KTM joined MotoGP in 2017, with the natural goal of following his own footsteps being as successful as in the off-road disciplines like rally-raid and motocross. Seven years later, the Austrian manufacturer is happy with the premier class, despite having some less good points – namely, the dimension of the calendar.
The KTM Motorsports’ director, Pit Beirer, spoke to the press about the current situation of the championship, starting by saying: ‘I feel the championship is great, otherwise we would not be here and enjoying a lot. The Sprint races came onboard, they doubled the amount of races, but we really love it because we think we give this extra to the public and the spectators who come to the races. And everybody at home watches a race on Saturday rather than a qualifying practice’.
The Austrian then stressed that, despite KTM doesn’t complain that much, the manufacturer would like a smaller calendar: ‘We must be very careful not to go over the limit and I don’t make a secret that our wishing number of the races, the total season, we see the limit reaching somewhere around 18 and not 22. But it’s a championship, it’s a global championship, so we want to be involved. So we will not complain too badly about it. But our information is on the table, clearly announced, that we would rather to have two or three races less but in the same format. I would not question the Sprint races, I think they are really great for the sport’.
Beirer also said: ‘If you see most of the races, we had a big croud coming out and what’s going on the [social] media platforms and how are you reporting about MotoGP, I feel it’s an amazing sport and we just need to continue doing the right things’.