KTM officially announces the signing of Enea Bastianini and Maverick Vinales for the 2025 MotoGP season. Both riders have joined the Tech3 team, led by Herve Poncharal, on long-term contracts after leaving their previous teams, Ducati and Aprilia. Bastianini’s move to Tech3 was expected, as his manager had been linking him to the team for some time. On the other hand, Vinales’ decision to join Tech3 is surprising, considering his supposed close ties with Aprilia. However, this may be influenced by the acquisition of Jorge Martin by Aprilia. As a result of these signings, KTM’s satellite team will once again use their iconic orange colors, emphasizing their factory-supported status. KTM’s Pit Beirer expressed his satisfaction with the signings, highlighting the talent and speed of both riders. He also mentioned the team’s commitment to strengthening the KTM brand and his excitement for the upcoming season.
The decision to hire Bastianini makes strategic sense for KTM, as he has proven to be a strong competitor and had success at the Malaysian Grand Prix last year. Additionally, his availability at a reasonable price due to Ducati’s choice to replace him with Marc Marquez is a bonus for KTM. On the other hand, Vinales’ hiring is more unexpected, considering his slower transition from Yamaha to Aprilia. However, given his experience with V4 machines, the adaptation process should be smoother this time. Unfortunately, these signings mean that there will be no place for current KTM factory rider Jack Miller or former Moto2 world champion Augusto Fernandez in the team next year. Miller has been linked to a possible move to Ducati’s Superbike team if Alvaro Bautista retires at the end of 2024.
