KTM Racing sign Smith for MotoGP deal

The Brit will remain with the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team until the end of 2016

BRITISH MotoGP rider Bradley Smith has signed a two-year deal with the KTM Factory Racing Team for the 2017-2018 MotoGP season.

The announcement that Smith will make his debut with KTM Factory Racing next season is also when the team make their own debut in the premiere class. The brand new KTM RC16 will be officially presented at Austria’s Home Grand Prix in mid August 2016. 

Pit Beirer, Motorsport Director, said: ‘The MotoGP project is running exactly according to plan. Both the engineers at the factory and the test team are achieving highly professional work with two bikes and their test riders.

‘By signing Bradley Smith as factory rider for two years we can now take the next step in the long journey to MotoGP. At just 25, Bradley is competing in his fourth season in the premiere class. He rode his way to second place in Misano and last season as overall sixth, he was clearly the best rider among all the customer teams.’

The British rider competed in his first races in the World Motorcycle Championship in 2006 in the 125cc class. Following five seasons in the smallest bike category and with a Vice World Champion title in 2009 he moved up to Moto2 class in 2011. He advanced into the MotoGP competition in 2014 and has constantly improved in the premiere class during the last three seasons, finishing 10th, 8th, and 6th in the points. Except for his rookie season, he has continually been in the top ten finishers over the last ten years.

Smith will continue with the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 team until the end of the 2016 season.