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MotoGP, Pit Beirer (KTM): "Ducati portray themselves as martyrs"

The KTM Motorsport Director says bluntly: "With eight bikes on the track they don't need wildcards. Honda needs to invest in development rather than in rider fees"

MotoGP: Pit Beirer (KTM):

A compromise has recently been reached regarding concessions, in favour of Honda and Yamaha, but no manufacturer was totally happy about the outcome.

“The manufacturers are now divided into four ranks, depending on their results. And if you have very few points, you can get ‘concessions’ more or less overnight in an ongoing season in the future,” explained KTM Motorsport Director Pit Beirer in an interview with Speedweek.

“For the benefit of the championship and because it obviously helps the promoter Dorna, we agreed. We now want to give our competitors from Japan the opportunity to catch up to the top again.”

Bierer, known for his outbursts, made no secret of his dissatisfaction.

“Honda won a race in 2023, we didn’t. Why don't we get new concessions? Honda should have invested the money in time in motorcycle development instead of in rider fees.

Ultimately, Ducati was stripped of 30 test tyres for 2024, while Aprilia and KTM received 20 more test tyres per year.

This concession will be very useful for Pierer Mobility AG, as the Austrians now have three test riders, Dani Pedrosa, Pol Espargaró and Jonas Folger, and Mika Kallio is also still available.

Like KTM, Aprilia Racing will receive 220 test tyres in 2024, but has only used around 150 in the past with test rider Lorenzo Savadori.

Ducati Corse will also not be affected much by the smaller number of test tyres. The Italians have already used fewer than 170 of the 200 test tyres allowed per year in 2023 with test rider Michele Pirro.

“If there are eight Ducati in the grid, I don’t see why they need a ninth bike with a wildcard in the field – underlined Beirer – Although Ducati hardly has to accept any losses under the new regulations, they are now portraying themselves as the great martyrs."

 

 

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