KTM Details 100-Point Plan to Save its Racing Programme

KTM has detailed its 100-point plan which has been devised to make sure its MotoGP racing programme remains intact for the upcoming season, despite financial issues ravaging the company in recent weeks.

The plan has been to cut costs as the Austrian manufacturer is currently going through a restructuring process which has been put in place to avoid bankruptcy as its debts are believed to be close to €3 billion.

Following its first creditors meeting, KTM has continued with its restructuring plan while interest from outside investors is thought to be close to €700 million. One high-profile investor who has interest in the racing team is seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton (will link to your story on that here).

But the creditors report stated that an exit from MotoGP was “planned” and that it would likely take place in 2026 after KTM confirmed it would remain in the series this year.

Speaking to Speedweek, Pit Beirer identified how KTM has cut costs to keep hold of its MotoGP programme, saying: “We took measures a long time ago. When contracts expired, it was easier to change things than at this time of year, when contracts are stored everywhere.

“A very simple but very painful issue is that we have reduced our programme worldwide by 12 racing riders and two, three or four employees depend on each of them. The decision to disband individual racing teams or to remove individual drivers in some categories has primarily affected us on the racing driver front, but in the background, it has resulted in many jobs being lost.

“Behind every disbanded project there are always two trucks that are no longer needed, as well as other vehicles and cars. Then the material that the drivers need is no longer needed. Such cuts are immediate measures that are noticeable.”

What this hasn’t stopped is KTM already taking the GASGAS brand off the grid, while Husqvarna has also disappeared from MotoGP. Furthermore, KTM is no longer the title sponsor for the Hard Enduro World Championship, and has severed contracts with a number of high-profile riders who inhabited testing and development roles.

Find all the latest MotoGP news on Visordown.com