KTМ STAFF ONCE PAID OUT OF POCKET TO KEEP TEAM TRUCKS FUELED

Pedro Acosta’s first MotoGP victory, at the 2026 Austrian Grand Prix, marked a striking turnaround for KTM after a period when the manufacturer’s place on the grid was in doubt. The win at the Red Bull Ring was KTM’s first Grand Prix triumph since Miguel Oliveira’s 2022 Indonesian victory, and its first in dry conditions since 2021.

KTM’s financial crisis had threatened the company’s survival. It entered self-administration in late 2024 with debts of £2.1 billion, before a £674 million lifeline from Bajaj Auto in May 2025 helped keep the brand afloat. The team’s difficulties were felt directly by staff: according to Motor Sport Magazine’s Mat Oxley, KTM was at times so short of cash that employees used personal credit cards to buy fuel for team trucks after company cards were blocked. With funds scarce, investment in development was also limited.

Bajaj considered selling KTM’s MotoGP operation for £88 million in November 2025, amid concerns about the team’s results, but ultimately chose to retain it. The decision is now looking more rewarding as KTM’s performance improves. Oxley said the progress made on the RC16 over the past year would have been hard to imagine when the company’s future was uncertain. KTM was also permitted to open its engines during the summer break to replace faulty parts that had caused problems earlier in the season, while its development efforts increased.

Acosta’s Austrian win came a day after he crashed out of the lead in the Sprint, handing victory to Aprilia’s Jorge Martin. In the Grand Prix, the 22-year-old took control and was not challenged, beating Martin by 1.017 seconds. Brad Binder was the next KTM rider, finishing sixth, 8.720 seconds behind Acosta. Oxley noted that Acosta had scored more points than any other rider across the previous three Grands Prix, as KTM began to close the gap to leading manufacturers Ducati and Aprilia.

The victory capped a difficult period for Acosta, who had reportedly offered to pay £1.3 million to leave KTM and join VR46 for 2026. The team rejected the proposal, and he stayed through the end of his contract. Acosta is set to move to Ducati in 2027, partnering Marc Marquez as MotoGP enters its 850cc regulations era, on a two-year deal.

He will depart KTM as a Grand Prix winner. The team’s recovery has also helped attract Alex Marquez and Fabio Di Giannantonio, who have signed to race for the Austrian manufacturer for the next two years.