Bradley Smith and Pol Espargaro reveal KTM’s Red Bull MotoGP 2017 livery.
The racing liveries of the two 2017 KTM RC16s were finally revealed overnight in Austria, as Red Bull KTM Factory racing unveiled their MotoGP World Championship projects for the coming season.
After debuting in the 2016 Valencian GP with Mika Kallio as a wildcard, the team prepares to line up full time on the MotoGP grid and just came back from the first tests of 2017 at Sepang and Phillip Island.
Spaniard Pol Espargaro and Bradley Smith from the UK were on hand to present their machines, with the new Moto2 and Moto3 projects also revealed during the launch.
“KTM is really new to MotoGP compared to other brands and we’re making huge steps,” said Espargaro, who made his MotoGP debut in 2014.
“Right now the bull is a little bit wild, but it feels really good, he said. KTM is really new to MotoGP compared to other brands and we’re making huge steps. Every time we jump on the bike we get closer and it’s beautiful to see the evolution. I want to thank KTM for trusting me, and for this project.”
The team has spent the last two tests of the season developing the two new MotoGP machines, with their current pace just inside two seconds off the established leaders riding Honda and Yamaha machines. It’s a lot of pressure for the riders, but that’s part of the job as Bradley Smith says.
“There’s a lot of pressure. It’s something that you’ve always wished for and worked for throughout your career but when you finally get that opportunity there’s the pressure that comes with it. But I embrace the opportunity that I have and both me and Pol – and the team – will be working extremely hard.”
In Moto2, Red Bull KTM Ajo are headed by reigning Moto3 World Champion Brad Binder and 2015 Moto3 runner up Miguel Oliveira, with a new KTM chassis in the class proving a new challenge for the riders and for Team Manager Aki Ajo.
Moto3 has a line up change for Red Bull KTM Ajo, as Brad Binder graduates to Moto2. Bo Bendsneyder remains with the squad after his first podium finish as a rookie, but lightweight class race winner Niccolo Antonelli joins the squad on the other side of the garage
