KTM He wants his experience in MotoGP to have more and more weight on the motorcycles that circulate on the road. Now, the Austrian brand has confirmed that its renewed family of supersport models will grow in the coming years with 2 new members of smaller displacement, a future 790RC and one 490RC. The announcement comes after the presentation of the new KTM 990 RC R and 990 RC R Track2 sports shoes that represent the return of the Austrian firm to a segment in which in recent years it had reduced its presence.
The strategy is clear: build a complete family of sports motorcycles, with different displacements and performance levels, taking advantage of the knowledge acquired in competition. And that’s where MotoGP enters the scene.
Two new KTM RC to expand the sports family
Yes, the CEO of KTM, Gottfried Neumeisterhas confirmed the company’s plans to expand its offer of supersport motorcycles approved for the road. Although its technical characteristics and a specific launch date have not yet been officially announced, the 2 displacements mentioned are super interesting. The first would be a KTM 790 RCa motorcycle that would fit perfectly between the current 990 RC R and the brand’s smaller displacement models. The choice of the 790 cc engine is not coincidental either, especially after the recent renewal of the KTM 790 Duke.
In the case of the second novelty, KTM I would be working on a future 490RC. If it finally reaches production, this sports bike would become the gateway to the RC family and one of the most interesting proposals for those looking for a sporty motorcycle of contained size without making the leap to higher displacements.
The KTM 990 RC R leads the way
As we all know, the new generation of sports shoes KTM Its main representative is the 990 RC Ra motorcycle that recovers the concept supersport from the Austrian firm with a much more radical orientation. Its 947 cc parallel twin-cylinder engine is at the center of a proposal that combines a high performance-to-weight ratio, with studied aerodynamics and a chassis designed to offer sporty performance both on the road and on the track. Next to her, the KTM 990 RC R Track takes this formula even further. This variant is focused directly on track use and dispenses with the limitations of a street motorcycle.
The future 790 RC It could take advantage of a good part of this philosophy, although adapted to a smaller displacement and a broader audience. In fact, a sports car based on the 799 cc twin-cylinder platform of KTM would have arguments to compete in one of the most interesting segments of the market.
The arrival of a 490RC would be even more significant. KTM It would thus recover a displacement that the company has already explored in the past and that could be especially attractive for young drivers and users looking for a first sports car with serious performance.
MotoGP as a laboratory
The bet of KTM by MotoGP It does not respond solely to a question of image. According to Gottfried Neumeisterracing is having an increasing influence on the development of street motorcycles. Obviously, the 990 RC R already represents an important step in that direction, while future 790RC and 490RC They would allow this philosophy to be extended to a much broader audience.
It is obvious, the experience accumulated in MotoGP can serve as a technological showcase and as a development platform for a range that KTM wants to grow. The company itself seems to have understood that the championship can help reinforce the image of its road models and, at the same time, offer a laboratory to develop new solutions.
Mr. Neumeisterhas declared: “The off-road segment has been stable for many years, and we come from off-road; It’s our original DNA, so motocross, enduro, off-road and Dakar… but it hasn’t grown deeply. But, the street motorcycle segment has become a very important area for KTM. We make half our income from street models. Therefore, we want to demonstrate our experience, not by participating in minor national championships, but by being at the top and demonstrating that we can not only compete, but also be a reference for others in certain aspects..”
Neumeistercontinued: “We have just launched our KTM 990 RC R and our new 990 RC R Cup. This model is derived directly from MotoGP, although we do not have a V4 engine! Without a doubt, we want to expand our RC range; The 990 was the first and we will have a 790 and a 490, like other brands with a presence in the medium and low range, in a growing segment. We are very proud that the KTM 990 RC R has won so many tests against other models. The success in MotoGP is now more evident, since before we did not have a motorcycle with a full fairing.”
