KTM Escapes!

Some current KTM news

Bajaj Mobility AG (formerly PIERER Mobility AG) is the parent company of the KTM Group, one of Europe’s leading  motorcycle manufacturers. The group includes the KTM, Husqvarna, and GASGAS brands, as well as WP Suspension and a range of electric-powered  vehicles.

Workforce reduction as part of restructuring

Following the completion of its restructuring in 2025, KTM AG has begun a global cost-cutting and restructuring program aimed at making the business more competitive. This includes:

• Reducing fixed costs
• Simplifying management and company structure
• Streamlining product and project portfolios
• Optimising global operations

As a result, around 500 jobs — mainly in office roles and middle management — have been cut.

Total employees as of December 31, 2025: 3,794, down from 5,310 in 2024.

Bajaj Mobility AG: Estimated revenue and sales results for 2025 (preliminary figures)

Bajaj Mobility AG expects its consolidated revenue for 2025 to be just over €1 billion, a decrease of around 46% compared to 2024.

 Motorcycle sales show improvement in second half of 2025

In total, the Bajaj Mobility Group sold 209,704 motorcycles in 2025, which is 28% less than the previous year.

However, sales improved significantly in the second half of the year:

• H1 2025: 50,334 motorcycles sold
• H2 2025: 80,464 motorcycles sold — a 60% increase compared to H1

In addition, 43,956 motorcycles were sold in H2 through strategic partner Bajaj Auto (compared to 34,950 in H1).

Inventory significantly reduced

KTM successfully reduced its motorcycle inventory by more than 100,000 units during 2025 as part of its restructuring efforts:

• End of 2024: 248,580 motorcycles in stock
• End of 2025: 147,427 motorcycles in stock

This reduction is described as a key milestone in KTM’s turnaround plan.

Bicycle division closed

As part of shutting down the bicycle business, the group sold 64,110 e-bikes and bicycles in 2025, compared to 106,311 in 2024.

Three From Three for Bolt as He Congtinues SuperEnduro Domination

Billy Bolt continued his flawless start to the 2026 FIM SuperEnduro World Championship with another commanding overall victory at round three in Bilbao, Spain, while Jonny Walker once again emerged as his closest challenger as the series reached its halfway point inside the tight confines of the Bizkaia Arena.

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RBolt was untouchable across the night, claiming maximum points for the third consecutive round and stretching his championship advantage to a commanding 40 points after three of seven rounds. From the outset, the reigning champion looked immediately at home on what was one of the most technical and compact tracks of the season, topping timed practice before backing it up with a flawless SuperPole lap to grab pole position and three crucial bonus points.

Prestige Race One saw Bolt emerge from the opening lap in second place, quickly locking onto the rear wheel of the early leader in an intense bar-to-bar scrap on the narrow circuit. When a small mistake opened the door, Bolt pounced decisively, taking over at the front and steadily pulling clear to secure the win by a dominant 16-second margin. Reflecting on the night as a whole, Bolt explained that the Bilbao circuit posed a unique challenge, saying, “The track was extremely difficult and quite different to what we’re used to, which made it a challenging evening for everyone.”

Behind him, Walker launched strongly and briefly controlled the race from the front before a mid-race crash dropped him back into second. Despite a couple of further mistakes making it difficult to rejoin the fight for the win, the Brit regrouped to secure second place at the chequered flag, banking valuable points on a night where consistency proved critical.

 

Billy Bolt delivered a flawless night in Bilbao, sweeping all three Prestige races and SuperPole to extend his unbeaten 2026 SuperEnduro run and open a commanding 40-point championship lead. Photo: Future7Media

The reverse-grid format for Prestige Race Two forced Bolt to start from the second row, prompting a measured approach as early-race chaos unfolded ahead of him. Calm and composed, he worked his way into second place by mid-race before engaging in another tense fight for the lead. With just two minutes remaining, Bolt applied pressure and executed a decisive pass, riding clear once more to take his second victory of the night. Bolt said that even when things weren’t clicking perfectly, he relied on discipline and trust in the process, explaining, “Even when things didn’t feel perfect out on track, I knew the pace was there, so I stayed calm, focused on my strengths, and trusted the process.”

Walker again featured prominently at the front, slicing through the field from the reverse-grid start to briefly hold the lead during a multi-lap battle. Ultimately, he was forced to settle for second once more, comfortably clear of third place and continuing a run of consistent results that have underpinned his position in the championship standings.

