KTM already working on 2027 MotoGP rules as it reaffirms long-term plan

KTM has revealed that it is already working on MotoGP’s next big regulation overhaul for 2027, as it reiterated its intention to stay in the championship for the long term.

The future of KTM in MotoGP has been thrown into doubt amid mounting debts, with the Austrian manufacturer voluntarily entering administration to revamp its operations.

Creditors had been putting pressure on the company to quit the championship to save costs, with a document previously released by a court in Austria stating that an exit was planned, without specifying a particular date.

Given the massive funding required to build entirely new bikes for 2027, including new 850cc engines, there had been speculation that KTM may not be able to finance such a project.

However, at the launch of its updated RC16 bike on Thursday, KTM hinted at a stable future in MotoGP, revealing that work has already begun on preparing a successor to its race-winning machine for the next rules cycle.

“2027 is still in an early stage because the regulations weren’t even finished until [recently] yet and aren’t 100 per cent finished yet,” said KTM motorsport director Pit Beirer.

“You cannot build the bike at this moment, but our engineers are here, they are working on the 2027 bike.

“But it’s not time to have hardware in-house. So of course there is still some logical timing behind.

“After the 25 of February for sure we have a different situation and more clarity about the long-term future.

“There is still enough time to start to work on the hardware, but we are already working on the 2027 motorcycle. It’s part of the planning.”

In response to question marks over its future, KTM had previously stated that it is committed to MotoGP in 2025, where it will field a total of four bikes.

KTM’s creditors will vote on its restructuring plan at the next court meeting on 25 February and are set to receive at least 30 per cent of the amount they have loaned to the company.

More details about the company’s future, and that of its racing department which encompasses the MotoGP team, are expected after that date.

However, Beirer insists that KTM has no intention of leaving the championship at any point, as he made it clear that the company is in it for the long haul.

“I can really guarantee you that we have a super, super strong plan going into the future for this company and that’s not a question of one year or two years, also not one year of racing or two years of racing,” he said.

“We want to have KTM here forever – including the race department – this is for sure.”