Martinelli: "KTM? Pierer's problem was his delusion of omnipotence."

One of the topics discussed in the long interview with Alberto Martinelli was KTM. As we well know, besides taking managing the interests of Bulega, Pedrosa, Goggia, Schiavone, Ferrari and Suzuki, his agency, Neox, has been managing Tony Cairoli for years now.

The Sicilian rider has, in fact, written motocross history with the Austrian manufacturer, and Alberto knows that reality well. So, of course, he couldn't miss out talking about the subject, starting from minute 24'00.

"First of all, I'd be very concerned, and I'd have a bad stomachache about what's happening," he said. "Despite the fact that the motorcycle and racing sectors are two separate realities, I think it's difficult to justify that to employees who don't receive a salary to invest several million euros in racing. Obviously, I'm very sorry for what's happening, and all of us in racing have something to lose. People now know about the KTM affair, and I think it's bad publicity for our world."

What's your take on the situation?
"As far as I've gotten to know the environment, in my opinion, Pierer felt invulnerable. He always thought his choices were always the right ones. But all this leads you toward no longer being parameterized with the market. I think it was a 'delusion of omnipotence', obviously in quotes, which led him to push and generate sales numbers in the market, which later turned out to not be real."

Were you surprised?
"His attitude was an aggressive one. We remember his press conferences, for example, as well as the way he posed himself in the market, where he kept emphasizing that 'We are KTM', as if he were saying that we better not be wrong. Sometimes, you end up off the mark, but what you've seen is proof of that."

KTM has riders like Acosta and Bastianini under contract, what would you do as a manager?
"I'd first try to understand what the evolution of the situation could be, then I'd try to understand if there were alternatives with other constructors. I think all this is inevitable and normal. I think Acosta's manager will move in this direction but, of course, I hope that all this will be resolved for the best within a few months."