Jonny Walker showed consistency and front-running pace on a demanding Bilbao circuit, claiming second place in all three Prestige races to secure his third straight runner-up overall and cement second in the championship standings. Photo: Future7Media

Prestige Race Three followed a familiar script. Bolt launched cleanly into second and immediately set about hunting down the leader, Walker, making confident moves through the opening lap. When an error from Walker ahead presented an opportunity, Bolt seized control and never looked back, settling into a smooth rhythm and opening up another 16-second winning margin to complete a perfect night. Summing up the evening, Bolt praised the work done behind the scenes, noting, “We had to make a few adjustments as the night went on, but the team did a great job, and we worked through everything well. Overall, I’m pleased with my riding and how everything is coming together,” before adding that the atmosphere inside the Bizkaia Arena was “amazing” and the support “incredible once again.”

Walker once again grabbed the holeshot in the final race and led early, but a small mistake in the rocks briefly halted his momentum and allowed Bolt through. From there, Walker focused on damage limitation, maintaining second place to complete a consistent night of racing. He acknowledged the challenge of the Bilbao round, saying, “Round three in Bilbao was challenging, but I’m happy to finish second again. The track was tough, and I had to work hard, but we had some strong starts and good battles throughout the night.”

The Brit also highlighted the positives as the series heads toward Budapest, noting, “We’re a long way from third, which is a positive, and I feel like with a bit more fitness and fine-tuning, we can close the gap to the lead. I’m confident for the next round and looking forward to battling for the win.”

Behind the leading duo, Mitch Brightmore delivered another solid showing to claim third, finishing on the podium in all three races and maintaining third place in the championship standings. Eddie Karlsson showed flashes of speed for Stark Future to secure fourth overall despite mixed race results, while Josep Garcia rounded out the top five overall for KTM after a steady night on a demanding circuit.

The Bilbao round saw Billy Bolt (C) take a commanding win, Jonny Walker (L) secure a solid second, and Mitch Brightmore (R) complete the podium, highlighting the top three as the riders to watch in the 2026 SuperEnduro title chase

Confidence Rising for Hunter Following San Diego Supercross Podium

After a measured fourth-place finish at the opening round of the 2026 AMA Supercross Championship, Hunter Lawrence arrived in San Diego determined to raise the intensity, and the Australian delivered one of his strongest 450 performances to date with a hard-fought second place at Snapdragon Stadium that underlined both his growing confidence and late-race strength.

The 26-year-old showed a more assertive approach throughout Round 2, translating steady improvements made during the week into race-winning pace on Saturday night. He backed that up immediately in the 450 main event by nailing the holeshot and leading the opening phase of the race, setting the tone for what became one of the most compelling battles of the night.

Lawrence was put under sustained pressure early by Ken Roczen, with Eli Tomac soon joining the fight, and the front three traded lines in aggressive but clean racing. Both Roczen and Tomac managed to edge past Lawrence on lap eight, but rather than fading, the Australian regrouped and stayed firmly in touch, saving his best for the closing stages.

As the race entered its final quarter, Lawrence did exactly what he has built a reputation for, launching a trademark late surge. He forced his way back past Roczen before the whoops with six laps remaining, then closed rapidly on Tomac in the dying moments, even attempting a last-lap move before crossing the line just 1.6 seconds short of the win.

Reflecting on his performance, Lawrence said he could feel the difference compared to Anaheim, explaining that, “I definitely feel more confident on the bike; we tried a lot of things during the week to help where I felt like we struggled [at Anaheim].” That growing belief showed most clearly when it mattered, with Lawrence adding that one of his key strengths is being able to deliver under pressure, saying, “That’s one thing I pride myself on: being able to show up in the main event when it counts.”

While his main event was clinical and composed, Lawrence admitted the day wasn’t perfect, particularly in his heat race, which he described as the toughest part of the night. “Honestly, for me the heat race is the hardest race of the night; it was just a frustrating one, but I shook that off and put all the chips on the main,” he said. From there, his focus shifted to race management and exploiting his endurance, noting, “I feel like the first 15 minutes was just trying to get it under my belt, as I feel like the last five minutes is where I can make up that gap.”

That patience paid dividends, as Lawrence once again demonstrated his ability to maintain precision and intensity deep into a 20-minute main event. “I really love what I can do in 20 minutes and just hit my marks. All day, I look forward to the main event,” he added.

