KTM RC16

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KTM RC16
KTM RC16 ridden by Mika Kallio at the 2017 Tokyo Motorcycle Show
ManufacturerKTM
Productionsince 2016
Predecessornone
ClassMotoGP Prototype
Engine1,000 cc (61 cu in) four-stroke, 86° V4
Transmission6-speed sequential manual
Wheelbase1400 mm
Weight160 kg (FIM regulation) (dry)
Fuel capacity22 litres (FIM regulation)

The KTM RC16 is a prototype grand prix racing motorcycle which was developed to race in the MotoGP series by KTM, starting from the 2017 season.

History[edit]

The RC16 made its debut as a wildcard entry at the 2016 Valencian Community motorcycle Grand Prix with test rider Mika Kallio.[1] For KTM's return to MotoGP in 2017, their new factory team signed 2009 125cc runner-up, Bradley Smith and the 2013 Moto2 Champion, Pol Espargaró from Monster Yamaha Tech3.[2] Their team principals are Pit Beirer and Aki Ajo who is also Red Bull KTM Ajo's team principal.

On November 18, 2018, the RC16 achieved its first ever podium finish, having finished in 3rd place in the 2018 Valencian Community motorcycle Grand Prix with Pol Espargaró, after starting the race from 6th on the grid.[3] Starting from 2019, the French private team Tech3 became KTM's first satellite team.[4]

For the 2020 season, KTM completely redesigned the RC16 chassis based on feedback from development rider Dani Pedrosa. The upgraded RC16 features a hybrid chassis design (combining elements of twin spar and trellis frame designs) manufactured from steel, and a carbon fibre swingarm.[5] In 2020 Brad Binder achieved KTM's first win as a constructor in the premier MotoGP class at the Czech Grand Prix.[6] Miguel Oliveira took KTM's second race win, and first for satellite team Tech3, just two rounds later at the Styrian Grand Prix.[7] Oliviera repeated the feat for KTM's third victory with a win at the season-closing Portuguese Grand Prix.[8] With a further five third-place podiums from Pol Espargaró, the KTM factory team finished third in the teams' championship and KTM finished fourth in the constructor's championship, ahead of Honda and Aprilia.

Designation[edit]

The motorcycle's name derives from KTM's long-standing usage of the "RC" designation (short for "Road/Competition") for its sportbikes, beginning with the RC8, RC 390, and RC 125 production models and also applied since 2012 to the RC250GP Moto3 machine. The "16" designation is related to the number of valves in the engine (4 valves per cylinder x 4 cylinders), keeping with KTM tradition as used in similars designations such as the former V-twin 1190 RC8 model and the various LC4 single-cylinder models.

Specifications[edit]

Dimensions and weights
Wheelbase 1400 mm
Height 1000 mm
Dry weight 160 kg
Tank capacity 22 L
Mechanics
Engine type four-stroke V4
Displacement (bore, stroke) 1000 cm³ (Ø81mm, 48.5mm - suspected based on MotoGP bore limits)
Cooling system liquid
Valvetrain DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder, pneumatic springs, gear drive
Fuel induction digital electronic indirect multi-point port injection
Ignition variable advance CDI
ECU Magneti Marelli (series spec ECU)
Power >265 bhp (198 kW) @ 18,500 rpm
Maximum engine speed 18,500 rpm
Transmission 6-speed seamless-shift sequential manual, final chain-drive
Starter push start
Exhaust system Akrapovič titanium twin 2-into-1 system (one per cylinder bank)
Electronic strategies drive by wire, engine braking, traction control, wheelie control, quick shift+
Lubrication Dry sump. Factory supplied by Motorex (2016-2022) later Mobil 1 (2023-present) and Tech3 supplied by Elf (2019-2023) later Motul (2024-present)
Chassis
Frame Steel hybrid construction, adjustable rake angle and swingarm pivot

(2016-2019: tubular steel trellis)

Swingarm Pivoted, carbon fibre construction

(2016-2019: aluminium construction)

Bodywork Carbon fibre (Wethje Carbon Composites)
Fork WP Suspension USD
Rear suspension WP Suspension monoshock
Brakes, front 2x 320/340mm carbon or steel discs, Brembo four-piston radial calipers
Brakes, rear steel disc, Brembo twin-piston radial caliper
Wheel, front Marchesini 17"/4.00" forged magnesium rim, Michelin tire
Wheel, rear Marchesini 17"/6.25" forged magnesium rim, Michelin tire
Sources:[5][9]

Complete MotoGP results[edit]

Motorcycle summary[edit]

These results are accurate up to the 2023 Valencian Community motorcycle Grand Prix.

