KTM have joined the blossoming Moto3 class with an entry for the 2012 125cc replacement class.
The KTM on test, ridden by former KTM 125 GP pilot Michael Ranseder, was fitted with the 350cc engine from the firms SX-F motocross bike. Although the engine exceeds the regulations set for the new four-stroke series, the initial purpose of the test session was to understand the stress levels placed upon the KTM 125 chassis by a heavier engine.
Harold Bartol still remains involved with the KTM Racing department but has handed the reigns of the Moto3 project to Wolfgang Felber, the developer behind the KTM RC8 superbike (read about the behind the scenes work of the KTM RC8). Over the coming months a dedicated team within the Motorsports project will begin to develop the machine closer to the regulations of the 125GP replacement class.
The official word from factory regarding the prototype machine is: "KTM decided to develop a Moto3 race bike, which can participate in the 2012 Moto3-MotoGP World Championship. Currently the project is in an early phase. It is planed to run the first concrete tests with a complete bike in Summer 2011."
