Will KTM, GasGas and Husqvarna keep racing? Yes.
Following today's announcement of a major restructuring in Europe by Pierer Moblity, KTM's parent company, the North American arm of KTM, Husqvarna and GasGas has called to inform us this announcement does not impact the U.S. racing plans for 2025. The factory teams will be on the race track as planned for round one of the SMX Championship on January 11th at Anaheim.
"We're going racing. Contracts are signed, bikes are built, they're all riding down at Baker's Factory, semis will be on the road," said Tom Moen from KTM's press department.
The teams will be putting together its traditional team photo shoots and team press announcements at the beginning of December. But rest assured, for example, Chase Sexton will be on the gate at Anaheim 1 on his Red Bull KTM. So will Aaron Plessinger. Malcolm Stewart will line up on a Rockstar Husqvarna, Justin Barcia on a Rockstar GasGas. The list goes on.
We also received a letter from Andy Jefferson in the North American press department.
Regarding today’s announcement pertaining to KTM AG’s financial news, at this time we don’t have any additional comment to make beyond the press release (below). One important detail to note is that this is a legal restructuring procedure pertaining to KTM AG.
North America and all other KTM subsidiaries are not included.
KTM ANNOUNCES STRATEGIC RESTRUCTURING PLAN - KTM PRESS CENTER
Thank you for your patience, we will have more comment as information becomes available.
Over in Europe, racing fans are worried about the brand's future in MotoGP. However, a recent article in Austrian newspaper Salzburger Nachrichten should put some fears at ease. Credit to MotoGP site Crash.net for this:
KTM's Motorsport head Pit Beirer said: “We will stay in all the series we are in. Whatever we do, we do with 100 percent. But the focus is now entirely on orange [KTM]. In some series, we are currently represented with three times the effort [regarding KTM, Husqvarna and GasGas teams].
“Motorsport and the company's success over the last 20 years are directly linked. We are the company's best marketing tool. The company has had linear growth for over 20 years.
“We won races and then sold motorcycles. That's the secret of success.
“We are 'Ready to Race' and we do not engage in motorsport as an end in itself.
“We are now in a very difficult phase and we, as the motorsport department, will do our part to stabilize the company. We are part of the family and we have to stick together now. We also learned to fight in sport. We give the company everything we have and will get through this together.”
