After the latest acquisitions made on the transfer market, Pit Beirer, director of KTM Motorsport, does not hide his satisfaction with the future of the team. Last week, KTM officially confirmed that it had reached an agreement with Maverick Viñales and Enea Bastianini for the 2025 and 2026 MotoGP seasons. They will ride for the Tech3 team, while the GasGas brand will disappear from the paddock. The bikes will feature the colors of KTM and Red Bull.
« You can imagine we are very happy right now,” says Pete Beirer on this new situation put in place. “ Because we have developed a package for the future which is very promising. With Enea Bastianini and Maverick Viñales we have two very strong drivers on board »
Beirer underlines the importance of this maneuver: “ if you look at the facts, our pilots represent the next stage of the project aiming to advance the entire package,” he says with conviction. “ Maverick won in America and what Enea showed at Mugello shows the quality of these guys »
However, the same Beirer recognizes that KTM still needs to progress: I feel that on a really good day we can win. Unfortunately, we've been missing this for some time. On a good day we we are between second and fourth place behind Ducati. But I also say on a good day, because other days, Aprilia is stronger than us »
« We're not quite there yet. We need to take the next step on the bike and in the team to really beat the leaders. Enea and Maverick can bring something to the project,” adds the German.
Despite the enthusiasm, Beirer remains realistic about the impact of their new recruits: “ believing that you take a rider from another brand and then use his knowledge to develop a better bike immediately does not work,” he emphasizes. “ But there are often things to learn during setup. Of course this information is useful »
Pit Beirer KTM: “ we believe that these recruitments will help us take a new step in this category »
Beirer also discusses the rapid transfer of Casa Particular in Viñales : " we have never lost contact since he became world champion with a KTM,” he remembers of the 3 Moto2013 season. “ Then there was this moment when we met and talked. He made us feel like he wanted to be with us »
He pursues : " Maverick currently has a great team and bike. It was a positive surprise that he was really open towards us and that he meant it. He didn't try to get an offer from us and then play poker elsewhere. We sat down, discussed the terms and came to an agreement. It was a great experience and it felt very right to us »
The fact remains that, for years, Casa Particular in Viñales lacked consistency to show these exceptional performances week after week. KTM is aware of this: “ of course, I'm not blind. If he doesn't feel comfortable, then things are really bad. For him, the human side and a good environment are very important. I think we have good ideas and people on the team to work well with him. I think we can do it »
Speaking on bastianini, Beirer notes: “ if he continues with us as he did at Mugello, we would be very happy. We need fast, high quality drivers. The goal is to give him a team and a machine he is happy with. If he is satisfied, he will perform. »
The ambitions of KTM are clear: we hired the best drivers in the world to fight for the podium. The pressure is on us to provide them with the right package. They proved to be Grand Prix winners »
With this package and with Dani Pedrosa et Pol Espargaro, Beirer is confident: “ This is never a guarantee, of course, but we believe that this will help us take a new step in this category » he concludes on motorsport total.
