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Pierer: KTM Not Ready for Superbike Competition

KTM has been making waves with its big twin-cylinder bikes, and has even promised a RC-8 powered supersport in early 2009, but CEO Stefan Pierer says he still has no immediate plans to enter the Austrian brand into a larger displacement class of Motorcycle Grand Prix or World Superbike competition.
“It’s too expensive,” Pierer told Germany’s Eurosport magazine. “I have better ways of investing those funds.”
The idea hasn’t been completely dropped, however. Pierer said KTM plans to concentrate its efforts on the 125cc and 250cc classes in the short-term while continuing to study an engagement in larger class competition.
“At the end of the day we want to present our products to our customers through racing,” he said, emphasizing the company’s “Ready to Race” slogan and commitment to race what it builds.
The 2006 Red Bull KTM GP 125 team consisted of riders Mika Kallio and Julian Simon. For 2007, the bikes will be piloted by Simon, Tomoyoshi Koyama and the junior rider Randy Krummenacher.
The 2006 Red Bull KTM GP 250 team consisted of riders Manuel Poggiali and Hiroshi Aoyama. For 2007, the 250cc bikes will be piloted by Aoyama and Kallio, who steps up to the 100hp stronger KTM 250 FRR after leaving 125cc competition.

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