  • Races won: 7
2020: Miguel Oliveira 2, Brad Binder 1 (3 in total)
2021: Brad Binder 1, Miguel Oliveira 1 (2 in total)
2022: Miguel Oliveira 2 (2 in total)
  • Podiums: 24
2018: Pol Espargaró 1 (1 in total)
2020: Pol Espargaró 5, Miguel Oliveira 2, Brad Binder 1 (8 in total)
2021: Miguel Oliveira 3, Brad Binder 1 (4 in total)
2022: Miguel Oliveira 2, Brad Binder 3 (5 in total)
2023: Brad Binder 5, Jack Miller 1 (6 in total)
  • Poles: 3
2020: Pol Espargaró 2, Miguel Oliveira 1 (3 in total)

Legend

Year Team Tyres Riders Races Riders' standings Teams' standings Manufacturers' standings
No. Name 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Pts Pos Pts Pos Pts Pos
2016 QAT ARG AME ESP FRA ITA CAT NED GER AUT CZE GBR RSM ARA JPN AUS MAL VAL  
Austria Red Bull KTM Factory Racing M 36 Finland Mika Kallio Ret 0 NC 0 NC 0 NC
2017 QAT ARG AME SPA FRA ITA CAT NED GER CZE AUT GBR RSM ARA JPN AUS MAL VAL
Austria Red Bull KTM Factory Racing M 36 Finland Mika Kallio 16 10 11 Ret 11 24th 69 5th
38 United Kingdom Bradley Smith 17 15 16 14 13 20 DNS Ret 14 Ret 18 17 10 19 17 10 12 11 29 21st 84 10th
44 Spain Pol Espargaró 16 14 Ret Ret 12 Ret 18 11 13 9 Ret 11 11 10 11 9 10 Ret 55 17th
2018 QAT ARG AME SPA FRA ITA CAT NED GER CZE AUT GBR RSM ARA THA JPN AUS MAL VAL
Austria Red Bull KTM Factory Racing M 36 Finland Mika Kallio 10 Ret DNS 6 25th 72 5th
38 United Kingdom Bradley Smith 18 Ret 16 13 14 14 Ret 17 10 Ret 14 C 16 13 15 12 10 15 8 38 18th 89 9th
44 Spain Pol Espargaró Ret 11 13 11 11 11 11 12 Ret DNS Ret DNS 21 12 Ret Ret 3 51 14th
76 France Loris Baz C 0 NC
2019 QAT ARG AME SPA FRA ITA CAT NED GER CZE AUT GBR RSM ARA THA JPN AUS MAL VAL
Austria Red Bull KTM Factory Racing M 5 France Johann Zarco 15 15 13 14 13 17 10 Ret Ret 14 12 Ret 11 27 (30) 18th 134 8th 111 5th
44 Spain Pol Espargaró 12 10 8 13 6 9 7 11 12 11 Ret 9 7 DNS 13 11 12 11 10 100 11th
82 Finland Mika Kallio 17 Ret 14 Ret 15 12 7 26th
France Red Bull KTM Tech3 27 Spain Iker Lecuona Ret 0 NC 42 10th
55 Malaysia Hafizh Syahrin 20 16 18 19 14 Ret Ret 15 16 Ret Ret 13 15 21 20 19 15 16 15 9 23rd
88 Portugal Miguel Oliveira 17 11 14 18 15 16 12 13 18 13 8 Ret 16 13 16 12 DNS DNS 33 17th
2020 SPA ANC CZE AUT STY RSM EMI CAT FRA ARA TER EUR VAL POR
Austria Red Bull KTM Factory Racing M 33 South Africa Brad Binder 13 Ret 1 4 8 12 Ret 11 12 11 Ret 7 5 Ret 87 11th 222 3rd 200 4th
44 Spain Pol Espargaró 6 7 Ret Ret 3 10 3 Ret 3 12 4 3 3 4 135 5th
France Red Bull KTM Tech3 27 Spain Iker Lecuona Ret Ret Ret 9 10 14 Ret 14 15 14 9 WD 27 20th 152 7th
88 Portugal Miguel Oliveira 8 Ret 6 Ret 1 11 5 Ret 6 16 6 5 6 1 125 9th
2021 QAT DOH POR SPA FRA ITA CAT GER NED STY AUT GBR ARA RSM AME EMI ALR VAL
Austria Red Bull KTM Factory Racing M 26 Spain Dani Pedrosa 10 6 25th 205 5th
33 South Africa Brad Binder 14 8 5 Ret 13 5 8 4 12 4 1 6 7 9 9 11 10 7 151 6th 245 6th
88 Portugal Miguel Oliveira 13 15 16 11 Ret 2 1 2 5 Ret Ret 16 14 20 11 Ret Ret 14 94 14th
France Tech3 KTM Factory Racing 9 Italy Danilo Petrucci Ret 19 13 14 5 9 Ret Ret 13 18 12 10 15 16 18 Ret Ret 18 37 21st 76 11th
27 Spain Iker Lecuona 17 Ret 15 17 9 11 Ret 17 Ret 15 6 7 11 Ret 16 Ret Ret 15 39 20th
2022 QAT INA ARG AME POR SPA FRA ITA CAT GER NED GBR AUT RSM ARA JPN THA AUS MAL VAL
Austria Red Bull KTM Factory Racing M 33 South Africa Brad Binder 2 8 6 13 Ret 10 8 7 8 7 5 11 7 8 4 2 10 10 8 2 188 6th 337 2nd 240 4th
88 Portugal Miguel Oliveira Ret 1 13 18 5 12 Ret 9 9 9 9 6 12 11 11 5 1 12 13 5 149 10th
France Tech3 KTM Factory Racing 25 Spain Raúl Fernández 18 17 16 19 DNS WD Ret 21 15 12 Ret 21 18 13 20 18 15 16 15 12 22nd 14 27 12th
87 Australia Remy Gardner 15 21 17 20 14 20 Ret 19 11 15 19 18 20 19 16 19 Ret 15 18 13 23rd 13
2023 POR ARG AME SPA FRA ITA GER NED GBR AUT CAT RSM IND JPN INA AUS THA MAL QAT VAL
Austria Red Bull KTM Factory Racing M 26 Spain Dani Pedrosa 76 46 32 19th 373 2nd
33 South Africa Brad Binder 6 171 135 21 62 5 Ret6 45 39 22 Ret4 145 44 Ret2 6 4 32 Ret5 57 32 293 4th 456 4th
43 Australia Jack Miller 74 6 Ret9 33 Ret 76 63 Ret 87 155 8 Ret 147 64 79 7 16 86 9 Ret 163 11th
France GasGas Factory Racing Tech3 37 Spain Augusto Fernández 13 11 10 13 4 15 11 10 118 14 9 16 Ret 7 Ret Ret 17 14 159 Ret 71 17th 95 11th
44 Spain Pol Espargaró DNS 12 166 Ret Ret 13 15 Ret 18 18 15 18 14 15 23rd
94 Germany Jonas Folger 12 17 13 19 17 14 9 25th

