Not to mince words, but KTM's future isn't looking all that bright or rosy right now.
The company, headed by Stefan Pierer, is going through insolvency proceedings. It has over a year's worth of motorcycles just sitting on dealership lots it can't get rid of. The brand went through countless black eyes over its camshaft failures, and trash response. KTM will have to sell off parts of its business, including the newly acquired MV Agusta. And, most of all, the company had to lay people off by the hundreds in two subsequent layoffs over the last year.
It also culled the brand's board. But those are executives, not working-class people, so they'll be fine.
And through it all, its media mouthpieces, particularly from the executives, have attempted to paint reality in such a way that we've often asked whether or not their medications were at the right dosages. Case in point, KTM's MotoGP chief, Pit Beirer, who said the team wouldn't be affected by the insolvency, but then in no uncertain terms, was told the brand wouldn't be involved in the series past 2026.
And despite that absolute reality, as presented by AKV—the lawyers handling the company's insolvency—he's still wanting you to believe everything is hunky dory, essentially attempting to gaslight everyone, despite it just absolutely not working on anyone with eyes.
It's a bold move, Cotton, let's how it plays out.
In Beirer's first interview since AKV announced that KTM's MotoGP efforts would be coming to a close in 2026, along with Moto2, Moto3, and its title sponsorship of the Hard Enduro World Championship, Beirer spoke about how the team is actually OK. "We took measures a long time ago," Beirer told Speedweek, essentially admitting he knew that everything wasn't fine when he initially said it was.
He went on to state, "Some drastic reductions have been made, which now help us in the overall account. This goes as far as little things that single rooms become double rooms. If you go through all the little things, you get a big sum at the end of the day."
He also stated that some of the team's sponsors have increased their sponsorship contributions to help the brand's teams, both in MotoGP and off-road, survive through the reorganization. "Our partners and sponsors have helped us through the past few weeks, the difficult time. Not only individuals, but several have increased budgets to secure the future of our racing department," he told the outlet.
Through all this, it should be noted that last year, it was decided to take GasGas off the MotoGP grid, and Husqvarna is nowhere on anything at the moment. In a separate interview, Beirer confirmed there have been talks with 7-time world champion Lewis Hamilton on securing KTM's MotoGP future, though that's still yet to be reality. Whether or not it'll happen is still anyone's guess, though according to a new report from our friends at Motorsport, it's unlikely to happen. Why? Because "the goal is for whoever takes control to inject capital to save the entire company, not just its racing division." Hamilton has deep pockets, but they ain't that deep.
But as we've asked before, should we believe anything coming out of any of KTM's mouthpieces like Beirer? He's said previously that the racing division wouldn't be affected, and then it was. The brand's other executives said everything was fine, and then it wasn't. Their statements verge on fantasy in most cases and, though it may be true that some of KTM's largest MotoGP sponsors have increased their input into team—I've reached out to Red Bull numerous times, but have yet to hear back on anything concrete—will it actually make a difference?
And though Acosta toured the factory and was told everything will be OK, development on the 2025 bike has stalled. Likewise, how will the layoffs affect KTM's season? I get that as an executive you have to pursue an air of calm and collectiveness, but at what point do you admit to the reality of the situation?
Which is KTM is on fire and the water you're pouring onto the flames is coming from a Super Soaker, not the necessary fire hose.
