KTM confirms unresolved MotoGP engine issues

KTM’s recent reliability issues have forced the brand’s motorsport director, Pit Beirer, to admit the Austrian company is dealing with an internal engine problem on its RC16 MotoGP bikes.

Although KTM got through last weekend’s German Grand Prix without any mechanical or technical problems, recent races have cost the likes of Pedro Acosta in a big way.

The issues started at the Catalunya MotoGP in May, when Acosta’s RC16 began shutting down on one of the fastest sections of the circuit.

This led to Gresini Ducati rider Alex Marquez ramming Acosta’s KTM, which in turn created one of the worst modern-day crashes in MotoGP.

The RC16 has also suffered from various technical issues, including clutch and ride-height device problems this season. However, it’s the engine issues which are the most troubling for the Austrian marque, and they are still to be resolved. 

KTM has already reduced the performance of its engines to alleviate a potential repeat of the issues we’ve seen recently, while Acosta’s repetitive reliability issues in Assen were linked to a sensor problem. 

The engine freeze in MotoGP means manufacturers are locked into what they have at the start of each season. For that to change, and in this case potentially help KTM make adjustments, they would need the other four brands to agree. Then actually all agreeing to this might be unlikely, although according to Beirer, Aprilia has already given its blessing.

Speaking about the issues KTM is facing, Beirer told Sky Italia: 

"The situation is not easy, there is something wrong inside our engines. We know there's still this risk with some parts…

“There is a problem, and we have to solve it; there are engines we cannot use also for safety reasons. We must use the summer break for this.”

Find the latest motorcycle news on Visordown.com