Honda HRC Progressive team manager Lars Lindstrom echoed that sentiment, highlighting the significance of Lawrence’s ride in the broader picture of the championship. Lindstrom said the team is starting to zero in on the right direction with Lawrence’s setup, admitting that while the day didn’t look perfect on paper early, the end result was telling. He praised Lawrence’s ability to rise to the occasion, explaining that seeing him “lock in and show up when it mattered most” is a quality that separates elite athletes from the rest.

With his San Diego runner-up result, Lawrence remains third in the 450 standings after two rounds, now just two points behind Ken Roczen and firmly entrenched in the championship conversation. More importantly, the performance marked a clear step forward from Anaheim, reinforcing that the Australian’s confidence is building rapidly as the series heads back to Angel Stadium for Round 3 this weekend.

Beta deliberately hits reset: The end of the Supercross season

Two laps, two injured drivers – and suddenly everything came to a standstill. For Liqui Moly Beta Factory Racing The 2026 Supercross winter ended faster than anyone had planned. But instead of frantically searching for a replacement, the team made a decision with a clear stance: No Fill-In Ride. Point.

When injuries undermine the foundation

The start to the season couldn't have been worse for Beta. Benny Bloss was sidelined on press day in Anaheim, diagnosed with a broken wrist. A week later came another blow. Mitchell Oldenburg crashed heavily during qualifying in San Diego, suffering a concussion and fractures to his radius and ulna, requiring surgery. Two regular riders out – and suddenly the Supercross project lacked its foundation.

Why Beta deliberately refrains from a replacement

In this situation, many teams would have picked up the phone and arranged a fill-in ride, simply to maintain a presence in the race. Beta consciously decided against this. A driver brought in at short notice would have offered no real added value, either in terms of performance or technical expertise. No familiarization period, no development gains, just additional risk. Instead of trying to manage the results somehow, the team preferred to draw a clear line under the situation.

Reorientation instead of a stopgap solution

The focus is now entirely on outdoor racing. Instead of isolated planned appearances, Beta will contest the entire AMA Pro Motocross Championship for the first time, with all eleven rounds – in addition to the three SMX events. This means: time for complete recovery, structured testing, and genuine further development of the Beta 450 RX. No patchwork, but a real build-up.

Team manager Carlen Gardner put it very aptly: No one should be forced back onto the track too soon – neither drivers nor equipment. The decision was difficult, but it was the right one.

A retreat that demonstrates character

From the outside, leaving Supercross might seem like a step backwards. In reality, it's the opposite. Beta is showing that it's not about mere visibility, but about substance. No fill-in ride also means: no activism, no panic mode.

The next chapter begins on May 30th in Pala. This time, not just any old way – but with preparation. And sometimes, that's precisely the bravest move in motorsport: deliberately not showing up at the starting line.

Anaheim 2

San Diego Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati Factory Racing

Tomac Surprises KTM!

KTM team 'blown away' by early Tomac performances

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Section: Competition Post: Kane Taylor

Two-for-two to commence 450SX season for new pairing

Image: Octopi Media.

Consecutive 450SX main event victories and a perfect 50 points for Eli Tomac two rounds into the 2026 season has left the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team ‘blown away’ by his early performances, team manager Ian Harrison stated following San Diego.

Tomac, 33, has quickly adapted to the 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION to storm to convincing round wins at the Anaheim 1 opener and in round two this past weekend.

“I mean, I’m blown away,” Harrison admitted post-race at Snapdragon Stadium. “Five years ago, I would’ve told you that if you hire a guy over 30, you’re crazy – they have to be younger. But I can’t believe it now. The guys at the front of this field are all over 30 and I’ve got to eat my words. These guys are on it and it’s impressive.”

It’s been a relatively straightforward transition with Tomac at KTM – long considered rivals of the highest order during stages of his decorated career – and Harrison said that self-efficiency has been evident from the outset.

“With Eli and his program, he’s just committed, and he runs his own program,” he added. “When he needs help, he asks for it. If he doesn’t, he takes care of things, which is amazing for us. To see him fight through in the main event is impressive, and as I said last week, the amount of work he puts in, [these results] are understandable.”

Tomac is eight points clear of Ken Roczen (Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear Suzuki) on top of the championship standings entering Anaheim 2 this Saturday night, while Hunter Lawrence (Honda HRC Progressive) is a further two points behind following his P2 result in San Diego.

Brabec's Heartbreak!

