Bikes

Gallery: KTM RC16 MotoGP Bike

KTM officially unveils its MotoGP bike at the Austrian Grand Prix.

August 16, 2016

During last weekend's Austrian Grand Prix event at the Red Bull Ring, KTM officially unveiled its MotoGP racer, the RC16, in its new livery. Following the official unveil, KTM test rider Mika Kallio rode demo laps on the bike prior to the start of the MotoGP race. Scroll through the gallery below to see more images from the event, and to learn more about the RC16.

While the RC16 was first shown in November last year and has been seen in testing several times since, the 2016 Austrian Grand Prix was the bike's official unveiling. The company has a strong presence in Moto3 and has supplied engines for MotoGP competition previously, but this will be KTM's first official entry in the MotoGP class as a manufacturer.H. Mitterbauer / Courtesy of KTM

The RC16 is powered by a 90-degree V-4 engine. While other manufacturers in MotoGP all use aluminum beam frames, KTM has chosen to use a steel tube frame, as it does for its Moto3 bikes and production street bikes such as the Super Duke and RC 390.H. Mitterbauer / Courtesy of KTM

Following the private test at the Red Bull Ring before the MotoGP race, where the KTM turned competitive lap times with test riders Mika Kallio and Thomas Luthi, it was announced that Kallio would compete as a wildcard in this year's final MotoGP race at Valencia, prior to the team's offical debut in 2017. (Luthi competes full-time in Moto2 and is currently fourth in points)H. Mitterbauer / Courtesy of KTM

Current Tech 3 Yamaha teammates Bradley Smith and Pol Espargaro will be the factory riders of the RC16 next year, and will test the bike immediately following the race at Valencia later this year.H. Mitterbauer / Courtesy of KTM

The steel tube frame is not the only feature that differentiates the KTM from every other bike on the MotoGP grid: The RC16 is the only machine to use WP suspension rather than the class-standard Ohlins. WP is a subsidiary of KTM and located just minutes from the KTM factory in Austria, and has been involved in the company's Moto3 project since it first entered in 2012.H. Mitterbauer / Courtesy of KTM

The RC16 rolls on 17-inch Marchesini forged magnesium wheels and uses Brembo brakes. The exhaust system is by Akrapovic. Motorex was also announced earlier as a technical partner in the project.H. Mitterbauer / Courtesy of KTM

Test rider Mika Kallio with the RC16 shortly after the official unveiling. "I think a few weeks ago (at the test) we demonstrated to everyone that we’re on a good level," he said. "We are already quite close to our competitors and step-by-step we are improving. I would say the engine on this bike is already good and now we have four more tests before Valencia."S. Romero / Courtesy of KTM

Stefan Pierer, CEO of the KTM Group, noted at the unveiling that more than 60 percent of the company's 200,000-unit production is now on-road bikes. "Racing is our philosophy, our motivation and if we enter the segment, for sure we will have a learning curve but we will reach to podium – and my life’s dream is to be the world champion in MotoGP."Phillip Platzer / Courtesy of KTM

Mika Kallio in action on the RC16 during the demo laps at the Austrian Grand Prix.Focus Pollution / Courtesy of KTM

The team has four more tests planned before its wildcard debut at Valencia.Focus Pollution / Courtesy of KTM