Risse explains KTM strategy: How long the RC16 will continue to be developed

– KTM wants to push the development of its current MotoGP machine for as long as possible before the focus shifts completely to the new 850cc regulations from 2027. Technical Director Sebastian Risse explains that several factors determine how much longer updates for the current RC16 can be created.

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The most important point is the limited number of test tires. “The allocation of Michelin test tires is significantly lower this year, about only half as large,” says Risse in an interview with Motorsport.com, a partner site of Motorsport-Total.com.

As a result, KTM must plan very carefully when and where new components can be tested. But it’s not just the quantity of tires that sets noticeable limits. The tightly scheduled course of the season also makes major development steps more difficult.

Updates must be tested first

While new parts can initially be tested by the test team, they ultimately have to be evaluated by the regular riders as well. And this is exactly where the situation becomes complicated.

“What you develop with the test team must ultimately also be introduced by the racing drivers,” explains Risse. However, the number of official IRTA tests during the current season is limited. At the same time, they don’t want to simply deploy major changes directly during a race weekend.

“So if it’s something really big, you want to give the riders at least an initial impression during a test first,” he emphasizes.

Two decisive dates for 2026

For KTM, this results in two important deadlines: the two remaining official IRTA tests in Jerez and Barcelona. By then, as many planned updates as possible should be ready to be tested by the Grand Prix riders.

“If a development then occurs that we cannot complete in time, we will see how we deal with it. But at the moment, our goal is to have brought all the updates we still have planned to the racing team by the last IRTA test, at least as far as testing is concerned,” says Risse.

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However, this does not necessarily mean that the parts are immediately available in sufficient quantities for racing. Especially with complex components, it can be of a logistical nature that they initially only exist as a prototype.

But the crucial thing first is to know whether the innovation works in principle. After that, work can be done to deploy it in racing as quickly as possible.

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Progress in tire management

At the same time, Risse sees progress in an area that has repeatedly been an issue for KTM in the past: tire management. Especially with the rear tire, the RC16 has experienced different phases over the years.

In certain stages of development, KTM was even particularly easy on the tires. “We had great success on very tire-demanding tracks like Brno or Barcelona,” Risse recalls. At the same time, the bike occasionally lacked the ability to put in an ultimate qualifying lap.

As a result, the team tried to change the balance and went too far in the meantime. “At some point, we overshot in the other direction,” the technical director admits. But they reacted – with success.

“I believe the balance between a fast lap and the race distance has never been better than it is now,” Risse judges contentedly. As for the front tire, the German engineer admits that KTM at times required particularly stable front tires, while other manufacturers could hardly use them.

Learned a lot about the front tire too

But here, too, both bikes and tires have evolved. An important moment was the arrival of Jack Miller. “He proved that this bike can also work with soft front tires,” says Risse.

In the meantime, Miller is not only riding a Yamaha, but many manufacturers have also adjusted to the harder tires, “so that the others have moved strongly in our direction,” the KTM man notes. Tires that were previously avoided by many riders have today become the standard choice on numerous tracks.

“It’s still the same tire, but the bikes have evolved. That has also brought us more into the middle when you compare us with the rest,” says Risse.

“We probably learned earlier than others how to make these hard tires work and benefit from them. The others have caught up. This means that we are now more in the midfield compared to them.”

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