KTM is setting up its system for the coming years in Grand Prix, with a certain coherence which goes from political logic to the means allocated to ambition. A strong pipeline starting from the Red Bull Rookies Cup; followed by Moto3 with several teams, then Moto2 with also certain partners before the bottleneck is logically reduced to a MotoGP which will receive the best from the obstacle course. There, an official team will play with the big boys with, in support, a satellite Tech3 skilled at polishing rough diamonds forever. Everyone seems to have their place and their mission. Except one, for the moment left by the side of the road: Bradley Smith.
Mattighofen official since the start of the adventure with the RC16, like a Pol Espargaro who, like him, left the Tech3 ranks to take the official KTM leather, Bradley Smith seems to have eaten his white bread. Its average results logically did not make it a priority when redistributing the cards and, to this day, it is the collateral damage of the new system of the Austrian brand. But the idea of a return under the Tech3 awning emerged, a way of seeing that Pete Beirer, patron of sports in orange tunics, did not discourage him, without however lending credence to it.
Hervé Poncharal, on the other hand, is very clear on the subject: it's no. He explains why crash.net : « I have respect for Bradley, whom I know very well, and I would never say bad things about him. But this rumor is a matter between Pit Beirer who represents KTM and Bradley Smith. He's a good pilot. But I signed to be a KTM junior team, to train young riders and that's why we won't have Johann Zarco anymore, by the way ».
« Bradley stayed with us for four years on a satellite bike and he joined an official team to become a factory rider. For some reason that doesn't concern me and that I don't want to know, this factory didn't want to keep him. So what would be the logic of taking back a driver that the manufacturer no longer wants to put him in a team intended to train young talents for this manufacturer? It wouldn't make any sense. For KTM, Tech3 has a complementary mission ».
He finishes : " Pit Beirer never spoke to me about the Smith case and Bradley never contacted me on the subject. I discovered this in the media. There is only one bike left since we have signed Miguel Oliveira. I have nothing against Smith, I repeat, but he does not fit into the logic of our vocation for KTM ". During this time, we will recall that the French boss insists on the fact that he would like to keep Syahrin in its ranks.
