KTM RC16 explained

KTM RC16
Manufacturer:KTM
Production:since 2016
Predecessor:none
Class:MotoGP Prototype
Engine:10000NaN0 four-stroke, 86° V4
Transmission:6-speed sequential manual
Wheelbase:1400 mm
Dry Weight:160 kg (FIM regulation)
Fuel Capacity:22 litres (FIM regulation)

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.[1] 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 Tech3.[2] 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.[3] Starting from 2019, the French private team Tech3 became KTM's first satellite team.[4]

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.[5] In 2020 Brad Binder achieved KTM's first win as a constructor in the premier MotoGP class at the Czech Grand Prix.[6] Miguel Oliveira took KTM's second race win, and first for satellite team Tech3, just two rounds later at the Styrian Grand Prix.[7] Oliviera repeated the feat for KTM's third victory with a win at the season-closing Portuguese Grand Prix.[8] 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 weights
Wheelbase1400 mm
Height1000 mm
Dry weight160 kg
Tank capacity22 L
Mechanics
Engine typefour-stroke V4
Displacement (bore, stroke)1000 cm³ (Ø81mm, 48.5mm - suspected based on MotoGP bore limits)
Cooling systemliquid
ValvetrainDOHC, 4 valves per cylinder, pneumatic springs, gear drive
Fuel inductiondigital electronic indirect multi-point port injection
Ignitionvariable advance CDI
ECUMagneti Marelli (series spec ECU)
Power>265 bhp (198 kW) @ 18,500 rpm
Maximum engine speed18,500 rpm
Transmission6-speed seamless-shift sequential manual, final chain-drive
Starterpush start
Exhaust 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) later Mobil 1 (2023-present) and Tech3 supplied by Elf (2019-2023) later Motul (2024-present)
Chassis
FrameSteel 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 USD
Rear suspensionWP Suspension monoshock
Brakes, front2x 320/340mm carbon or steel discs, Brembo four-piston radial calipers
Brakes, rearsteel disc, Brembo twin-piston radial caliper
Wheel, frontMarchesini 17"/4.00" forged magnesium rim, Michelin tire
Wheel, rearMarchesini 17"/6.25" forged magnesium rim, Michelin tire
Sources:[9]

Complete MotoGP results

Motorcycle summary

These results are accurate up to the 2023 Valencian Community motorcycle Grand Prix.

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)

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)

2020: Pol Espargaró 2, Miguel Oliveira 1 (3 in total)

