KTM joined MotoGP in 2017 with the natural goal of following its own successful footsteps in off-road disciplines such as rally-raid and motocross. After seven years, the Austrian manufacturer is pleased with the direction taken by the premier category, although it does have some aspects to point out – namely the size of the calendar.
KTM’s sports director, Pit Beirer, spoke to the press about the current state of the championship, starting by saying: ‘I feel that the championship is great, otherwise we wouldn’t be here and enjoying it so much. The Sprint races have been added, doubling the number of races, but we really love them because we think we give this extra to the public and the spectators who come to the races. And everyone at home watches a race on Saturday instead of a qualifying session‘.
The Austrian then said that, although he doesn’t protest much about it, he would like a smaller calendar: ‘We have to be careful not to go beyond the limit and it’s no secret that our desired number of races, the total season, we see the limit to achieve something around 18, not 22. But it’s a championship, it’s a global championship, so we want to be involved. So, I won’t complain too much about it. But our information is on the table, clearly stated, that we would prefer to have two or three fewer races, but in the same format. I wouldn’t question the Sprint races, I think they are really good for the sport‘.
Beirer also said: ‘If you look at the majority of the races, we had a great crowd coming, and what’s happening on social media platforms and how they are reporting about MotoGP, I feel it’s a fantastic sport and we just need to keep doing the right things‘.
