Overview
- KTM confirmed on Friday that other MotoGP manufacturers have given permission for its team to open sealed RC16 engines and fit replacement parts under IRTA supervision.
- The move follows an internal investigation that found 'high-stress' supplier components failing under load and causing sudden engine shutdowns, including the incident that triggered a major crash at the Catalan GP.
- KTM plans to carry out the supervised corrective work the week before the Aragon GP so the repaired units can be resealed and not count as new engines against riders' limited allocations.
- The repair could not be completed in time for Silverstone, so KTM will race this weekend with interim measures such as reduced rev limits that have cut straight-line speed and overall pace.
- Riders say the fix should restore reliability but not deliver a large single-step performance gain, and the approved replacement reduces the risk of safety incidents and sporting penalties that would further harm KTM's season.