Tech 3 Racing announces all-new line-up of Enea Bastianini and Maverick Vinales for 2025 MotoGP season as it returns to KTM name.
A potent line-up and fresh color scheme will mark a new era for KTM’s MotoGP factory presence in 2025. The re-branded Red Bull KTM Tech3 squad will complement the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team with two stellar names in Grand Prix winners Enea Bastianini and Maverick Vinales.
The Italian, 26 from Rimini, and the Spaniard, 29 from Roses, will be equipped with full-factory KTM RC16 machinery in 2025 as part of a multi-year agreement and will form a Red Bull orange quartet with stars Brad Binder and Pedro Acosta in the adjacent set-up.
Bastianini made his world championship debut ten years ago (after also ruling races in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup) with a KTM RC4. He claimed six victories and more than 30 podiums in both Moto3 and Moto2 through a seven-season education phase where he also improved to grasp the 2020 crown in the intermediate class.
Enea entered MotoGP in 2021 at the age of 23 and has logged 5 wins and 12 podiums through the course of his three and a half years in the division to-date. Noted for his natural ability and excellence for maximizing his technical ‘package’ across the full race distance, ‘La Bestia’ will be a formidable asset for the Red Bull KTM Tech3 outfit.
Already a race winner in 2024, and the first rider in the MotoGP-era to triumph with three different brands; Maverick Viñales brings outstanding experience and talent to the team. #12 was actually KTM’s second-ever Moto3 world champion back in 2013 for what was the then-teenager’s third term in Grand Prix and a career spell where four seasons in both Moto3 and Moto2 resulted in four consecutive top-three championship finishes.
He joined the premier class in 2015 and registered the first of his 10 MotoGP successes (35 podium appearances) the following campaign. Viñales has banked two championship bronze medals in his decade tenure and has won at least one Grand Prix in seven of those ten years in MotoGP. Maverick’s acute feeling, pace and fitness make him one of the leading names on the MotoGP grid.
Nicolas Goyon, Tech3 Racing MotoGP Team Manager: “We are delighted to announce that Enea and Maverick will be with us next year and we convert back to KTM. We cannot forget our first MotoGP wins were taken in orange! We cannot hide our pride that these two talented riders have decided to ride our bikes. It shows we’ve followed the right road, and our technology can fight at the front for the championship.
‘We would like to thank Pierer Mobility AG for the quality of their support. Our collaboration has reached the top level this year and I’m sure it will keep growing in the future. We’d also like to thank Red Bull for their dedication with us. We have a clear commitment towards victory and that’s why Enea and Maverick have decided to join the program.”
Pit Beirer, KTM Motorsports Director: “We’re very happy we could bring both Enea and Maverick into our MotoGP project and give them full factory backing and support to keep following their goals and to reach their maximum performance. It’s clear we are talking about two of the fastest riders in the world right now and it is a compliment that they trust us and the first-class operation we’ve created together with Red Bull KTM Tech3.
“The team’s label for 2025 says it all: it is time to strengthen the KTM name again and we couldn’t think of a better way to bring this kind of value to the company than for Enea and Maverick to go full Red Bull orange. Let’s push on for the rest of 2024 now and then look forward to this new start for next year.”
[Note: The story is as per press release]
