“Not enough to be there” – KTM is going for the world title in 2023

The Mattighofners are entering their seventh season in the premier class, seven MotoGP victories (5 by graduate Miguel Oliveira, 2 by Brad Binder), a total of 18 podiums and three pole positions have looked out on the RC16 so far. With Brad Binder, who is starting his fourth MotoGP season with KTM, and the newly hired Jack Miller, the people from the Innviertel feel ready for the record season that begins on March 26 in Portugal.

“Second place in the team standings is something we’re happy to take and a starting point for the future,” explained Francesco Guidotti, Team Manager of the Red Bull KTM Team, at the team presentation on Thursday. But you don’t want to be satisfied with that. “We are a factory team and the only goal we can have is the title. That’s easy to say, but not easy to achieve. But that’s the main goal,” emphasized Guidotti before the most comprehensive season with 21 races, which will be held on August 20th at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg and end on November 26th in Valencia.

Since the KTM RC16 announced its entry into the premier class for the 2017 season in 2016, the title in the premier class has been the big dream of the Upper Austrians. You are now prepared for this. “It’s been a crazy journey and we’ve enjoyed it immensely, but now just ‘being there’ and being a good, organized team isn’t enough anymore. We need results. We made a big push for 2023 to be better than ever,” said Motorsport Director Pit Beirer.

Consistency should be the key to success. “It will be important to always be competitive and in the top 5,” said Guidotti, who sees himself in an excellent position with his driver duo. Binder finished on the podium three times last season and finished sixth in the World Championship. Instead of the Portuguese Miguel Oliveira, who celebrated two wins this season but was only tenth in the World Championship due to a lack of consistency, Miller was brought in. The Australian, one point ahead of Binder in fifth place in the 2022 World Championship, was brought in by Ducati. “Our drivers Jack and Brad are a special combo and the team will be very strong because of these two special personalities,” said Guidotti. “I’m super confident with the two guys we have on board,” praised Beirer.

Binder also exudes this confidence. “It’s my fourth year in this class and I think 2023 will be our best chance yet to really make a difference,” said the 27-year-old. The team really gets going with the test drives from February 10th to 12th in Sepang, two weeks before the start of the World Championship a second test weekend is scheduled in Portugal on March 11th and 12th.