Brabec says ‘quite confusing note’ led to heartbreaking Dakar loss

Monster Energy Honda HRC’s Ricky Brabec lost the motorcycle class victory to Red Bull KTM's Luciano Benavides by a heartbreaking two seconds in the closest finish in Dakar Rally history. Afterward, the American explained how momentary confusion over the route near the end of the final stage proved a decisive blow.  Heading into the final stage of this year’s event, Brabec held a 3m20s advantage over Benavides, after claiming the previous day’s stage win. With just 105 km/65 miles of timed competition remaining, Brabec knew that opening the stage would leave him without tracks to follow, placing a premium on precise navigation as he chased a third Dakar title.

The final special stage featured two timed sections separated by a liaison, with riders first tackling technical mountain valley tracks before switching to a faster route along the Red Sea coastline en route to the finish line at the Yanbu bivouac. Brabec set a strong pace early, but a navigation issue just seven kilometers from the finish cost him valuable time, ultimately denying him the coveted Bedouin Trophy.

"This Dakar was a real fight from start to finish," said Brabec. "On the final stage, a quite confusing note led me to choose a line that wasn’t the correct one. When I turned back, Luciano was coming behind me and, seeing the situation, he stayed on the right track, which made the difference in such a close battle.

It was a dramatic conclusion to 49 hours and 41 seconds of racing across 4,737 km/2,943 miles of the Saudi Arabian desert.

"The last day of Dakar 2026 didn’t bring the result we were expecting, but this is Dakar – this is rally raid," said team general manager Ruben Faria of the bittersweet runner-up finish. "Six kilometers from the end of the final stage, Ricky turned left slightly too early. He didn’t take the correct track, lost a significant amount of time, and crossed the finish line just two seconds behind Luciano.

"Going into today, Ricky had a good margin thanks to the time bonuses – a gap of four minutes and 42 seconds over second place. With that small mistake, we lost the Dakar by just two seconds. Of course, we wanted more. We wanted to win, but we have to accept the result.

"Overall, it was still a strong performance for the team: Ricky finished second, Tosha (Schareina) third, Skyler (Howes) fourth, and Adrien (Van Beveren) sixth. Ricky delivered a very solid Dakar. Tosha made a mistake in the first week but still managed to finish with a strong overall result. Skyler struggled during the first week but recovered well in the second. Adrien lost almost an hour when a cable that was in the middle of nowhere got stuck in his wheel, yet he had an excellent second week.

"Naturally, we expected more – the goal was to win, and we finished incredibly close. This has never happened before. We’ll keep pushing, aim to win the next races, and come back even stronger for the next Dakar."

Haiden Deegan...Excuse?

Haiden Deegan: “People like to boo the guy who wins”

After a dramatic start to the Supercross season at Anaheim 1, all eyes were on Haiden Deegan as the series rolled into San Diego. After not getting the win at A1, he responded in emphatic fashion with a statement victory. Beyond the win itself, the night was marked by controversy after a decisive pass on his teammate Max Anstie sparked boos from sections of the crowd.

Deegan reflects on his rebound performance, addresses the incident with Anstie, explains how training on a replica San Diego track at his own property paid off, and looks ahead to the Triple Crown format return to Anaheim as the new championship leader.

Haiden, you won in San Diego. That’s what you expected from yourself. Do you feel like you got your revenge after Anaheim 1, or is this just another win to add to the list?

Deegan: No, I’m just grateful to win here. After what happened at Anaheim 1 last weekend, the week was long and complicated. I worked really hard during the off-season… With the announcement of my future move up to the 450 class, a lot of people had doubts about my future. So I told myself that I was going to fully commit to my off-season, work like crazy and harder than ever. That’s exactly what I did, and not being able to show it at the first round really hurt. I came back this weekend and won, and that’s what matters.

You were booed after the race. Does that change how you will approach your next pass on Max?

Deegan: I’ve seen videos of Kobe Bryant getting booed… People like to boo the guy who wins. That’s just how it goes sometimes, and you have to accept it. I don’t really know, maybe people have become a bit sensitive [laughs]. I didn’t take Max out on purpose. When you race Supercross and dive inside like I did, you know the other rider might try to cut back underneath you. All I did was make sure he couldn’t cut back inside, and I ended up touching his front wheel. I’m going to go and apologize, tell him I’m sorry. Whether he accepts it or not is up to him, but I didn’t do it on purpose. I had a good night, and that’s all that matters to me.

