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BINDER TO MOTO2
Official: KTM Enters Moto2 with Binder and Oliveira
KTM is to enter the Moto2 class. The Ajo
team is to expand its current Moto2 operation
to two riders, with Brad Binder and Miguel
Oliveira taking the place of the departing
Johann Zarco.
The team is also to switch from Kalex to KTM,
as part of KTM’s project to provide a career
path for young riders from the FIM CEV Moto3
championship through all three Grand Prix
classes to MotoGP.
The names of the riders involved should come
as no surprise. Brad Binder has just been
crowned 2016 Moto3 world champion with 4
races to spare, and Miguel Oliveira came very
close to winning the Moto3 title in 2015, as
Binder’s teammate in the Red Bull KTM Ajo
Moto3 team.
Both riders are highly rated both by KTM and
by team boss Aki Ajo.
Aki Ajo, Team Manager: “Firstly, I am very
happy to continue the cooperation with Red
Bull and KTM and make this move together
in Moto2. Now we will all be much closer to
each other, working together in two classes
and with the whole Red Bull KTM family in all
three classes, which is something historic. We
are very grateful to be part of this great project
with KTM and Red Bull. It is also nice to start
out with a pair of riders who we already know
well. Brad (Binder) has spent two seasons
with us and Miguel (Oliveira) had an incredible
season last year in the team. Both have won
races with us, so I cannot be more expectant
than this. We have two riders who we know,
who are young, eager, and with a positive
attitude for this project.”
Binder: “First of all I want to say I am very
grateful for this new opportunity given to me
by the team in Moto2. I want to thank Aki Ajo
and all the people and partners who have
been helping so I could take this step up. After
how this year has been, there is nothing that
could excite me more than staying at Red
Bull KTM Ajo and competing in Moto2. I really
like this team; I like the respect between all
the members and I know that the decisions
they make are always the best to keep the
team and riders on top. I know it will be very
difficult, but I’m very motivated for this and
I am already looking forward to it. It will be
nice to start in a new class, with everything
new and a lot to learn. My goal is to go
out each day and give 110% to learn as
quickly as possible. I am very happy to be
back sharing a garage with Miguel (Oliveira),
I learned a lot from him in 2015 and sure
we will push each other; we will have fun.
Everyone knows that if Red Bull KTM Ajo
make a motorcycle, it will be good.”
The KTM chassis project is interesting. The
KTM Moto2 bike comprises a steel trellis
frame and aluminum swingarm housing a
spec Moto2 Honda CBR600RR engine, using
WP suspension.
The use of a steel trellis frame is consistent
with KTM’s design philosophy in Moto3, and
now also MotoGP.
There was an issue with WP suspension,
however. As WP is a subsidiary company
of KTM, KTM came to a gentlemen’s
agreement with Kalex on the matter of
suspension technicians.
KTM will only use suspension technicians
who have not previously worked with Kalex in
Moto2, to avoid any appearance of using Kalex
data to help set up the KTM.
The entry of KTM into Moto2 does not mean
that the Austrian manufacturer is a candidate
to replace Honda, when the engine contract
comes up for renewal at the end of 2018.
At the presentation of the KTM MotoGP bike at
the Red Bull Ring in Austria, KTM CEO Stefan
Pierer made it clear that they had no interest in
become spec-engine supplier for Moto2.
16 RIDEFAST MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2016