KTM sees Moto3 champion David Alonso as medium-term bet for MotoGP

KTM has set its sights on signing David Alonso to its MotoGP programme in the future, having been impressed by his record-breaking sophomore campaign in Moto3 this year.

The Austrian marque’s motorsport boss Pit Beirer is keen to keep hold of a rider as talented as Alonso, who has already clinched the lightweight class title with a record 13 wins from 19 races.

Although the 18-year-old is a product of Angel Nieto’s Aspar operation, KTM sees him as its own rider, having come through the Red Bull Rookies Cup and raced for its sister brand CFMoto in Moto3. 

The Colombian will move up to Moto2 with the same Aspar CFMoto squad in 2025 and KTM is confident that he will soon be ripe for a graduation to the premier class.

“Now David is moving on to Moto2, of course we also want to see him in the MotoGP class at some point,” Beirer told Servus TV.

KTM has reshuffled its rider line-up in MotoGP for 2025, with Pedro Acosta moving up to the factory squad alongside Brad Binder, and Maverick Vinales and Enea Bastianini joining Tech3 from Aprilia and Ducati respectively.

Pit Beirer, KTM Motorsports Director

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

Binder, Vinales and Bastianini are all contracted until the end of the 2026 season, by which time they will all be in their late 20s or early 30s.

According to Beirer, KTM may then need to inject some fresh blood and look for riders from the junior ranks, with Alonso likely to be the next rider to follow in the footsteps of Acosta.

“You will need a young rider again at some point,” he said. “And of course, it would also be a dream of ours to have a future rider in the team who started with us in the Rookies Cup and then grew into it via Moto3. 

“David could be a very special rider like that, and we will look after him just as well as Pedro so that we don’t lose him.”

KTM has had a mixed 2024 season in MotoGP, a campaign where Ducati has upped its dominance with the all-conquering GP24 bike.

Vinales’ victory with Aprilia in the US Grand Prix remains the only occasion where Ducati was beaten in a Sunday race this year, with other manufacturers having found it difficult to even breach the podium spots at most races.

David Alonso, CFMOTO Aspar Team

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

After a difficult run in the middle of the season, KTM’s form has seen an upturn in recent events, with Acosta finishing on the podium in Aragon, Indonesia and Thailand.

It has allowed the flagship marque of the Pierer Mobility Group to consolidate second in the manufacturers’ championship, pulling clear of third-placed Aprilia.

While admitting that results haven’t been quite up to the level the management had expected, Beirer was particularly unhappy with the performances of Binder and departing factory rider Jack Miller this season.

Binder is sixth in the riders’ standings ahead of next weekend’s Barcelona finale, one spot and three points behind Acosta, while Miller has endured a miserable year sitting 14th in the championship.

“You just have to say what kind of technology is offered there and what the world championship is about,” said Beirer about the competition.

“You have to build a rocket to compete in the league. But yes, of course I would be lying if I said that we are totally satisfied.

Brad Binder, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, Jack Miller, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

“We had set ourselves a bit more goals for this year. So far we have had 12 podiums, six on Saturday and six on Sunday.

“But of course, we wanted more and expected a bit more, especially from our regular drivers, Jack and Brad.”

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