Current MotoGP rookie Pedro Acosta will join Brad Binder, who has been with Red Bull KTM for five years, at the main Austrian team next season. Meanwhile, Tech3 will feature an all-new line-up with multiple race winners Maverick Vinales and Enea Bastianini. However, KTM motorsports director Pit Beirer has clarified that no rider or team will have automatic number one status. Instead, if new development parts are limited, they will be distributed based on championship standings.
“We spoke to all four boys about how we’re going to work in the future,” Beirer explained. “We really try to combine each rider with the people around them and then supply four identical machines to start the season. It’s not the plan to bring a new part to the track for only one rider to try. But you might have moment when you make something new, it’s better, but you can only make [enough] for one-rider. Then the best rider in the points standing will get it.”
Beirer emphasized that the rider leading in points would be considered the team captain. “The team captain will be the number one rider in the points standings from our group.” He also noted that this approach differs from the traditional MotoGP setup where factory teams get new parts first and satellite teams second. He added, “The boys have to get the material.”
KTM has already demonstrated this policy by providing Acosta, currently with GASGAS at Tech3. With the latest parts due to his top standing among KTM riders in the world championship. Beirer believes this approach, along with Acosta’s impressive achievements, helped attract Vinales and Bastianini to Tech3/KTM.
“Through Pedro, we had a great chance this year to prove this [full support for Tech3 riders] concept. That also helped these riders to come,” Beirer said. “It’s racing, so the strongest will be the captain.”
Next season, all four RC16 riders will also have similar visual branding, with Tech3 adopting Red Bull KTM colors after two seasons as ‘GASGAS’.
The addition of Vinales, a ten-time race winner, and Bastianini, a five-time race winner, strengthens KTM’s lineup. Beirer highlighted, “Looking at the points standings now, numbers 4 [Bastianini], 5 [Acosta], 6 [Vinales], and 7 [Binder] are with us [next year]. The target is clearly visible. It’s the other three [places] in front of us.”
Beirer is confident that the new lineup, combined with the work of Dani Pedrosa and Pol Espargaro on bike development, will help KTM make significant progress: “There’s never a guarantee, but I feel [the 2025 line-up] will help us make another step in this class, to go for our big [title] target.”
Despite the exciting announcements, Beirer insists that his focus will now return to the current season. “I’d like to stop talking after our conversation here about Enea and Maverick because it’s also not fair. They have great teams and great manufacturers behind them [this year]. They’re fighting for great results.”
Beirer acknowledged the impact of high-profile rider moves, such as title leader Jorge Martin switching to Aprilia, on the championship dynamics. However, he emphasized KTM’s commitment to improving their performance. “I cannot say how [Martin’s move to Aprilia] will affect the future. But of course, if the championship leader is moving to another brand. I don’t know who’s going to be the favourite in each factory to finish the season. That’s not my business because I have four boys and we need to perform and do better than in the first part of the season.”
Jack Miller and Augusto Fernandez will leave KTM to make way for Vinales and Bastianini, with their 2025 plans yet to be confirmed.
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