The sound of 2023 MotoGP will fire in a matter of days, and just before the Sepang MotoGP Official Test breaks the silence of the off-season, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing unveiled their colours and riders set to contest the most extended campaign on record.
- Brad Binder and Jack Miller talk about the 2023 MotoGP season ahead, as shown by Red Bull KTM Factory Racing colours.
- KTM Management provide their thoughts ahead of the company’s seventh MotoGP term
- KTM, 2nd in the 2022 Teams Championship, have won MotoGP races for three years in a row and aim to continue the streak through the 21-rounds of 2023
For the fourth year in a row, Brad Binder will be one of the KTM RC16 riders in the company’s MotoGP tilt for success. The 27-year-old South African scored KTM’s maiden MotoGP victory in the Czech Republic in 2020. It was KTM’s highest-ranked rider in 2022 with 6th position in the standings and podium results at both the opening Grand Prix of the year (Qatar) and the closer (Valencia).
2023 KTM
After nine seasons in the Red Bull KTM family, Binder is recognized as one of the most determined and efficient racers on the MotoGP grid.
#33 is joined by Jack Miller. The recently turned 28-year-old will steer the KTM RC16 as he bids to become the only rider in the current MotoGP field to notch GP wins with three different brands. The Australian brings nine seasons of experience, immense character to the team, and a pedigree that includes four triumphs and 22 podiums in the premier class.
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing is at the top of the KTM road racing pyramid and a structure that sees participation and presence in each world championship division.
Factory Racing
KTM has celebrated seven MotoGP wins at the sport’s peak while logging 18 podium appearances and three Pole Positions since 2017. KTM RC4 equipment has registered five titles and 80 victories in the Moto3™ category since the division’s inception in 2012.
The bike’s technical base has been responsible for emerging talent progression in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup, the Northern Talent Cup and the Austrian Junior Cup.
The 2023 MotoGP campaign begins on March 24-25-26 at the Algarve International Circuit in Portugal after two pre-season tests from February 10-11-12 (Malaysia) and March 11-12 (Portugal).
Red Bull KTM Racing Team
Brad Binder: “It has felt like a long off-season already, so I’m more than excited to get back on track and start again. My fourth year in the class, and I feel our best chance to achieve something will be in 2023. We’re ready to go, so let’s get to Sepang and see what those first days bring us.”
Jack Miller: “Good feelings! Joining up with the KTM family again is all starting to feel rather ‘real’ now. I’ve been thinking about this moment for quite a long time.
Finally, getting to see the 2023 colours, myself in the suit and all the preparation for the season ahead. It’s fantastic to be back here at KTM and to catch up with everybody; it’s a unique little taste before we get down to action in Malaysia.”
Francesco Guidotti, Red Bull KTM Team Manager: “For sure, finishing 2nd in the Teams Championship last year is something to take and to have a starting point for the future. It’s important because the team works well together and the atmosphere is excellent.
There will be 21 GPs this year, and it will be essential to be competitive and in the top five every single time, and then we also have the Sprint races. We are a factory team, and the only goal we can have, the only target, is the title. It is easy to say and not easy to get!
But this is the primary goal. Everything has to be efficient, especially now when we have less time to set the proper setting in different conditions. It is an essential thing you need to do; make a team that is closely connected and efficient to face those daily challenges. Our riders – Jack and Brad – are a unique combo, and the team will be solid because there are two unique personalities.”
KTM Racing Team
Pit Beirer, KTM Motorsports Director: “We are going into our seventh season, but the six previous years were amazing in building the project to this level and already having these wins and podiums in the pocket. It has been a crazy journey, and we enjoyed it a lot, but now it is not enough to just ‘be there’ and be a good, organized team; we need results.
I am confident with the two boys we have on board. Brad and Jack are both different but similar. They are pushing very hard, and that is precisely what we need. As always, we go into a long – and very different – racing season with so much work and effort from the people and partners behind us: from all the engineers at the factory, the excellent test team and new and trusted sponsors. We have made a big push for 2023 to be better than ever.”
Red Bull KTM Team
Hubert Trunkenpolz, Member of the Executive Board, KTM AG: “The impact of MotoGP on the business is massive. We do factory racing in general, and MotoGP in particular, for brand awareness, and the return on the investment is sound. It makes much difference if you finish on the podium, so this has to be the target in 2023.
On the business side, we had another record year, and we closed 2022 with almost 2.5 billion in revenue with over 375,000 motorcycles sold which is an all-time high. Like our motorsport performance, the second half of last year’s finish for the business was just incredible.
Our outlook for MotoGP in 2023 is very positive and what we have for the future is very promising, so enormous credit for this must go to the team, the riders and the big push the whole factory is making right now. Aside from this, we want to continue with our goals for sustainability for both the sport and the business and continue to be a top player in this series.”
via Press KTM