* Season still in progress.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Mika Kallio says KTM will make early MotoGP debut in Valencia finale". Autosport.com. 19 June 2016. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  2. ^ "Pol Espargaro to join KTM's MotoGP™ efforts". www.motogp.com. Dorna Sports. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  3. ^ Khorounzhiy, Valentin (18 November 2018). "Pol Espargaro's maiden MotoGP podium at Valencia 'unreal'". Autosport.com. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  4. ^ Khorounzhiy, Valentin (5 March 2018). "Tech3 to switch to KTM for 2019 MotoGP season after Yamaha split". Autosport.com. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  5. ^ a b Voicu, Cosmin (18 February 2020). "2020 KTM MotoGP bike unveiled. 265+ hp and 157 kg". DriveMag Riders. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  6. ^ Duncan, Lewis (9 August 2020). "Czech Republic MotoGP: Binder stuns for KTM to take maiden win at Brno". Autosport.com. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  7. ^ Duncan, Lewis (23 August 2020). "Styria MotoGP: Oliveira makes last-turn pass to win thriller". www.motorsport.com. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  8. ^ Barstow, Ollie (22 November 2020). "Outstanding Oliveira crushes rivals with masterclass Portuguese MotoGP win". Crash.net. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  9. ^ Abdullah, Wahid Ooi (28 November 2019). "Here's How the KTM RC16 MotoGP Bike's New Frame Looks Like". BikesRepublic. Retrieved 27 August 2020.