looking maybe to achieve this first win because we were fighting many times for podiums.

“It’s true that maybe now I am a little bit more calm with experience to make a big change also in the way I’m thinking.

“For sure, I’m more calm than last year and I cannot have a better group of people around me, from the mechanics to the engineers, just from the media.

“Now the key will be to be calm and it will arrive soon.”

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