KTM reaches major financial milestone as CEO rules out MotoGP team sale

KTM has confirmed it is fully committed to MotoGP after the company achieved a major financial milestone for the first time in nearly two years. 

After steadying its recent financial struggles, with the help of Bajaj Auto and creditors, KTM has since returned to profit.

This marks a major achievement for the Austrian manufacturer, which less than two years ago has accumulated major debt, filed for self-administration, let go of hundreds of employees, and amassed a huge amount of unsold stock. 

So far in 2026, collective motorcycle revenue from the KTM, Husqvarna and GasGas brands has risen by 109.1 per cent, while KTM has sold nearly 100,000 in the first half of the year.

The company’s recovery was mentioned by Neumeister when speaking at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, on Friday, as was KTM plans to remain in MotoGP.

Starting with KTM staying in MotoGP, Neumeister said: 

“We've signed the five-year deal with Dorna [for the new 850cc era], it's very clear we will not sell the team, we will not sell a little part of the team, we're fully committed. The MotoGP title is one of the few titles we have not yet won," Neumeister added.

“In general, it's really very good to see that we've managed the [financial] turnaround. In the second quarter, we managed to break even on [an] EBIT (Earnings Before Interest and Taxes) level. For the first time in almost two years, seeing profits was really a great sign, great relief.

“Motorsport as a whole, not only MotoGP, but the successes we were able to deliver also in those difficult times, winning the Dakar, winning already six World Championship titles - and the season is not over - is really encouraging. It's the most important thing for KTM. Motorsport is our DNA, it's our test lab. Whatever we learn here, we can then translate into our series production.”

What makes this recovery even more impressive is KTM’s previous difficulties financially meant the company was “burning cash” while trying to keep the company going.

Neumeister went on to add:

“A year ago, there was the question, ‘Mr Neumeister, will you be able to even sustain motorsport?’ We were burning cash, and of course it was fair to ask that question, but this created also a lot of uncertainty.

“Then there were those rumours about whether we would sell the MotoGP team, whether we would have to get someone in as a shareholder, like Mercedes in Formula 1- you don't necessarily need to own the whole team as an OEM.”

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