Legend

YearTeamTyresRidersRacesRiders' standingsTeams' standingsManufacturers' standings
No.Name1234567891011121314151617181920PtsPosPtsPosPtsPos
QATARGAMEESPFRAITACATNEDGERAUTCZEGBRRSMARAJPNAUSMALVAL
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing36 Mika KallioRet0NC0NC0NC
QATARGAMESPAFRAITACATNEDGERCZEAUTGBRRSMARAJPNAUSMALVAL
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing36 Mika Kallio161011Ret1124th695th
38 Bradley Smith171516141320DNSRet14Ret18171019171012112921st8410th
44 Pol Espargaró1614RetRet12Ret1811139Ret11111011910Ret5517th
QATARGAMESPAFRAITACATNEDGERCZEAUTGBRRSMARATHAJPNAUSMALVAL
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing36 Mika Kallio10RetDNS625th725th
38 Bradley Smith18Ret16131414Ret1710Ret14C16131512101583818th899th
44 Pol EspargaróRet11131111111112RetDNSRetDNS2112RetRet35114th
76 Loris BazC0NC
QATARGAMESPAFRAITACATNEDGERCZEAUTGBRRSMARATHAJPNAUSMALVAL
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing5 Johann Zarco15151314131710RetRet1412Ret1127 (30)18th1348th1115th
44 Pol Espargaró1210813697111211Ret97DNS131112111010011th
82 Mika Kallio17Ret14Ret1512726th
Red Bull KTM Tech327 Iker LecuonaRet0NC4210th
55 Hafizh Syahrin2016181914RetRet1516RetRet1315212019151615923rd
88 Miguel Oliveira171114181516121318138Ret16131612DNSDNS3317th
SPAANCCZEAUTSTYRSMEMICATFRAARATEREURVALPOR
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing33 Brad Binder13Ret14812Ret111211Ret75Ret8711th2223rd2004th
44 Pol Espargaró67RetRet3103Ret31243341355th
Red Bull KTM Tech327 Iker LecuonaRetRetRet91014Ret1415149WD2720th1527th
88 Miguel Oliveira8Ret6Ret1115Ret61665611259th
2021QATDOHPORSPAFRAITACATGERNEDSTYAUTGBRARARSMAMEEMIALRVAL
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing26 Dani Pedrosa10625th2055th
33 Brad Binder1485Ret1358412416799111071516th2456th
88 Miguel Oliveira13151611Ret2125RetRet16142011RetRet149414th
Tech3 KTM Factory Racing9Ret19131459RetRet13181210151618RetRet183721st7611th
27 Iker Lecuona17Ret1517911Ret17Ret156711Ret16RetRet153920th
2022QATINAARGAMEPORSPAFRAITACATGERNEDGBRAUTRSMARAJPNTHAAUSMALVAL
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing33 Brad Binder28613Ret108787511784210108 2 1886th3372nd2404th
88 Miguel OliveiraRet11318512Ret99996121111511213 5 14910th
Tech3 KTM Factory Racing25 Raúl Fernández18171619DNSWDRet211512Ret21181320181516151222nd142712th
87 Remy Gardner152117201420Ret191115191820191619Ret15181323rd13
2023PORARGAMESPAFRAITAGERNEDGBRAUTCATRSMINDJPNINAAUSTHAMALQATVAL
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing26 Dani Pedrosa76463219th3732nd
33 Brad Binder617113521625Ret6453922Ret414544Ret26432Ret557322934th4564th
43 Jack Miller746Ret933Ret7663Ret871558Ret1476479716869Ret16311th
GasGas Factory Racing Tech337 Augusto Fernández13111013415111011814916Ret7RetRet1714159Ret7117th9511th
44 Pol EspargaróDNS12166RetRet1315Ret18181518141523rd
94 Jonas Folger121713191714925th
* Season still in progress.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Mika Kallio says KTM will make early MotoGP debut in Valencia finale. 2016-06-19. Autosport.com. en. 2020-03-22.
  2. Web site: Pol Espargaro to join KTM's MotoGP™ efforts. www.motogp.com. Dorna Sports. en. 2020-03-22.
  3. Web site: Pol Espargaro's maiden MotoGP podium at Valencia 'unreal'. Khorounzhiy. Valentin. 2018-11-18. Autosport.com. en. 2020-03-22.
  4. Web site: Tech3 to switch to KTM for 2019 MotoGP season after Yamaha split. Khorounzhiy. Valentin. 2018-03-05. Autosport.com. en. 2020-03-22.
  5. Web site: Voicu. Cosmin. 2020-02-18. 2020 KTM MotoGP bike unveiled. 265+ hp and 157 kg. 2020-08-27. DriveMag Riders. en-US.
  6. Web site: Duncan. Lewis. 2020-08-09. Czech Republic MotoGP: Binder stuns for KTM to take maiden win at Brno. 2020-08-17. Autosport.com. en.
  7. Web site: Duncan. Lewis. 23 August 2020. Styria MotoGP: Oliveira makes last-turn pass to win thriller. 2020-08-23. www.motorsport.com. en.
  8. Web site: Barstow. Ollie. 2020-11-22. Outstanding Oliveira crushes rivals with masterclass Portuguese MotoGP win. 2021-05-15. Crash.net. en.
  9. Web site: Abdullah. Wahid Ooi. 2019-11-28. Here's How the KTM RC16 MotoGP Bike's New Frame Looks Like. 2020-08-27. BikesRepublic. en-US.