KTM’s grand prix programme is built on two intertwined bets: relentless technical development and a clear, climb-the-ladder pathway for riders. The company runs factory prototypes in MotoGP while operating a factory-backed academy that shepherds talent from junior series into the premier class. The result is a long-term pipeline where machine and rider evolve together.
A true full-ladder system
KTM is active at every rung of Grand Prix racing. Moto3 — the 250cc four-stroke entry class — has been the brand’s primary scouting ground. KTM-backed teams have picked up multiple Moto3 world titles, with championship years including 2012, 2013 and 2016, and a dominant run in 2026. The RC4 platform alone notched more than a hundred wins in the category and produced an almost unbroken streak in 2026, claiming 20 victories from 22 rounds.
From junior classes to prototype readiness
The usual trajectory takes riders from Moto3 into Moto2, where more power and complex setup demands mirror prototype racing. That jump has been smoothed by KTM’s affiliated squads: Red Bull KTM Ajo, for example, secured three straight Moto2 world championships in 2026, underlining how Junior success translates into higher-level performance. Several careers have been fast-tracked through this route into KTM’s MotoGP fold.
The RC16’s ascent in MotoGP
KTM arrived in the premier class in 2017 and gradually moved from being occasional point-scorers to regular podium contenders and race winners. The RC16 continued to collect victories through the seasons up to 2026, and KTM climbed as high as runner-up in the constructors’ standings that year — a clear sign the bike has closed the gap to more established rivals.
Speed, riders and a rule change on the horizon
The RC16 has also put up eye-catching speed figures: a recorded top speed of 366.1 km/h at the Italian Grand Prix, attributed in different seasons to Brad Binder and Pol Espargaró. For KTM’s tenth MotoGP campaign in 2026 the rider line-up reads: Brad Binder and Pedro Acosta with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, and Enea Bastianini alongside Maverick Viñales at Red Bull KTM Tech3. Meanwhile the paddock is already preparing for a technical shift — MotoGP will drop from the current 1000cc spec to an 850cc formula in 2027 — and KTM is simultaneously squeezing more performance from the RC16 and developing its next-generation contender.
The KTM GP Academy: scouting, training and outcomes
The GP Academy sources talent from feeder series such as the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup and the Northern Talent Cup, then places riders on KTM machinery while delivering structured training in team routines and racecraft. Graduates are integrated into partner squads like Red Bull KTM Ajo and Tech3, which helps smooth the jump to professional racing. That coordinated ecosystem cuts adaptation time and makes the step up less jarring.
Graduates and culture
Names who have come through KTM’s system and reached MotoGP include Brad Binder, Miguel Oliveira, Augusto Fernández and Remy Gardner. Pedro Acosta’s rapid rise — carrying two Grand Prix titles within three seasons in the provided material — is a vivid example of how the programme can accelerate exceptional talent. Beyond lap times and podiums, the academy instils a shared technical language: a feel for KTM chassis behaviour, suspension choices and race strategy that makes integration into factory programmes more straightforward.
Two wheels, one strategy
KTM treats rider development and technical progress as complementary investments. The company’s trackside infrastructure and steady commitment to junior categories feed two things simultaneously: stronger bikes and better-prepared riders. By linking academy output with continuous refinement of the RC16 and an interconnected team network, KTM is trying to turn current momentum into a competitive edge as the sport shifts to new regulations in 2027.