The KTM RC16 is a prototype grand prix racing motorcycle which was developed to race in the MotoGP series by KTM, starting from the 2017 season.
History
The RC16 made its debut as a wildcard entry at the 2016 Valencian Community motorcycle Grand Prix with test rider Mika Kallio. For KTM's return to MotoGP in 2017, their new factory team signed 2009 125cc runner-up, Bradley Smith and the 2013 Moto2 Champion, Pol Espargaró from Monster Yamaha Tech 3. Their team principals are Pit Beirer and Aki Ajo who is also Red Bull KTM Ajo's team principal.
On November 18, 2018, the RC16 achieved its first ever podium finish, having finished in 3rd place in the 2018 Valencian Community motorcycle Grand Prix with Pol Espargaró, after starting the race from 6th on the grid. Starting from 2019, the French private team Tech3 became KTM's first satellite team.
For the 2020 season, KTM completely redesigned the RC16 chassis based on feedback from development rider Dani Pedrosa. The upgraded RC16 features a hybrid chassis design (combining elements of twin spar and trellis frame designs) manufactured from steel, and a carbon fibre swingarm. In 2020 Brad Binder achieved KTM's first win as a constructor in the premier MotoGP class at the Czech Grand Prix. Miguel Oliveira took KTM's second race win, and first for satellite team Tech3, just two rounds later at the Styrian Grand Prix. Oliviera repeated the feat for KTM's third victory with a win at the season-closing Portuguese Grand Prix. With a further five third-place podiums from Pol Espargaró, the KTM factory team finished third in the teams' championship and KTM finished fourth in the constructor's championship, ahead of Honda and Aprilia.
Designation The motorcycle's name derives from KTM's long-standing usage of the "RC" designation (short for "Road/Competition") for its sportbikes, beginning with the RC8, RC 390, and RC 125 production models and also applied since 2012 to the RC250GP Moto3 machine. The "16" designation is related to the number of valves in the engine (4 valves per cylinder x 4 cylinders), keeping with KTM tradition as used in similars designations such as the former V-twin 1190 RC8 model and the various LC4 single-cylinder models.
Specifications
+Dimensions and weightsWheelbase1400 mmHeight1000 mmDry weight160 kgTank capacity22 LMechanicsEngine typefour-stroke V4Displacement (bore, stroke)1000 cm3 (Ø81mm, 48.5mm - suspected based on MotoGP bore limits)Cooling systemliquidValvetrainDOHC, 4 valves per cylinder, pneumatic springs, gear driveFuel inductiondigital electronic indirect multi-point port injectionIgnitionvariable advance CDIECUMagneti Marelli (series spec ECU)Power>265 bhp (198 kW) @ 18,500 rpmMaximum engine speed18,500 rpmTransmission6-speed seamless-shift sequential manual, final chain-driveStarterpush startExhaust systemAkrapovič titanium twin 2-into-1 system (one per cylinder bank)Electronic strategiesdrive by wire, engine braking, traction control, wheelie control, quick shift+LubricationDry sump. Factory supplied by Motorex (2016–2022, 2026–present) later Mobil 1 (2023–2025) and Tech3 supplied by Elf (2019–2023) later Motul (2024–present)ChassisFrameSteel hybrid construction, adjustable rake angle and swingarm pivot (2016-2019: tubular steel trellis)SwingarmPivoted, carbon fibre construction (2016-2019: aluminium construction)BodyworkCarbon fibre (Wethje Carbon Composites)ForkWP Suspension USDRear suspensionWP Suspension monoshockBrakes, front2x 320/340mm carbon or steel discs, Brembo four-piston radial calipersBrakes, rearsteel disc, Brembo twin-piston radial caliperWheel, frontMarchesini 17"/4.00" forged magnesium rim, Michelin tireWheel, rearMarchesini 17"/6.25" forged magnesium rim, Michelin tireSources:
Complete MotoGP results Motorcycle summary These results are accurate up to the 2026 Italian motorcycle Grand Prix.
