RideFast July 2020 2

PADDOCK NEWS
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PETRUCCI TO TECH3, OLIVEIRA &
BINDER IN FACTORY KTM TEAM
Oliveira said. “I feel that they trust
me to show my value as a rider in
this project. Since day one I have
given my best to the bike and
believed in its potential to achieve
good results and this is what we
want to deliver in the near future.
I think we are in the right place
to do it and for me to develop
as a rider. It’s a great, great
opportunity.”
Red Bull KTM Tech3 will count on
the knowledge and wisdom of nine
seasons of MotoGP experience
accumulated by 29-year-old
Petrucci. He has gathered nine
podium finishes so far in the class
and has steered three different
bikes since entering GPs in 2012.
Herve Poncharal, Red Bull KTM
Tech3 team principal said: “Danilo
is a man I respect a lot. He is a
normal guy who always say hello
to everyone, who has a lot of
charisma and a great sense of
humour. On top of that – and
maybe even more important –
he is also a team player and a
MotoGP winner.
“There are four factory Red
Bull KTM riders on the grid with
the same support, the same
equipment and this shows us the
support that KTM is giving to the
team. I would like to thank Stefan
Pierer, Hubert Trunkenpolz and Pit
Beirer – these are exciting news
and it is an exciting program.”
This announcement all but
confirms Pol Espargaro will ride
alongside world champion Marc
Marquez and Repsol Honda for
the 2021 season, set to replace
Alex Marquez despite the latter
not yet having the opportunity to
compete in the premier class in his
rookie campaign.
KTM has signed Danilo Petrucci
to join Red Bull KTM Tech3
for the 2021 MotoGP World
Championship after elevating
Miguel Oliveira into the official Red
Bull KTM Factory Racing team
from next season.
Former Moto2 and Moto3
teammates Brad Binder and
Oliveira will be aboard RC16
machinery in the official team, as
Iker Lecuona will be partnered
by current factory Ducati Team
rider Petrucci also on-board
works bikes.
“It gives me great pleasure to stick
these four hungry guys together
for our MotoGP program,”
commented Pit Beirer, KTM
Motorsport director. “Brad and
Miguel have a productive working
relationship and have shown
the talent and the desire to win
races through all stages of grand
prix. We believe they have the
determination necessary to push
our MotoGP project forward.
“The same goes for Red Bull KTM
Tech3 where we’re happy to
bring Danilo into the family. His
experience counts for a lot, but
we’re also banking on a rider that
is committed and with the right
attitude. We believe he still has
something to show in MotoGP.
On one side we are investing in
MotoGP front-runners of the
future, but they could easily
become stars already in 2021 and
that would be exciting to see.
“We have two set-ups, but really
it is one big team with all four
athletes on the same bikes and
with the same possibilities. Our
riders’ development and success
will be a great KTM story and it will
taste even sweeter to take these
guys to new heights in such a
tough competition.”
Oliveira moves into the factory
set-up alongside Binder for what
will be his third term in MotoGP
and his sixth in total with KTM. The
25-year-old will have completed
two campaigns as part of Red
Bull KTM Tech3, even if 2019 was
curtailed with a blameless shoulder
problem and 2020 has so far
been blighted by repercussions of
the COVID-19 virus.
“I’m really happy about this
opportunity that KTM have given
me for the next two years,”
28 RIDEFAST MAGAZINE JULY 2020