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KTM moves up to Moto2 with Binder and Oliveira

The bikes will be managed by the Ajo team, with Red Bull as the sponsor. The Austrian manufacturer will compete in each of the world championship classes

KTM moves up to Moto2 with Binder and Oliveira

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Next year, KTM will compete in each of the three world championship classes. Having already established its place in Moto3, it will make its debut in MotoGP at Valencia, with Mika Kallio participating as a wildcard, and in 2017 the Austrian manufacture will also jump into the Moto2 mix.

The bikes will be entrusted to Team Ajo that will retain both Brad Binder and Miguel Oliveira as its riders, already team-mates in the same squad last year. The Austrian Moto2 - that has a trellis frame just like its older and younger sisters - has already completed numerous tests and will be ridden by the official riders for the first time on 16 November.

"We see the intermediate class mainly as a platform for keeping riders in the KTM Family, which begins with the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup and will run right through to MotoGP - explained Motorsport Director Pit Beirer - Just as it is in Moto3 and MotoGP, the new Moto2 bike is being developed and built completely in-house".

As we've said, the KTM will be ridden by Brad Binder, who will make his Moto2 debut and is currently very close to claiming this season's Moto3 title. "I am very grateful for this new opportunity - he said - There is nothing that could excite me more than staying at Red Bull KTM Ajo and competing in Moto2. I know it will be very difficult, but I'm very motivated for this and I am already looking forward to it. My goal is to go out each day and give 110% to learn as quickly as possible. I am very happy to be back sharing a garage with Miguel, I learned a lot from him in 2015 and am sure we will push each other."

For Oliveira this marks a return after having competed with the Kalex of team Leopard this season. “I believe a lot in this new project, and think that I will have a very strong team alongside me, and that we will be able to get the best results possible”,  he commented.

Translated by Heather Watson
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