KTM gets approval to open and revise MotoGP RC16 engines ahead of Aragon

Ahead of the final two MotoGP races in England, KTM received a positive decision from the MotoGP technical committee that allowed the Austrian factory to correct its 2026 RC16 engines. According to SPEEDWEEK, the request was approved after KTM demonstrated that the sealed, regulation-plombed four-cylinder units could be opened under controlled conditions for specific riders: Pedro Acosta, Brad Binder, Maverick Viñales and Enea Bastianini.

The move came in response to a run of engine-related failures affecting the RC16 prototype. SPEEDWEEK notes that the most prominent shutdown on a KTM in 2026 was not ultimately linked to the later-identified engine issue. In Catalunya, Pedro Acosta’s bike lost performance and then collided with Alex Marquez; SPEEDWEEK reports that the cause was the uniform electronic engine management, not the engine hardware itself.

Once the RC16 powerplants were examined in depth, KTM’s racing department identified the real source of the damage. The outlet says that, due to the technical commission’s protocol, detailed information about the exact components and findings was not made public. However, it was established that faulty, performance-relevant mechanical parts supplied by a vendor created serious problems for KTM and, by extension, for the teams relying on the RC16.

With safety and reliability the priority, KTM’s only route to guaranteed operation of the homologated engines was to replace the critical parts. For KTM Factory Racing, SPEEDWEEK describes this as a larger undertaking than usual. The revision process also required documentation and controlled handling, meaning a full commission had to travel to Upper Austria to oversee the work.

A key constraint was that KTM could not change the engine specification that had been agreed for 2025 and 2026 and recorded in the homologation paperwork. SPEEDWEEK stresses that any deviation would breach the “Engine Freeze Agreement,” with penalties that could ultimately lead to disqualification.

The approval process took longer than KTM had hoped. The request was submitted with the intention of completing the corrections during the summer break, but the final green light—required to be unanimous from the MSMA (manufacturers’ association)—arrived later than expected. As a result, the timing shifted toward the Silverstone period.

By then, KTM used the two-week window after the British races to remove the damaged components. On request, SPEEDWEEK reports confirmation from KTM’s racing department: “The engines were revised this week.” The implication was that the RC16s heading into the next round would be running with corrected, healthy hardware rather than the reduced performance situation seen previously.

SPEEDWEEK also clarifies that while the engines were not described as “derailed” or “throttled” in England, the results still reflected the period of adjustment. Pedro Acosta was KTM’s top finisher, placing fifth, while Brad Binder achieved the best top speed among all MotoGP bikes during the GP.

Looking ahead to MotorLand Aragón, SPEEDWEEK says it remains to be seen how the revisions will translate into race outcomes. The circuit near Alcañiz features two demanding acceleration sections, and at the end of the longest straight MotoGP bikes can exceed 355 km/h.