Pedro Acosta has offered a strong early endorsement of KTM’s 2026 MotoGP project, suggesting the Austrian manufacturer has carried out a fundamental rebuild of its RC16 rather than relying on incremental updates.
Speaking after KTM’s online season launch, Acosta said the scale of changes has made the new bike feel as though it has been developed from scratch. The reigning MotoGP rookie highlighted a noticeable step forward compared with previous seasons and pointed to a more stable working environment within the factory as a key factor behind the progress.
“This year I see a bigger step. Maybe not two steps, but it feels like a completely new bike built from zero,” Acosta said, adding that the team now appears more confident in its direction.
Team-mate Brad Binder echoed that assessment, confirming that KTM has prepared several major components for evaluation during the upcoming Sepang tests. Binder noted that last season’s RC16 was largely an evolution of earlier machinery, while the 2026 version introduces more new elements aimed at delivering genuine performance gains.
Source: MotoGP
According to Binder, some of those updates were already tested in Valencia, where initial signs pointed to small but positive improvements. He added that KTM engineers have been heavily focused on development work during the off-season, raising expectations ahead of pre-season testing.
KTM’s MotoGP director Pit Beirer framed the new bike as part of a wider recovery for the manufacturer. He acknowledged that the company’s previous financial difficulties had slowed progress and temporarily dented its MotoGP ambitions. However, Beirer said the team has since stabilised its operations and returned to a position where long-term planning is possible.
With a secure budget now in place, Beirer stressed that KTM can fully support its riders by delivering requested parts and updates for testing. The goal, he said, is to ensure the RC16 is developed in close collaboration with rider feedback as the 2026 season approaches.
While KTM’s true competitiveness will only become clear once testing begins in earnest, the comments from Acosta and Binder suggest the manufacturer is aiming for a more significant leap than in recent years, signalling renewed intent to challenge at the front of the MotoGP grid.
