On the occasion of the presentation of its MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3 teams, the Austrian manufacturer shined the spotlight on four of the decision-makers who have made it now the only manufacturer to have at least one official team in each of the three categories.
Today we will focus on Pit Beirer, KTM Competition Director, before getting to know Mike Leitner, the MotoGP team manager, and Stefan Pierer, the CEO, better, then we will close this little series with the famous Aki Ajo.
Second in the motocross world in 1999 behind the Frenchman Frederic Bolley, Pit Beirer also finished third four times on a Honda in 1997, 1998, 2000 and 2002, totaling 7 Grand Prix victories, before following a racing accident in 2003 he became paraplegic. At the time, it was the equivalent of the current one for German motocross. Ken Roczen, World Champion in 2011 in the MX2 category, then winner of the AMA motocross championship in the 450 cm3 category in 2014 and 2016. Pit Beirer is 44 years old, having been born on October 17, 1972 in Radolfzell, in Baden-Württemberg.
In 2013, Beirer was appointed sports manager of Husqvarna (a KTM subsidiary), then he took charge of KTM's off-road activities under the orders ofHeinz Kinigadner (World Motocross Champion in 250 cm3 in 1984 and 1985) before being appointed Director of Competition for the Austrian manufacturer. It is interesting to note that all the competition managers at KTM are hands-on men, with decades on the circuits, like Pit Beirer and Heinz Kinigadner, and also Mike leitner, now team manager of the MotoGP team and previously technical manager of the Honda Dani Pedrosa. What is original in this practice is that manufacturers generally choose as head of their racing department someone from marketing, accounting, scooter manufacturing or even automobile.
Although he came from motocross, Pit Beirer very quickly understood the mysteries of Grands Prix on asphalt because he is a competitor at heart. Winning is what counts, whatever the discipline, because “whatever bottle matters”… Beyond his experience as a pilot, Beirer gradually acquired the methods necessary to manage tasks as different as technique, logistics, communication, and even relationships with company management, which must not be easy every day with a boss like Stefan pierer. But both men already speak German, as do Heinz Kinigadner and Mike Leitner, which makes things easier. For Beirer, “We already have a lot of racing experience, but getting to compete at this level in MotoGP is another dimension for our whole company. But we like pressure because we're competitors, so it's nothing special for us to deal with.
“Of course, these last weeks and months have been an adventure and a huge effort from the whole company, so I have to say thank you to our board and to Mr. Pierer for putting their trust in us so that we let's be ready to race in MotoGP. All of this would not have been possible without our participation in all the other disciplines we have raced in before. For us, it's a dream come true.
“We have trained young drivers in all disciplines, and we stand together with them, through good times and bad. It was sad for us to train a lot of good young riders in the Red Bull Rookies Cup, who could then go to Moto3, but then it was horrible to lose them when they moved to Moto2.
“Imagine what it would have been like if a World Champion like Brad Binder had to leave us. Now that we are competing in Moto2, we have closed the gap, so our young talents can stay with us throughout their careers and in all categories. »
Pit Beirer in motocross, here on Yamaha:
Photos © Gold & Goose, Philip Platzer, Focus Pollution and Sebas Romero for KTM / Beirer in action: Yamaha
