KTM Says ‘Patience’ is Needed For MotoGP Project Amid Financial Issues
KTM’s on-track success has stagnated since 2022, and with financial concerns hovering over them, its MotoGP project could be impacted, although Aki Ajo has urged for patience
KTM confirmed two days ago that it would be entering into self-administration, which comes at a time when it bolsters arguably its best-ever MotoGP lineup of riders.
Brad Binder and 2024 rookie sensation Pedro Acosta will ride for the factory team in 2025, while Maverick Vinales has come over from Aprilia to join the fully factory-supported Tech 3 team, alongside another multiple MotoGP race winner in Enea Bastianini, who swaps Ducati red for RC16 machinery.
Change has also occurred at the top as Aki Ajo will replace Francesco Guidotti as team manager of the factory Red Bull KTM team in 2025, after winning many titles across Moto2 and Moto3 with the Austrian brand in the same role previously.
And it's Ajo who has urged patience during this tough time for KTM, not only financially, but because its MotoGP team has not won a Grand Prix in over two years.
Ajo’s comments came prior to KTM entering self-administration, but the financial wobbles were already known during the recent Barcelona MotoGP test.
Speaking to MotoGP.com on the world feed during the one-day test, Ajo said: “It’s really important, I see the next two years of course as really important years. But as I say many times, it’s important to still somehow keep the patience: go step by step and understand what you are doing.”
When asked what he could bring to the factory KTM team in 2025, Ajo said: “Maybe of course try to use my experience for communicating very, very closely with the people and talk always to find the same direction, and let’s say keep some patience for other development.
“We need to trust each other for the work that we do and keep the patience. But as I say, it’s communication and of course, we keep our eyes open to see what we need all the time.”
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After graduating with a sports journalism degree, Robert joined Crash.net to lead the WorldSBK coverage in 2021, while also providing MotoGP coverage. Fulfilling that role for over three years, Robert was able to put his knowledge about all things racing to the test.