Races won: 7 2020: Miguel Oliveira 2, Brad Binder 1 (3 in total) 2021: Brad Binder 1, Miguel Oliveira 1 (2 in total) 2022: Miguel Oliveira 2 (2 in total)
Podiums: 38 2018: Pol Espargaró 1 (1 in total) 2020: Pol Espargaró 5, Miguel Oliveira 2, Brad Binder 1 (8 in total) 2021: Miguel Oliveira 3, Brad Binder 1 (4 in total) 2022: Miguel Oliveira 2, Brad Binder 3 (5 in total) 2023: Brad Binder 5, Jack Miller 1 (6 in total) 2024: Brad Binder 1, Pedro Acosta 5 (6 in total) 2025: Enea Bastianini 1, Pedro Acosta 5 (6 in total) 2026: Pedro Acosta 2 (2 in total)
Poles: 5 2020: Pol Espargaró 2, Miguel Oliveira 1 (3 in total) 2024: Pedro Acosta 1 (1 in total) 2026: Pedro Acosta 1 (1 in total)
Legend YearTeamTyresRidersRacesRiders' standingsTeams' standingsManufacturers' standings No. Name 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Pts Pos Pts Pos Pts Pos QATARGAMEESPFRAITACATNEDGERAUTCZEGBRRSMARAJPNAUSMALVAL Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 36 Mika Kallio Ret 0 NC 0 NC 0 NCQATARGAMESPAFRAITACATNEDGERCZEAUTGBRRSMARAJPNAUSMALVAL Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 36 Mika Kallio 16 10 11 Ret 11 24th colspan="2" 695th 38 Bradley Smith 17 15 16 14 13 20 DNS Ret 14 Ret 18 17 10 19 17 10 12 11 29 21st8410th 44 Pol Espargaró 16 14 Ret Ret 12 Ret 18 11 13 9 Ret 11 11 10 11 9 10 Ret 55 17thQATARGAMESPAFRAITACATNEDGERCZEAUTGBRRSMARATHAJPNAUSMALVAL Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 36 Mika Kallio 10 Ret DNS 6 25th colspan="2" 725th 38 Bradley Smith 18 Ret 16 13 14 14 Ret 17 10 Ret 14 C 16 13 15 12 10 15 8 38 18th899th 44 Pol Espargaró Ret 11 13 11 11 11 11 12 Ret DNS Ret DNS 21 12 Ret Ret 3 51 14th 76 Loris Baz C 0 NCQATARGAMESPAFRAITACATNEDGERCZEAUTGBRRSMARATHAJPNAUSMALVAL Red Bull KTM Factory Racing5 Johann Zarco 15 15 13 14 13 17 10 Ret Ret 14 12 Ret 11 27 (30) 18th1348th1115th44 Pol Espargaró 12 10 8 13 6 9 7 11 12 11 Ret 9 7 DNS 13 11 12 11 10 100 11th82 Mika Kallio 17 Ret 14 Ret 15 12 7 26th Red Bull KTM Tech3 27 Iker Lecuona Ret 0 NC4210th55 Hafizh Syahrin 20 16 18 19 14 Ret Ret 15 16 Ret Ret 13 15 21 20 19 15 16 15 9 23rd88 Miguel Oliveira 17 11 14 18 15 16 12 13 18 13 8 Ret 16 13 16 12 DNS DNS 33 17thSPAANCCZEAUTSTYRSMEMICATFRAARATEREURVALPOR Red Bull KTM Factory Racing33 Brad Binder 13 Ret 1 4 8 12 Ret 11 12 11 Ret 7 5 Ret 87 11th 222 3rd 200 4th44 Pol Espargaró 6 7 Ret Ret 3 10 3 Ret 3 12 4 3 3 4 135 5th Red Bull KTM Tech3 27 Iker Lecuona Ret Ret Ret 9 10 14 Ret 14 15 14 9 WD 27 20th 152 7th88 Miguel Oliveira 8 Ret 6 Ret 1 11 5 Ret 6 16 6 5 6 1 125 9th2021QATDOHPORSPAFRAITACATGERNEDSTYAUTGBRARARSMAMEEMIALRVAL Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 26 Dani Pedrosa 10 6 25th colspan="2" 205 5th33 Brad Binder 14 8 5 Ret 13 5 8 4 12 4 1 6 7 9 9 11 10 7 151 6th 245 6th88 Miguel Oliveira 13 15 16 11 Ret 2 1 2 5 Ret Ret 16 14 20 11 Ret Ret 14 94 14th Tech3 KTM Factory Racing 9 Ret 19 13 14 5 9 Ret Ret 13 18 12 10 15 16 18 Ret Ret 18 37 21st 76 11th 