German Speedweek, close in contact with KTM Factory Racing, is confident that at the Austrian Grand Prix Dorna and KTM will announce the launch of a new factory project instead of Suzuki leaving MotoGP: it will be GasGas.
Despite the very evasive, but still negative response from the boss of KTM Factory Racing, Pete Bayer, Speedweek journalists believe that GasGas should come into play in 2023: in 2021 it appeared in Moto3, in 2022 – in Moto2, and finally, in 2023 – in MotoGP.
But there will be no factory team, in fact, because neither KTM nor the entire Pierer Mobility AG corporation had time to create a completely new division in MotoGP from scratch. But they have Tech3 Racing, a 100% factory satellite, which actually provides KTM Factory Racing “racing services” – provides its quota for motorcycles, its team, and base. KTM Factory Racing is engaged in hiring pilots in Tech3, the factory pays their salaries.
2023 will be the 4th season of Tech3 in the colors of KTM, the composition of the team is almost a foregone conclusion – even Pete Bayer himself confirmed Pol Espargaro, and the candidacy of Remy Gardner is hanging in the air (will accept the terms of the contract or not).
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So, Speedweek is just sure that Tech3 will take on the burden of responsibility for the “development” of the GasGas brand, without taking absolutely any additional steps for this.
The boss of Pierer Mobility AG, Stefan Pire, made it clear in a July interview that the plan to withdraw GasGas to MotoGP was in his plans.
Anyway, in 2023, the starting grid will be reduced to 22 riders. But Dorna will maintain the political status quo since its customers were guaranteed participation in the championship of 6 manufacturers (brands).