KTM may be waiting for World Superbikes to better define their rules before they decide to field a full-time team, but not so subtly hinted that they could make a few appearances into international racing in 2012 and that could mean World Superbikes.

The Austrian manufacturer has been linked to World Superbikes since it launched its twin-cylinder RC8R, but their Superbike project started using the German IDM Superbike championship (while Aprilia and BMW started straight away in WSBK) as a racing platform where Martin Bauer won the title this year.

Bauer has become the company’s test rider, and Wolfgang Felber, head of road racing, in a press release dated yesterday said that KTM is “close to participation in other major international Superbike series” and that “Bauer will compete in some series as a wild card entry during the 2012 season.”

KTM press release after the jump:

Continue reading: KTM to wildcard in World Superbikes in 2012?

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KTM has already confirmed they will be in Moto3 next year, but they would also like to bring their RC8R Superbike to the international racing scene and compete in World Superbikes, however they need assurances regarding the rules that still have to be completely defined for the upcoming 2012 season.

Apparently a spokesperson from the Motorsports department said, “IDM German Superbike Championship has given us so much (Martin Bauer won the 2011 title onboard the KTM machine), we have shown the true competitiveness of RC8R after appropriate development, but to compete in World Superbikes is a whole other story in terms of effort and image. We’re interested, it’s no secret, but until Superbikes has clear and definite rules, we can’t expect to compete for the simple reason that we wouldn’t know the direction to take in preparation and development of our motorcycle.”

KTM has been tipped several times over the past year and half in entering World Superbikes with their twin cylinder bike.

Source | motociclisti.myblog.it

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Here’s a great challenge between the Ducati 1198 S, the Aprilia RSV4 Factory and the KTM RC8R. The Ducati is still a classy, impressive bike with heaps of torque, but if you love Aprilia, or are a KTM fan, this could be a very close call for you. The KTM RC8R V-Twin is a big effort from the company, and they deserve kudos for being able to compete with the experience of the likes of Ducati and Aprilia. Check it out in the video.

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Not that we’re jealous or anything, but the guys at Motoblog.it got to see: Ben Spies‘ Superbike live, Max Biaggi’s Aprilia live, Troy Corser’s BMW live and new Superstock champion Xavier Simeon’s bike as well. The Akrapovic stand also has the (very hot) limited edition Akrapovic KTM RC8R 1190 on display.

Stand Akrapovic Eicma 2009

Continue reading: Akrapovic live at EICMA: Ben Spies, Max Biaggi and KTM limited edition on display

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KTM is celebrating the partecipation of its RC8R in the German superbike championship with a special supersports edition. The RC8R Akrapovic replica reproduces the competition livery and gets added aggression through the Club Race Kit.

The RC8R gets a mean look, with combined black and orange look, with Akrapovic logo and writing in red. The engine gets a powerstep with the new kit, with greater compression ratio, new exhaust system, and new ignition hitting 180hp.

The kit is only track legal and can’t be used on the road version, although you get road parts sold together with the track kit. A production run of only 100 will be made, at a price of about 21,500 euros. It will be available from October.

Source | Motociclismo.es

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The guys over at MCN are so lucky they even got the chance to ride one of the KTM RC8 R Jeremy McWilliams Limited Edition at Hockenheim and they tell you all about this fantastic race bike.

These RC8R superbikes look about ready to compete at WSBK level, so when are we going to finally see KTM in the series?

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