On a Red Bull Ring which is located on their Austrian lands, Pit Beirer's KTM troops have seriously complicated their lives by not controlling their nerves on the transfer market. For a manufacturer that says it is attached to the family spirit, we were treated to an announcement about a MotoGP rider de facto firing those who were riding the RC16 at the time of its communication. The anger and disappointment of Petrucci and Lecuona were legitimate, their local boss Poncharal had reason to be embarrassed and, worse, the promoted man was not happy with the outcome. Pit Beirer explains, but only in part…
KTM has always made it a point of honor to affirm that he would never force a driver to race for his colors if he did not express the desire to do so. A philosophy that seems to have changed with Raul fernandez which was certainly announced at Tech3 KTM in MotoGP, but without what had all the trappings of a promotion for a Moto2 rider transporting him with joy. On the contrary. We could even go to court to explain ourselves...
The KTM sports boss Pete Beirer explained on motogp.com : " I learned that other manufacturers continued to push Raul Fernandez around, which annoyed me a little. He was delighted to stay in Moto2, it was his wish and we didn't force his hand. However, we made him understand that if he wanted to climb MotoGP, obviously there was an opportunity with us. This is why everything went so quickly yesterday. We wanted to make sure he didn't need to use another manufacturer to get into MotoGP. ».
Pit Beirer: “we had to defuse the thing”
« Our program planned it, not necessarily this Saturday, but everything was ready, there were just a few things left to finalize »Adds Beirer. " In the end, we had to defuse the thing, as some people still tried to talk to him. I also wanted him to stay focused on his performances in Moto2, because he is in the running in the Championship. I would like to thank him, his family and his managers. We managed to reach an agreement to publish this press release, which was not even expected by our own communications department »
The conclusion is more than optimistic given the comments from those around Raul fernandez. A tense atmosphere thatHervé Poncharal absolutely do not deny it. In fact, we would only be at one episode of a soap opera which is now officially launched but which began as soon as Petronas Yamaha launched his nets in the direction of the Spaniard. The latter clearly preferred to have a MotoGP future on an M1 rather than on an RC16 and although revealed by KTM, he wants to be master of his destiny. His desire to do a second year in Moto2 translates into the idea of following the logic of the KTM sector to the end and then being able to make his choices in MotoGP.
The idea would have been to do one last Moto2 season under KTM colors but with already a contract Yamaha in pocket for MotoGP. Jorge Lorenzo made the same move in his time while still at Aprilia in his last year in 250. But KTM, which has already lost Jorge Martin, the winner of the Styrian Grand Prix on a Ducati, decided not to be pillaged anymore. The manufacturer wants to send a message that Pedro Acosta will have to study.
The fact remains that the same manufacturer has put exit clauses, with the 500 euros penalty that Raul Fernandez, his manager, Petronas or Yamaha were ready to honor. KTM apparently refused by exercising the option without notice. Now, either two solutions: or Raul Fernandez accepts the situation, or he persists in the dispute, which promises us good legal times. KTM Its credibility, influence and reputation are at stake.
