KTM has hired several new members for its MotoGP team in recent years, such as team manager Francesco Guidotti or technical director Fabiano Sterlacchini. Sports director Pit Beirer is happy with the structure, but admitted that small changes can always happen.
The executive said he considers the current work group to be very solid and strong: ‘The door is always open, but to answer much more clearly I feel that now we have a really complete set. So it’s not that we’re looking left and right, who’s there. But I feel we have good people by our side – not just for their technical capabilities, but also for the human side, good people who become friends in a very short period of time. I feel that now we have a really strong set‘.
Beirer then explained the hiring process of recent years: ‘Austria had to learn how to build a MotoGP bike from scratch, but over the years a lot of knowledge came to our company and we managed to build a great foundation. But then we were missing some things – especially on the data side and in the field of electronics. And the people who came in simply made us stronger. Fabiano had to establish himself as our technical leader for the entire circuit racing program, so he’s not here to be a guest from Italy and give us some news. He’s here to lead our entire operation in circuit races. So all these things came together in a big puzzle and I’m super happy; I feel it’s really complete‘.
Currently, KTM is open to technicians from other countries, but also to developing Australian talent, as Beirer said: ‘As is normal by nature, some people will leave us in the future and others will join. But I feel that this will always be a mixture of home-based people. We have a huge ongoing program in developing our own apprenticeships in Austria, bringing students from Austria to develop them. At all times, we have a bike somewhere in a university in Austria to motivate and bring in the younger generations and people from here. And anyone internationally who wants to join our project is welcome. But of course, there are also some difficulties in bringing in international people: they have to move, let’s see how the family adapts. Most of the time, the boys or girls adapt very quickly to the job, but then it’s the family, friends, children, the school system – all of this puts a heavy burden on all these projects. So it’s an open process, but let’s say I’m really happy, I feel it’s complete, but we’re always open to small changes’.
