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KTM Sets Sights on Rising Star David Alonso for Future MotoGP Aspirations
KTM is focused on securing David Alonso for its MotoGP program after witnessing his exceptional performance in the Moto3 series this year. The young rider has captured attention with a remarkable achievement: securing the lightweight class title with an incredible 13 victories from 19 races during his sophomore season.
Pit Beirer, the motorsport director at KTM, has expressed his desire to retain a talent like Alonso, who showcases great potential. Although Alonso hails from Angel Nieto’s Aspar team, KTM views him through its own lens as he has progressed through the ranks via the Red Bull Rookies Cup and competed for KTM’s affiliate, CFMoto, in Moto3.
Alonso, a Colombian talent, is set to advance to Moto2 with the Aspar CFMoto team in 2025, and KTM remains optimistic about his readiness for the premier class shortly thereafter. “With David moving to Moto2, we are eager to see him in MotoGP in due time,” Beirer remarked during an interview on Servus TV.
KTM has restructured its MotoGP lineup for the upcoming 2025 season, promoting Pedro Acosta to the factory team alongside veteran Brad Binder. Additionally, Maverick Vinales and Enea Bastianini will join the Tech3 team, coming from Aprilia and Ducati, respectively.
All three current riders—Binder, Vinales, and Bastianini—are committed through the end of the 2026 season, by which point they will be approaching their late 20s and early 30s. Beirer indicated that KTM may need to consider integrating newer talent from the junior leagues around that time, with Alonso being a likely candidate to step up following Acosta’s lead. “A young rider will be essential for us soon,” he said. “It’s a dream to have someone like David, who started with us, develop into a top-tier competitor.”
As for the current MotoGP season, KTM has had a mixed bag of results while Ducati has shown significant dominance, led by their impressive GP24 motorcycle. The only victory in 2024 that kept Ducati off the top spot was Vinales’ win at the US Grand Prix, as other manufacturers have struggled to make an impact on the podium consistently.
After a challenging mid-season phase, KTM’s recent performances have improved, with Acosta claiming podium finishes in Aragon, Indonesia, and Thailand. This resurgence has helped them secure second place in the manufacturers’ championship, distancing themselves from third-placed Aprilia.
Despite some positive outcomes, Beirer acknowledged that the team’s results have not met initial expectations. He expressed disappointment particularly in the performances of both Binder and outgoing rider Jack Miller this year. Binder currently sits sixth in the standings, trailing Acosta by a narrow margin of three points, while Miller has faced a tough season, languishing in 14th place.
“It’s clear that the level of competition is intense,” Beirer commented on the challenges faced this season. “To compete effectively, you need top-tier technology. Admittedly, we are not entirely satisfied with where we stand.”
Currently, the team has achieved 12 podium finishes so far this year; however, Beirer emphasized, “We had set higher expectations for this season, particularly from our lead drivers, Jack and Brad.”
Source
www.motorsport.com