Jonas Folger will continue as a test rider for KTM in MotoGP in 2024. The rider joined the project this year, standing in as a replacement for Pol Espargaró at GasGas Tech3 on six occasions. Despite the Spaniard taking on the role of test and wildcard rider, the German will remain within the structure.

Confirmation came from KTM Motorsport director Pit Beirer, speaking to SPEEDWEEK.com: ‘We extended the contract with Jonas. First, because he did a great job this year as a test rider and because he did a good job as a reserve rider this year when he came to Texas and really replaced Pol in many races’.

In an expanded team of test riders, veterans Dani Pedrosa and Mika Kallio also remain, a situation that pleases the manufacturer as stated by the Austrian: ‘With three test riders, we are certainly in a luxury situation. And we also have Mika. Our MotoGP test team really likes working with Jonas. That’s why there was no discussion about the new agreement’.

O conteúdo Jonas Folger remains as KTM’s test rider for MotoGP in 2024 aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

With three rounds to go, KTM is in second place in the Constructors’ World Championship and has been the main rival of the dominant and already crowned Ducati. These are impressive results that make the manufacturer from Mattighofen proud, six years after entering the premier class, as confirmed by the Sports Director, Pit Beirer.

The Austrian told SPEEDWEEK.com: ‘We didn’t achieve all our goals, but we are still proud of our performance. Because we only entered MotoGP in 2017 and we are now the strongest challenger for the Ducati team – I dare say’.

Beirer acknowledged the good work done by Ducati but also emphasized that KTM is second in the constructors’ hierarchy on its own merit: ‘They have set the standard, I take my hat off to them! Since they have eight riders, opponents have to be very strong to reach the podium or close to the podium. Sometimes we narrowly missed the podium in races outside of Europe, but now it worked out in Thailand. That’s why we deserve to be the second in the constrcutor standings. We are proud of that’.

O conteúdo ‘KTM is now Ducati’s strongest challenger’ – Pit Beirer aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

KTM has already announced Pedro Acosta as a rider for GasGas Tech3 in MotoGP in 2024, but rumors continue to circulate about his possible promotion to the premier class with the Red Bull KTM team.

According to SPEEDWEEK.com, the possibility of the Spanish rider moving directly to the factory team may not be entirely ruled out. If this were to happen, Jack Miller would move to GasGas Tech3. Given Acosta’s strong results in Moto2, the German publication questions: ‘Will the Pierer Group stick to the plan and continue with [Brad] Binder and Miller at Red Bull KTM? Or could Pedro Acosta be transferred to the KTM Factory Team instead of Miller?’.

Pit Beirer, KTM’s Motorsports Director, appears to deny this possibility, stating: ‘Miller is planned for KTM, and Acosta for GasGas’.

Despite these statements, it wouldn’t be the first time KTM promoted a rider directly from Moto2 to their factory team, as was the case with Brad Binder in 2020. The Austrian team is well aware of Acosta’s talent and potential, so much so that the Director, Hubert Trunkenpolz, referred to him as the ‘new Marc Márquez’ this summer.

For now, any scenario that puts Acosta in Red Bull KTM and Miller in GasGas Tech3 in 2024 remains pure speculation. However, given that the Australian rider has struggled to meet expectations in his first season, and Acosta is seen as a precious talent for the future, such a swap would not be entirely out of the question, despite the official announcements already made.

O conteúdo Could Pedro Acosta join Red Bull KTM in place of Jack Miller as early as 2024? aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

In a future where the chassis is expected to be the differentiating factor for teams in MotoGP, MV Agusta could potentially enter the premier class after the 2026 season. (https://motorcyclesports.net/pit-beirer-and-the-future-of-motogp-manufacturers-will-have-an-engine-platform-and-teams-will-differentiate-with-the-chassis/)

The legendary Italian brand is owned by the Pierer Mobility Group, just like KTM. Pit Beirer, the Motorsports Director of the Mattighofen-based manufacturer, revealed to GPOne.com that if the envisioned future materializes, MV Agusta could make a return to MotoGP:«

– It is possible that we enter MotoGP with MV Agusta as a separate brand. You have to start somewhere. MV Agusta has already won several world titles, regardless of the fact that it is now active in the luxury sector. I do not rule out involvement in MotoGP with MV Agusta after 2026.

O conteúdo MV Agusta’s return to MotoGP as manufacturer is possible ‘after 2026’ aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

MotoGP regulations are stable until the end of the 2026 season, but preparations for the future are already underway. According to Pit Beirer, the future of the sport may be similar to the current setup in Formula 1.

The KTM Motorsport Director revealed to GPOne.com that in the future, the chassis will make the difference between teams, while manufacturers will each have their own engine platform to supply:

– If there are new concessions for well-known manufacturers like KTM, we will have to think carefully about whether we spend the money on a third team in this category and in this sport. MotoGP will develop in the direction of Formula 1. Manufacturers will have an engine platform as in Formula 1. Teams will then differentiate themselves with a different chassis. The power units will remain the same.

O conteúdo Pit Beirer and the future of MotoGP: ‘Manufacturers will have an engine platform, and teams will differentiate with the chassis’ aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

In 2027, MotoGP engines are set to have their displacement reduced from 1,000 cubic centimeters to 850cc. The rules have specified the current displacement since 2012.

During the summer of this year, the General Manager of Ducati Corse, Gigi Dall’Igna, told SPEEDWEEK.com that only two manufacturers were not in favor of this change. Now, the KTM motorsports director, Pit Beirer, revealed to the same website that there is now an agreement: ‘We agree with the reduction to 850cc. We believe that this is a relatively sensible reduction. Because if you take away 150cc, you take away torque and power from the class. You can work with very cool MotoGP regulations with 850cc. There is now a stable majority in favor of 850cc’.

Aprilia was initially against this change, but according to Beirer, the Noale-based manufacturer has also come around: ‘Aprilia would have liked to stick with the 1,000cc engine in principle. That was our original idea. But after many discussions, we moved in the direction of 850cc, which has many positive aspects. Of course, there is also a cost factor for us not to make such radical changes to the engine because it would have been cheaper to continue working on the basis of an existing engine. And it’s not just Aprilia that is concerned about costs, it’s all of us’.

O conteúdo Manufacturers agree to reduce MotoGP engines to 850cc aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

Dani Pedrosa will continue to be a test rider for KTM in MotoGP. This was a role he took on in 2019 after ending his competitive racing career.

Since joining the Mattighofen manufacturer, Pedrosa has been a key member of the project, making a decisive contribution to the development of the bike – as evidenced by the improvement in results since then. In addition to riding in several test sessions, #26 has also made wildcard appearances, with the next one scheduled for the San Marino Grand Prix next week.

Francesco Guidotti, Red Bull KTM team manager, said in a press release: ‘Dani’s MotoGP experience is immense and he showed us in Jerez that he is still capable of setting P1 lap-times! That ability and his standards and his unique feeling for a Grand Prix machine is what makes him so important and an inspiration to us and the riders. We are keeping many parts of our MotoGP project consistent and stable, so this commitment with Dani is very positive. We are looking forward to Misano!’.

KTM’s motorsport director, Pit Beirer, commented: ‘The feedback and all the laps Dani have given us with the test team has helped make our RC16 what it is today: a bike that is one of the fastest on the track and one of the best to have in a fight. He knows our program, our technicians and our philosophy very well after five years together and the work is just as important as ever. We’re delighted to keep him in the structure and for Dani to continue helping us achieve our MotoGP goals’.

O conteúdo Official: Dani Pedrosa renews with KTM aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.