If This MotoGP Team Switches to Honda, Is KTM Dead?

"Behind the scenes, every manufacturer has been conducting negotiations with its independent team," said Tech3's team manager Nicolas Goyon to Motorsport, adding, "For teams such as, for example, VR46, nothing has been officially announced, but everything is already clear on their side: they will continue with Ducati."

But here's where it gets interesting, as the manager states, "If you pay attention, I think every team has clarified the situation. The only team still in talks is us. It’s true, Guenther [Steiner] is also talking to Honda."

Steiner came into the team late last year and comes from the world of Formula 1 where he managed Haas F1 for many years, becoming a prominent fixture both on the grid and in Netflix's 'Drive to Survive' docu-drama. And he's known as one of the most vocal folks around, assessing things, and voicing his displeasure when things aren't going his way. This often put him at odds with many of his own powers that be, including Haas F1 team owner, Gene Haas, and was likely the cause of his departure from the outfit.

Yet, it's that sort of suffer-no-fools attitude that is likely the cause of this potential rift with KTM.

KTM has been a mess in recent years, failing to provide adequate updates to its engines and motorcycles, as well as all the backroom drama that's occurring at the company. It's shown more progress this season, but the engine is still behind the Aprilia and Ducatis on the grid. Even so, Acosta is sitting in 4th in the championship fight—he's 40 points behind Aprilia's Bezzecchi, but still.

And that puts KTM on the back foot for negotiations with Tech3 and Steiner. It also puts KTM dangerously close to having to call it quits, as without an engine client, all the R&D money can't be amoritized. Everything goes on Red Bull KTM's balance sheet. And for a company that came so precariously close to shuttering completely, I sincerely doubt a group like Bajaj would take the risk just for a little bit of PR.

Likewise, as Goyon said, every other team is set for who they're working with next year. KTM's only client is Tech3.

To that end, Goyon replied, "Guenther is simply carrying out market research. We have a good agreement with KTM, but he’s also weighing things up; he doesn’t want to make any knee-jerk decisions. He’s studying the market to see what the options are. And then he’ll make his choice."