27 Iker Lecuona 17 Ret 15 17 9 11 Ret 17 Ret 15 6 7 11 Ret 16 Ret Ret 15 39 20th 2022 QAT INA ARG AME POR SPA FRA ITA CAT GER NED GBR AUT RSM ARA JPN THA AUS MAL VAL Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 33 Brad Binder 2 8 6 13 Ret 10 8 7 8 7 5 11 7 8 4 2 10 10 8 2 188 6th 337 2nd 240 4th 88 Miguel Oliveira Ret 1 13 18 5 12 Ret 9 9 9 9 6 12 11 11 5 1 12 13 5 149 10th Tech3 KTM Factory Racing 25 Raúl Fernández 18 17 16 19 DNS WD Ret 21 15 12 Ret 21 18 13 20 18 15 16 15 12 22nd 14 27 12th 87 Remy Gardner 15 21 17 20 14 20 Ret 19 11 15 19 18 20 19 16 19 Ret 15 18 13 23rd 13 2023 POR ARG AME SPA FRA ITA GER NED GBR AUT CAT RSM IND JPN INA AUS THA MAL QAT VAL Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 26 Dani Pedrosa 76 46 32 19th colspan="2" 373 2nd 33 Brad Binder 6 171 135 21 62 5 Ret6 45 39 22 Ret4 145 44 Ret2 6 4 32 Ret5 57 32 293 4th 456 4th 43 Jack Miller 74 6 Ret9 33 Ret 76 63 Ret 87 155 8 Ret 147 64 79 7 16 86 9 Ret 163 11th GasGas Factory Racing Tech3 37 Augusto Fernández 13 11 10 13 4 15 11 10 118 14 9 16 Ret 7 Ret Ret 17 14 159 Ret 71 17th 95 11th 44 Pol Espargaró DNS 12 166 Ret Ret 13 15 Ret 18 18 15 18 14 15 23rd 94 Jonas Folger 12 17 13 19 17 14 9 25th 2024 QAT POR AME SPA FRA CAT ITA NED GER GBR AUT ARA RSM EMI INA JPN AUS THA MAL SLD Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 26 Dani Pedrosa Ret3 7 24th 304 6th 327 2nd 33 Brad Binder 2 24 9 6 8 8 106 66 98 Ret4 57 46 4719 6 8 6 7 69 DNS7 69 217 5th 43 Jack Miller 21 55 137 Ret Ret8 Ret7 16 11 13 127 195 15 88 16 Ret 108 11 5 DNS8 13 87 14th 44 Pol Espargaró 17 119 10 12 23rd GasGas Factory Racing Tech3 31 Pedro Acosta 98 F 3 7 27 102 Ret6 133 F 53 Ret 7 95 13 33 176 Ret5 26 RetP DNS 3 59 10 215 6th 242 7th 37 Augusto Fernández 17 11 14 Ret7 13 Ret Ret 14 16 16 15 12 Ret 18 Ret Ret 179 Ret 10 19 27 20th 2025 THA ARG AME QAT SPA FRA GBR ARA ITA NED GER CZE AUT HUN CAT RSM JPN INA AUS MAL POR VAL Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 33 Brad Binder 88 7 Ret 13 6 Ret 14 Ret9 9 11 76 8 75 7 Ret6 10 12 4 8 9 59 88 155 11th 462 4th 372 3rd 37 Pedro Acosta 196 89 Ret7 8 7 4 68 45 8 49 Ret9 32 43 2 44 Ret9 173 2 53 23 32 F 42 307 4th Red Bull KTM Tech3 12 Maverick Viñales 16 12 14 14 47 55 11 187 Ret4 56 DNS DNS 13 Ret 16 DNS Ret 72 18th 213 9th 44 Pol Espargaró 99 8 109 Ret 10 29 22nd 23 Enea Bastianini 9 17 7 11 9 13 17 12 Ret 9 WD Ret3 57 Ret 35 Ret 11 Ret 9 79 18 10 112 14th 2026 THA BRA USA SPA FRA CAT ITA HUN CZE NED GER GBR ARA RSM AUT JPN INA AUS MAL QAT POR VAL Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 33 Brad Binder 76 Ret 12 114 Ret 7 11 42* 12th* 145* 5th* 124* 3rd* 37 Pedro Acosta 21 79 38 10 54 RetP 2 69 103* 4th* Red Bull KTM Tech3 12 Maverick Viñales 16 18 DNS 11 17 5* 20th* 44* 10th* 94 Jonas Folger 16 0* 24th* 23 Enea Bastianini 12 15 63 8 7 Ret Ret 39* 13th* * Season still in progress.
See also Aprilia RS-GP Honda RC213V Suzuki GSX-RR Yamaha YZR-M1 Ducati Desmosedici
References