You’re teammates with Max. You train with him. Did you know how to anticipate what he was going to do, his strengths and weaknesses?

Deegan: Yes, I ride with Max every week. I know exactly how he rides. The goal was just to get around him and pull away. I don’t focus on the rest, on what’s happening around me. Unfortunately, there was that little incident, but I never intended to make him crash. I was just happy to pass him and take the lead.

Should we expect Max to get his revenge later on?

Deegan: Yes. But honestly, it wasn’t even an aggressive pass. It wasn’t intentional to touch him. Retaliation or not… Whatever happens, I’m always ready to deal with anything, because that’s what our sport is like. If it comes to that, then it comes to that, but I hope it won’t be necessary. I’m going to go and speak to him to try to clear things up, because I really didn’t mean to make him fall. But hey… we race Motocross. If he wants to get his revenge, he will. I’m ready.

On your new property, you built a replica of the San Diego track to prepare. How similar was your track to the real one in the end?

Deegan: It was really very similar. In the second set of whoops, I was able to do my wheel-tap on the very first lap of practice, which says it all. Honestly, the two tracks were very close. Some sections were obviously a bit different because they’re limited by the size of the stadium, which I’m not. But it was great.

You made several passes in the section after the start straight. Was that planned or just opportunities?

Deegan: No. I was just in a particular mindset this weekend, telling myself I was going to go into full sprint mode. I feel like I’m in a position where, if I ride at 90% of my ability, stay clean and smart, I should be able to win every race.

After a disappointing weekend at Anaheim 1, was it important to reassert yourself by winning both the heat and the main event in San Diego?

Deegan: Yes, I really needed that. I needed to get some confidence back. I’m happy that I was able to bounce back faster than last year. It’s good to see that the work is paying off because I work really hard. We’re going to keep working like this and keep fighting at every round.

Back to Anaheim next Saturday. How do you approach that race now that you’re the championship leader?

Deegan: I’m going to go in with the same approach. I’ll need to be smart and clever on these Triple Crown format races. I’ll have to make sure I start in the top five, put in good laps and manage my races properly.

What do you think? Leave a comment.

Max's View

Max Anstie on the incident with Haiden Deegan

  Ralph Marzahn   18 January 2026

The incident between Max Anstie and Haiden Deegan The moment had barely passed when the discussion began. The moment was too obvious, the scene too crucial for the outcome of the 250SX Western Division race.

Anstie was in the lead, controlling the race, while Deegan was applying pressure from behind. When the young American finally attacked, there was contact in a left-hand corner. Anstie went down, while Deegan was able to continue. For one, the race was practically over; for the other, the path to the front opened up.

What followed can be summarized quickly from a sporting perspective. But more interesting than the result itself was the reaction afterwards.

Calmness instead of grand gestures

Max Anstie deliberately avoided grand pronouncements. No blame, no veiled barbs. Instead, he spoke calmly about knowing exactly who he was racing against. Deegan was fast, determined, always ready to exploit any gap. That was something one had to reckon with – even if one wished certain situations would turn out differently.

"That's part of it," Anstie implied. It wasn't a statement of resignation, but one of acceptance. A painful moment, yes. But not one that obscures the view of the future.

Responsibility begins where it begins

One thing was particularly striking: Anstie immediately looked for the fault within himself. He spoke of not having been quite sharp enough, of the bike standing up, and of everything happening very quickly. Instead of anger, there was appreciation. "Fair play," he said – and he meant it.

The fact that the contact was with a teammate changed little for him. Racing is racing. Whoever is in front knows they'll be attacked. And whoever wears the red plate rides with a goal on their back.

The view remains wide

Despite the setback, Anstie remained remarkably calm. He's now only one point behind Deegan in the championship. Nothing is lost, everything is still possible. His starts are good, his pace is right, and he has confidence in his car. That's exactly what he wants to build on.

This composure doesn't come about by chance. At 32, Anstie no longer speaks like someone who lets every incident throw him off balance. He puts things into perspective, takes what he can learn – and moves on. The years in the GP and Supercross circuit have left their mark. A positive one.

Not a conflict, but a moment

In the end, not a single harsh word was spoken. On the contrary. Anstie praised Deegan's pace and determination. Decisions at the limit are part of this sport. Sometimes they work out well, sometimes not.

Thus, this incident remains less of a conflict than a learning experience. One that Max Anstie seems to be moving on from more quickly than many would expect. And therein perhaps lies his greatest strength.