MotoGP Team Profile

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing.

One of only three European manufacturers on the MotoGP grid — and the newest of them.

KTM entered the premier class in 2017 with the RC16, built at Munderfing in Austria. Brad Binder gave it a first win in 2020, in its fourth season.

Base
Munderfing, Austria
MotoGP debut
2017
Bike
KTM RC16
Tyres
Michelin
Premier-class titles
None yet
Read the full history
2017
MotoGP Debut
First premier-class season
2020
First Win
Brad Binder, Czech Grand Prix
0
Premier-Class Titles
None won yet
6
Moto3 Titles
On KTM machinery
Overview

What Is Red Bull KTM Factory Racing?

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing is KTM’s works entry in MotoGP, run from Munderfing in Austria on the KTM RC16. Pit Beirer is KTM’s motorsport director and Aki Ajo runs the racing side.

KTM came into the premier class in 2017, later than any other manufacturer currently on the grid, and built its own chassis and V4 engine rather than buying either in. The first win came at the Czech Grand Prix in August 2020 with Brad Binder.

The championship has not followed. KTM has never won a MotoGP riders’ or constructors’ title. It has won six Moto3 riders’ championships on its machinery, and Moto3 is where most of its current MotoGP riders came from.

Era 01 · 2017—2019

Arriving Late, Building Everything

KTM entered MotoGP in 2017, the last of the current manufacturers to arrive, and did it the hard way — its own chassis and its own V4 engine rather than a customer package.

The first three seasons went on closing a gap the Japanese factories had spent decades opening.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing prototype motorcycles parked in the pit garage during the early development seasons. KTM RC16 · the first premier-class season
Era 02 · 2020—2022

The First Wins

Brad Binder won the Czech Grand Prix in August 2020, KTM's first MotoGP victory, in the team's fourth season. Miguel Oliveira won for KTM as well, and for a period the RC16 was a bike that could win on the right weekend.

Winning across a full championship was another matter.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing RC16 prototype motorcycle on display featuring the iconic orange livery and race sponsor decals. Brad Binder · the first win
Era 03 · 2023—

Acosta, and the Wait

Pedro Acosta came up from the smaller classes, where KTM machinery has taken six Moto3 titles, and became the team's most-watched rider.

The premier-class championship is still the gap in the record — the same gap Aprilia has.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider accelerating through a corner on the RC16 bike during a Grand Prix weekend. The title still missing
Team Timeline

KTM in MotoGP

2016

RC16 Development

KTM builds its own MotoGP chassis and V4 engine and runs the bike before its full entry.

2017

MotoGP Debut

KTM enters the premier class as a full works team.

2019

Zarco Season

Johann Zarco rides for the factory team.

2020

First Win

Brad Binder wins the Czech Grand Prix in August, KTM's first in the premier class.

2021

Binder Wins Again

A second victory for Binder.

2024

Acosta Promoted

Pedro Acosta moves up to the factory MotoGP team.

2025

Binder and Acosta

The factory pairing, with Dani Pedrosa as test rider.

Sources

  1. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing · Wikipedia — base, personnel, bike and the 2020 first win
  2. KTM RC16 · Wikipedia — engine, class and build dates read from the infobox
  3. List of Grand Prix motorcycle racing World Riders' Champions by year · Wikipedia — premier class confirmed empty, Moto3 titles counted separately
  4. Photo — KTM MotoGP machines · KTM AG via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · cropped and resized
  5. Photo — KTM RC16 · Rainmaker47 via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · cropped and resized
  6. Photo — KTM Factory Racing, 2025 Malaysian Grand Prix · Liauzh via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · cropped and resized
MotoGP Riders
BB
Brad Binder
First KTM MotoGP win, 2020
PA
Pedro Acosta
Factory rider since 2024
MO
Miguel Oliveira
Race winner for KTM
PE
Pol Espargaró
Factory rider from 2017
JZ
Johann Zarco
Factory rider, 2019
DP
Dani Pedrosa
Test rider
Frequently Asked

Frequently Asked Questions

Has KTM won a MotoGP championship?
No. KTM has no premier-class riders' or constructors' title. Six Moto3 riders' championships have been won on KTM machinery, which is a different class.
When did KTM enter MotoGP?
2017, later than any other manufacturer currently on the grid.
What was KTM's first MotoGP win?
The Czech Grand Prix on 9 August 2020, with Brad Binder riding.
What bike does the team race?
The KTM RC16, with a 1,000 cc 86-degree V4 engine, designed and built by KTM rather than bought in.
Where is the team based?
Munderfing in Austria, under motorsport director Pit Beirer, with Aki Ajo as team manager.
Is the KTM motocross team the same thing?
No, and it uses the same name. KTM races as Red Bull KTM Factory Racing in MXGP and supercross too, so a product has to say which series it belongs to.
Is Tech3 the same as the factory team?
No. Red Bull KTM Tech3 is a separate satellite team running KTM machinery.
The Collection

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