KTM REVEALS 2023 MOTOGP TEAM

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing has presented their rider lineup and race livery for the 2023 FIM MotoGP World Championship. For KTM’s new signing, Jack Miller, the presentation appropriately took place on Australia Day – 26 January.

Miller comes to Red Bull KTM Factory Racing at the expense of Miguel Oliveira and will share a garage with Brad Binder, who has been with KTM since 2020 and achieved the Austrian brand’s first ever premier class race win.

This pairing will be supported by test riders Dani Pedrosa, Mika Kallio (who's been with KTM’s MotoGP project even before its first season in 2017) and new addition Jonas Folger.

Great Expectations

With 21 rounds scheduled, the 2023 MotoGP season will be the longest ever. It’ll seem even longer for riders and teams as this season also sees the introduction of sprint races on the Saturday of every GP race weekend.

With essentially double the opportunities to win under the new format, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing are aiming to improve on last year’s results that included two race wins (from Miguel Oliveira), second in the Teams’ Championship and fourth in the Constructors’ Championship.

“For sure finishing second in the Teams Championship last year is something to take, and to have a starting point for the future,” said Francesco Guidotti, Red Bull KTM Racing Team Manager. “It’s important because it means the team works well together and the atmosphere is great.

“[But] we are a factory team and the only goal we can have, the only target, is the title. It is easy to say and not easy to get! But this is the main goal.

“Our riders - Jack and Brad – are a special combo and the team will be very strong because they are two special personalities.”

Miller Time?

After spending his previous eight years in MotoGP on Honda and Ducati machinery, Miller now takes on the RC16. While the bike is all new, the team isn’t, as Miller rode for Aki Ajo’s KTM squad in Moto3 back in 2014.

Miller’s first session on the RC16 was at the Valencia Test last November, and in what was more a familiarisation than a chase for outright pace, he was 17th fastest overall. At the three-day test in Sepang this past February, Miller placed 16th, 19th and 16th on the timesheets. A final test at Portimao was still to be completed at time of writing.

“Joining up with the KTM family again, it is all starting to feel rather ‘real’ now,” the 28-year-old from Townsville explained at the team launch.

“I’ve been thinking about this moment for quite a long time - finally getting to see the 2023 colours, myself in the suit and all the preparation for the season ahead.

“It’s amazing to be back here at KTM.”

While Miller is a MotoGP race winner with Ducati and Honda, the Aussie’s challenge will be to bring the same success more regularly to KTM, whose only race wins to date have come in wet conditions.

Binder’s Next Step

Since joining KTM’s MotoGP programme in 2020, Brad Binder has achieved two wins and three podiums, the latter all coming in the 2022 season.

Sixth in the MotoGP championship for the past two years, the 27-year-old from South Africa may not have been KTM’s most successful rider last season, but he was their most consistent, finishing inside the top ten on all but two occasions and with only one DNF. Binder’s team mate last year, Miguel Oliveira, did achieve two race wins (KTM’s only victories last year), but finished outside the top ten on eight occasions.