KTM plans to officially peel the wraps off its 2017 MotoGP challenger – the RC16 – at the Austrian GP next month (August 12-14) but it’s released a batch of pictures of the machine in the meantime.
Shown on test in Mugello with riders Mika Kallio and Tom Luthi, the bike is already looking impressive. And it’s worth bearing in mind that as well as the million-Euro MotoGP machine, it will form the basis of a track-only customer superbike in the future.
Although not due to make its competitive debut yet – the Austrian unveiling in August is understood to be in the form of some demonstration laps – the project is clearly well advanced. Rumours put the 90 degree V4 engine at between 240bhp and 270bhp, and it’s mated to a seamless-shift transmission from X-Trac.
While Luthi and Kallio are undertaking test duties, and one or both might yet race the bike in wildcard appearances later this year, the 2017 team will be made of Bradley Smith and Pol Espargaro. Currently team mates at Tech 3’s satellite Yamaha outfit, both men are jumping at the chance of a factory ride, despite the unproven nature of the bike. Backing from Red Bull bodes well for the team, since the Austrian brand is renowned for pumping money into its sporting ventures.
The use of WP suspension rather than the ubiquitous Ohlins kit that’s been used on virtually every successful MotoGP machine for years comes as no surprise, given KTM’s ownership of WP. However, getting the suspension up to the same level as the rival equipment will likely be one of the biggest challenges for the bike. The use of a typical KTM tubular steel chassis is also out of step with its exclusively aluminium-framed rivals, but may not prove to be a disadvantage. Ducati proved for years that a steel trellis could compete with aluminium beam frames.
KTM plans to offer the full GP spec machine to any non-factory team that wants to buy one, at a price of around one million Euros each. It also intends to create a customer superbike, along the lines of the Honda RC213V-S, at a cost of closer to 100,000 Euros. However, unlike the Honda, the V4 KTM will be a pure track bike with no concessions to road use. Exactly how close it is to the GP machine remains to be seen.
Pictures: Campelli M./Focus Pollution