Pete Beirer (KTM Motorsport): “It is a great honor for us to be here in the new KTM Motorsport building, in the presence of the world's most important promoters, sponsors, the team, the entire board of administration of the KTM Group, board members WP and Pankl, chief designer Gerald Kiska, and of course, our factory riders and motorsport employees. A new building was inevitable after the integration of Husqvarna three years ago, and the decision to enter the MotoGP category. For this concept it was a very important matter for us that the entire KTM Motorsport family could strive for new successes under one roof. Many thanks to the team at Architekturbüro Hofbauer de Wels for the brilliant planning. With Stefan Pierer as the key decision-maker and leader of the KTM Group, and with the passion of our employees, we will be able to pursue top goals together and celebrate our future successes. »
Since KTM's first world title in 1974 by Gennadij Moiseev (Motocross 250), the brand has so far won 269 additional world titles, 15 consecutive Dakar victories, and in the last two seasons it has taken the biggest title final of the All-Terrain, first place in the Supercross World Championship. Now, after a first victory in the 2016 Moto3 World Championship, KTM will enter Moto2 in 2017, the intermediate category of road racing, and the premier category, MotoGP.
Stefan pierer (CEO KTM Group): “Motorsports is nothing without strong promoters and loyal sponsors, and we are therefore particularly happy to welcome them all here for this special day. In 1992, KTM Racing was still a single small workshop, and was successfully tackling Rallying and Motocross, alongside the initial niche of Enduro, under the strong leadership of Heinz Kinigadner. Meanwhile, since Pit Beirer managed the mechanical ports in 2006, the team has grown to more than 300 employees worldwide, and employs more than 60 factory drivers. “Ready to Race” and competition are a way of thinking that keeps the company dynamic and drives our more than 3000 employees in Mattighofen and Munderfing every day. Five percent of our annual sales are invested in motorsport and position KTM Europe as the largest manufacturer of sports motorcycles with the ambitious goal of being on podiums around the world in the years to come. »
The new Motorsport building covers an area of 18.000 m2. It is located directly behind KTM Engine Factory in Munderfing and is flanked by the new KTM Logistic Center and WP Group. The ground floor offers an area of 110 x 60 meters, enough space for workshops in the Motocross, Enduro, Rally and MotoGP categories, including truck parking spaces. The first floor has over 2000 m2 of storage space, while the upper floor has 50 modern offices for 180 employees. Around half of KTM Motorsport employees can benefit from this perfect infrastructure on a daily basis, and provide the basis for the company's unique commitment to motorsport on a global level.
