KTM is ready for some serious MotoGP 2020 podium contention with the official unveiling of the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing and Red Bull KTM Tech 3 liveries. Fighting for the top spot will be Pol Espargaro and Brad Binder on the factory squad as well as Miguel Oliveira and Iker Lecuona on the satellite outfit.
All four bikes will be the latest spec 2020 KTM RC16 and judging by how they performed during the recent Sepang MotoGP Test aka “Winter Test” earlier this month, they’re well on their way to developing a race-winning machine with Pol Espargaro consistently throwing down some incredible lap times at the Sepang International Circuit.
The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing is sticking to the same iconic livery as 2019 whereas the Red Bull KTM Tech3 is going with a new ‘Organics by Red Bull’ colourway (which looks completely awesome, by the way). With the addition of Dani Pedrosa as their test rider, we have high hopes that 2020 might be the year for KTM.
As for the rookies, Brad Binder and Iker Lecuona, getting ready with the KTM RC16 might take some time as the entire grid is getting faster and faster but knowing how successful the KTM racing academy has been, we might just see them going up the grid sooner than we think, especially with the third-generation machine that’s more rider-friendly and competitive.
According to Pit Beirer, KTM’s Motorsport Director, “2020 is about to begin and I would say we are exactly where we expected to be. We’ve had everything on a road map and have followed it with the full support of the company and the board. Last year we worked with a satellite team and four riders that provided valuable feedback and the groups spurred each other on, but, at the same time, it pushed us to the limit for resources and raised us to the peak where we are now.”
“We will continue to give it everything we’ve got to make improvements in MotoGP. This is an important season for us. I’m convinced we have done an excellent job in the background to be lining up with a very good motorcycle on the starting grid, but we will be measured by our lap-times!” added Beirer.
