KTM has already announced that they will be returning to GP racing next season in the new Moto3 class that will substitute the soon-to-be defunct 125cc series, and today at Hangar 7 at the Salzburg Airport with KTM boss Stefan Pierer presenting the Moto3 engine to the international press.

The new KTM 250cc four-stroke engine weighs less than 25 kg and the bike will tested on Friday October 7th at Cartagena circuit in Spain.

The first team that will take delivery of the complete KTM chassis and engine will be Finnish Ajo Motorsport.

Source | gaskrank.tv

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In a leaked pic from a KTM North American dealership presentation, we get a good look at the next three years of the KTM lineup in the US. In fact, HFL has given us a complete rundown of KTM models for 2012, 2013 and 2014 and there are some exciting things among them for the US.

2013 will see new models introduced, including the KTM 350 Duke (following the 125 Duke) and the KTM Super Duke R which will get some blood rushing. Meanwhile in 2014 it looks like a brand new KTM Moto3-based 350cc bike will appear, alongside the KTM Adventure 1290. The Moto3 bike would appear after KTM re-enters GP racing in 2012, giving it time to test and then build a production version.

In the pic above we can also see a series of KTM Freeride models for 2013, including what we assume are two electric versions - the KTM Freeride E SX and Freeride E EXC. We’re hoping for more on the Freeride project as at previously it was rumoured that we’d see the production version at the 2011 EICMA show, ready for a 2012 market launch. With the US getting it in 2013, that would seem to fit. For the rest of the models, we’re guessing Europe will get them first and we’d be especially keen to see more of the Moto3 mystery.

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KTM has confirmed that it is returning to GP racing in the new Moto3 class with its own motorycle racer (which saw the first prototype testing at Cartagena at the beginning of January) and team in 2012, and will also be supplying engines to Kalex Engineering, whose chassis currently leads the Moto2 championship with Stefan Bradl.

KTM pulled out of the 250cc championship in 2008 basically citing that they didn’t agree with the rule changes that brought around Moto2 and then pulled out of the 125cc championship a year later, due the well known economic problems that plagued the motorcyle industries and decided to concentrate on less expensive series

Together the two companies will combine both skills and passion to develop two different, but parallel concepts, both focusing on a successful entry into the new race category. We approach our entry into the Moto3 class with confidence,” said KTM head of Motorsports Pit Beirer. “Our own plans are right on schedule for a racing bike completely developed in Mattighofen, while at the same time we have also found the best possible partner, who will present our engine at a very high and professional level. Kalex Engineering is well positioned for this in every way and just like KTM is highly motivated to develop a bike capable of winning in the new Moto3 category.”

Continue reading: KTM and Kalex partner in Moto3 in 2012

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In December the big news was that KTM was interested in returning to GP racing after quitting at the end of 2009, when Moto2 became the new series, and were already building a Moto3 bike, due to replace the 125cc two-stroke class from 2012.

With the more technical details on Moto3 recently issued by the FIM, the Austrian manufacturer took to the Cartagena track in Spain last week, rolling out their first prototype design for an initial two day test.

This prototype, according to the brief news we have, had a 125cc GP chassis and mounted a 350 SX-F engine and was tested by former GP rider Michi Ranseder, who raced in this year’s IDM Supersport 600 series.

With the data collected KTM will continue development and work on the racer with the required 250cc four-stroke engine, and considering all the experience that KTM has in small displacement machines, this bike could be a real humdinger.

Source | nieusmotor.nl

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