KTM and Tech3 officially unveiled their 2026 MotoGP bikes with identical liveries for the upcoming season.
The online launch event, held just days before pre-season testing kicks off at Sepang International Circuit, showcased the latest evolution of the iconic KTM RC16 adorned in the brand’s signature orange and dark blue livery sponsored prominently by Red Bull.
As the Austrian manufacturer enters its tenth year in the premier class, the collaboration with satellite team Tech3 underscores a seamless four-bike strategy, treating the sister outfit as an extension of the factory effort to maximize development and on-track performance.
KTM 2026 MotoGP bikes reveal comes at a crucial juncture, with the current technical regulations set to evolve significantly in 2027, making this the final swan song for the existing RC16 platform before a new era dawns.
KTM’s commitment shines through despite financial turmoil over the past year as full takeover by Bajaj Auto stabilizes the project and allows focus on both immediate competitiveness and long-term innovation.
The identical liveries across all four machines not only create a striking visual presence on the grid but also symbolize the tight-knit operation between Factory KTM and Tech3, a partnership that has deepened since the two joined forces in 2019.
At the heart of this launch are the riders who will spearhead KTM’s assault: Pedro Acosta and Brad Binder in the factory team, paired with Enea Bastianini and Maverick Viñales at Tech3.
Young Spanish sensation Acosta capped off 2025 with a remarkable fourth-place finish in the riders’ championship, equaling KTM’s best-ever premier-class result and amassing crucial data for the RC16’s development.
His consistency in the latter half of last season with regular top-five finishes, positions him as KTM’s brightest hope for podiums and potentially a title challenge in 2026.
Binder meanwhile enters his sixth MotoGP season with KTM, bringing experience and raw speed to the factory lineup.
Despite holding RC16’s top speed record at 366.1 km/h from 2023—later matched by Pol Espargaro—the South African veteran endured a challenging 2025 but showed signs of resurgence toward year-end, climbing to 11th in the standings.
Shifting to Tech3 now under new ownership of former Haas F1 team principal Gunther Steiner—Bastianini enters the new season with heightened familiarity after a transitional 2025 on the RC16, following his switch from Ducati.
The Italian notched a podium in Barcelona last year and highlighted the potential he glimpsed during Valencia testing, confidently stating that better bike and team knowledge will make him “much stronger” in 2026.
Bastianini’s aggressive style and five seasons of MotoGP experience adds depth to KTM’s quartet, contributing to their combined 24 years on the grid.
Viñales, the most seasoned of the group with 11 MotoGP seasons under his belt, joins Bastianini at Tech3 after a promising yet injury-interrupted 2025 debut with KTM.
Quick to adapt post his first two races, Viñales was on the cusp of consistent contention before a Sachsenring crash sidelined him, but targeted recovery via Red Bull’s Athlete Performance Center has him motivated.
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