What changed
2026-08-27 18:47 UTC → 2026-09-03 10:20 UTC ·
added
removed
In mid‑July, KTM announced it was seeking permission from rival MotoGP manufacturers to open its sealed RC16 engines and replace a high‑stress component that had caused sudden shutdowns, after the defect forced Pedro Acosta to retire while leading the Catalan Grand Prix and contributed to a crash involving Alex Marquez. By early August, KTM secured the needed approval through the MSMA and IRTA. Initially only Aprilia supported the request, but after the summer break the remaining manufacturers granted consent on safety grounds. KTM planned to carry out the supervised repairs within a week before the Aragon Grand Prix, though the fix would not be ready for the upcoming Silverstone round, where interim measures would limit engine performance. Following the approval, KTM engineers completed a major overhaul of seven engines at the Munderfing manufacturing site. Described as a “surgical” operation, the process involved disassembling engine blocks to replace components including valves, washers, gaskets, and lubricants. While KTM has not officially confirmed the specific parts, technical indications suggest the issues may stem from the valves, similar to a problem Yamaha encountered in 2020. These refurbished engines are scheduled to return to racing rotation starting with the Aragon Grand Prix, potentially ending the previous practice of limiting engine power to mitigate failure risks. By late August, KTM successfully addressed the reliability issues, identifying a faulty component reportedly from an external supplier in the pneumatic valve area. Although the technical fix is in place, the manufacturer faces logistical challenges due to depleted engine allocations. Previous failures resulted in two engines being withdrawn for Pedro Acosta and three for Brad Binder. Binder reported having only one fresh engine remaining before the 19th round of the season, necessitating careful management of his remaining units. Following the Aragon Grand Prix, where Pedro Acosta secured a second-place finish, speculation has emerged regarding KTM’s engine specifications. While the RC16 motorcycles showed no obvious reliability problems during the race, rumors suggest the manufacturer may have intentionally kept engine RPMs lower to ensure stability. KTM riders may potentially regain 500 RPM at the upcoming Misano round. Pol Espargaro noted that increasing the rev limit would provide benefits beyond top speed, specifically aiding gearbox management and preventing the engine from hitting the limit prematurely.