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KTM’s Stefan Pierer Gobbles Up 25% of MV Agusta

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Big news today regarding Pierer Mobility (the parent company to KTM, Husqvarna, and GasGas) and MV Agusta, as the Austrian company is set to take a 25.1% ownership stake in the Italian manufacturer.

The news comes just a couple weeks after it was announced that KTM North America would takeover distribution of MV Agusta’s motorcycles in the United States, and quells rumors that have been circling about KTM’s interest in the Varese brand.

Through a terse press release, the two companies have released few details on their strategic alliance, but it does seem that the ownership stake in MV Agusta comes with a lifeline of capital to keep Italian factory churning out exotic sport bikes.

The press release also explains that Pierer Mobility will takeover the supply chain and purchasing for MV Agusta, and that KTM et al will handle distribution for MV Agusta in certain unnamed markets – like what has already been announced in the USA.

Source: MV Agusta

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Racing

Brad Binder and KTM Break the Kyalami Lap Record, In The Most South African Way Possible

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South Africa is an amazing country, and well worth the visit for the wildlife alone (mind the Hippos though, they’re faster than they look).

But for two-wheeled fans, we cannot recommend enough visiting the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit and spinning a few laps. It’s divine, and one of motorsports best-kept secrets.

A beautiful sweeping track that flows with elevation, Kyalami is in my Top 5 tracks to ride around the world, and it should be on your bucket list as well. It’s certainly a circuit we don’t talk about enough.

Part of the reason for that is because it has been a long time since Kyalami has seen international motorcycle racing on its apexes.

Interestingly enough though, with the African track getting updates in 2015, the new layout technically doesn’t have an established lap record. That’s where Brad Binder and Red Bull come into the equation.

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MotoGP

Jack Miller Will Race in the Factory KTM MotoGP Team Thru 2024

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Jack Miller pit box losail Qatar 2014

The next piece of the 2023 puzzle has fallen into place. Today, KTM and Ducati announced that Jack Miller would be leaving the factory Ducati squad at the end of 2022, and joining KTM for the 2023 and 2024 season to race in the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing squad.

Miller is no stranger to KTM. The Australian raced for KTM in his final year in Moto3, before making the move to MotoGP. He is managed by Aki Ajo, the veteran team manager of KTM’s Moto2 and Moto3 squads.

So a return to KTM is no surprise, and had been the subject of rumors for several weeks now.

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Bikes

2022 KTM 890 Duke GP Debuts with Even Bolder New Graphics

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KTM’s surprise debut of two new 890 Duke models has been quite the letdown, as today we get our first glimpse of the 2022 KTM 890 Duke GP.

What does the KTM 890 Duke GP come with to earn those extra two letters at the end of its name? Some orange paint.

We’re not quite sure that “bold new graphics” warrant a separate model designation in KTM’s lineup, especially when the KTM 890 Duke R is becoming a popular track tool and race bike, and could use some kit for that purpose, but here we are.

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Bikes

The Brabus 1300 R – A German Take, On an Austrian Bike

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Brabus is known best for its high-end and exclusive Mercedes-Benz automobiles, but the iconic German tuning house is turning its head to the two-wheeled realm now for the first time, partnering with KTM to bring the BRABUS 1300 R motorcycle.

With 154 examples set to be built, the BRABUS 1300 R builds off the recently released KTM 1290 Super Duke R EVO platform, and adds finishing touches that could only come from the German luxury brand.

As such, the KTM’s bodywork and style give way to the Brabus “black and bold” aesthetic, which includes plenty of carbon fiber bodywork and detailed trim pieces.

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Bikes

Bold New Graphics Come to the 2022 KTM 890 Duke R

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KTM made a big deal about the month of February, teasing not one, but two new KTM 890 Duke motorcycles that were coming soon.

One of those bikes was the 2022 KTM 890 Duke R, while the other is a new trim-level, the KTM 890 Duke GP.

While we will have to wait and see what makes an 890 Duke a “GP” bike (we’re guessing a bellypan some other track bits), today we get to see what the fuss is all about with the 2022 KTM 890 Duke R

And frankly, we are disappointed in what we have to report to you with this story…

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MotoGP

Pit Beirer Explains Why It’s the Human Factor That Makes the Difference at KTM

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Not all team launches are the same. They vary in style, substance, length, medium. There are live presentations, long prerecorded presentations, and short videos.

Their length or content inevitably have no correlation to their information density. When you start, you never know what you are going to get.

The KTM MotoGP launch kicked off with a 4:35 video presentation that was all style and no substance, four minutes of spectacular images, dramatic electronic music, and empty cliches about racing.

After the launch, however, things got good. Really good. Brad Binder and Miguel Oliveira gave a glimpse of where they felt the KTM RC16 was lacking in 2021, and what needed to improve. Interesting, but not earth-shattering.

Then newly appointed team manager Francesco Guidotti spoke, and a picture started to emerge of how KTM was trying to reshape itself, and address a fundamental weakness in their MotoGP project.

Guidotti spoke for 20 minutes in English and another 15 in Italian. And later in the day, the indefatigable Pit Beirer spoke to us for the best part of 45 minutes.

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Bikes

Any Excuse to Post Photos of the 2022 KTM RC16 MotoGP Race Bike…

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Any excuse to see some high-resolution photos of the KTM RC16 in its Tech3 livery – amiright???

The start of the 2022 MotoGP Championship season is rapidly approaching us, which means that the various grand prix teams are launching their racing efforts for the year.

My colleague David Emmett called the team launches glorified dog and pony shows, and that is largely because the bikes we see aren’t really the 2022-spec machines, and most of what is said at these events are platitudes written for sponsors.

I will retort though, that high-res images of some of the finest motorcycles on the planet never gets old, and the satellite Tech3 livery on the KTM RC16 is certainly a stunning combination that adds to the motolust.

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