KTM’s motorsport director Pit Beirer has admitted that one thing is amiss within the engine of the unreliable RC16 MotoGP bike – and that the producer is in search of particular permission to research the issue.
A string of KTM breakdowns within the first half of 2026 was headlined by the scary Barcelona shunt involving , who bumped into the again of when the latter’s manufacturing facility RC16 shut down at excessive velocity.
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The continuing breakdowns should not solely a priority for KTM, but additionally for rider security basically. Using within the slipstream of an RC16 is turning into debatable from a security perspective – however the ‘engine freeze’ homologation guidelines in MotoGP do not enable KTM to open up its engines and see what’s mistaken.
Beirer is taking part in that security card as he appears to be like to hunt particular permission to avoid the freeze – a transfer that every one 4 rival producers should conform to.
Motorsport.com understands that a number of conferences have been held over the Sachsenring weekend as KTM tried to persuade its competitors. However solely one of many different producers gave it the nod.
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Talking to Sky Italia, Beirer mentioned Aprilia had already lent its blessing to such a transfer.
“I wish to thank Fabiano Sterlacchini and Massimo Rivola of Aprilia who’re serving to us,” mentioned Beirer, naming the technical director and CEO respectively. “The state of affairs isn’t simple, there’s something mistaken inside our engines.
“We all know there’s nonetheless this threat with some elements… there’s a drawback, and we now have to resolve it.
“We should use the summer season break for this,” added Beirer, highlighting that the present recess could be the best second for an intensive investigation.
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KTM has struggled with reliability this season
KTM has struggled with reliability this season
There’s a precedent for particular permission being granted for producers to make amends to their energy models – similar to for Yamaha in 2020. On that event, nevertheless, the producer had already recognized the issue: valves from a provider that had modified their dimensions by a fraction.
On this case, nevertheless, there isn’t a certainty that KTM is aware of what the issue is. And given the tight nature of this yr’s championship, it seems that Ducati, Honda and Yamaha are unwilling to concede any perceived benefit – notably in view of the foundations limiting the variety of engines for use over the course of a season.
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MotoGP producers above class D concessions – of which KTM is one – should seal their engines earlier than the primary race of the season, delivering an an identical unit to IRTA’s technical path so that there’s all the time a reference engine with which to match the elements. As soon as an engine has been sealed, it can’t be opened and, a lot much less, dismantled with out the authorisation of all of the members of the MSMA – in different phrases the producers.
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