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KTM's 2022 began with the presentation of the RC16s of the official team and of the Tech3 satellite team. For the official team, which lines up Brad Binder and Miguel Oliveira, the traditional Red Bull graphics were used, while Remy Gardner and Raul Fernandez will sport orange, the symbolic color of the Austrian brand.
Francesco Guidotti, the official team's new Team Manager, commented: "It's always important to do better than the previous year. To do this, we need more consistent results, more consistency in the top five and on the podium. We have to develop the bike to make the riders happy, to give them the right feeling and confidence to achieve these results. Of course, their position is important because they need to show the potential of the bike and the project. They have two, three years of experience in this category now, so maybe it's the right moment to use this experience. They've already won a few races, so the ability and potential is there. We have to see it more regularly. In the past five years, the results have been incredible. Starting from scratch like KTM did, and what they achieved, is unbelievable, and we want to continue like this."
Hervé Poncharal, Tech3’s Principal added: "The start of a new season is always an intense, exciting moment. 2022 is very special for us, because we have the pleasure to welcome Remy Gardner and Raul Fernandez, who respectively finished first and second in the 2021 Moto2 world championship. A lot of work has been done this winter to prepare for the 2022 season, both on the bike and in the organization of the technical structure. The Tech3 KTM factory team has had a few changes of its own, too. We are now impatient and ready to start. With two rookies, we don't expect to win the championship, but our main goal will be to win the rookie of the year title in the MotoGP class. We hope for some important finishes, in the top ten and why not the top five? With riders like Remy and Raul, we have to dream big. In recent years, rookies have reached the podium, so it could be us this year."
Pit Beirer, KTM’s Motorsport Director, took stock of the situation: "2021 was the most successful motorsports season ever in our group. It's amazing what we've done in a year in the road racing paddock, winning the Moto3 world championship and the Moto2 world championship and finishing sixth in the MotoGP. It's super motivating for everything in the future. When you start a project like this in the MotoGP, you want to win a race one day. To say that sounds quite simple, but to actually do it is an incredible effort from so many people involved. We made it happen, and then some. It's on paper, but we also had to learn the hard way. You win one weekend in that class, but the next weekend you're struggling to qualify for the Q2 because everyone's so close. The goal for us now is to be there consistently every weekend, get into the top five and fight for the podium in the end-of-season standings. That has to be the goal for this season. I know it's a very high one, because the other manufacturers also have ambitious goals, but we’re strong now. We have the team, the base, the bike, and we have the riders.”
Hubert Trunkenpolz, member of the Executive Board, KTM CMO, added: “For the first time ever, we exceeded a turnover of two billion, and it’s another milestone for the company. A continuation of the years of growth. It's an incredible success story, and we're extremely happy to have achieved it. On the one side, when we take a look at motorsports in general, we’ve reached twenty-one titles, and this is also another record and engagement in motorsports. It is the most important marketing tool we have by far. For sure, this incredible success in motorsports is strengthening the company's revenue and brand awareness, and it is incredibly important. There were some incredible stories in 2021. Miguel's three consecutive podiums, Brad's win at home, Pedro Acosta, the fight for the Moto2 title. We can't wait to see what happens in 2022. Riders who know how to win races also know how to win championships. It's up to us now to give them the right material, the right structure, the right team, and the right situation. Also, the right back-up from the factory. Hopefully, the riders will be the ones helping us all achieve our goals."
