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KTM officially launches 2017 MotoGP challenger

KTM has unveiled the bike with which it will make its MotoGP debut next season in its full race livery during a press conference at the Red Bull Ring.

Mika Kallio, Sebastian Risse Pit Beirer and Mike Leitner unveiling the KTM MotoGP bike

Mika Kallio, Sebastian Risse Pit Beirer and Mike Leitner unveiling the KTM MotoGP bike

Toni Börner

KTM RC16 MotoGP
Pit Beirer, Mika Kallio, Alex Hoffmann, Sebastian Risse and Mike Leitner
The KTM MotoGP Bike
The KTM MotoGP Bike, detail
Mika Kallio, KTM RC 16

The Austrian manufacturer announced its MotoGP programme back in 2014, and has since conducted a series of private tests at a number of different venues to hone its new machine, dubbed the RC16.

It appeared alongside its rivals for the first time in last month's two-day Red Bull Ring test, with former Moto2 rider Mika Kallio lapping within two seconds of pacesetter Andrea Iannone on the second day.

Current Tech 3 Yamaha duo Pol Espargaro and Bradley Smith have been signed as the marque's two race riders for 2017 and 2018, with Kallio being retained as permanent test rider.

Kallio will also give the new bike its race debut in the final round of the season at Valencia. Four more tests will take place before this.

"When I first tried the bike, it was already a good level and I was able to set good laptimes," said the Finnish rider. "There were a lot of things to improve, but step by step we have found a good way.

"[In the public test] we demonstrated we are already at a good level. There are no weak points on the bike, we are already close to our competitors."

Valencia will mark Kallio's first premier class start since 2010, the end of his two-year stint with the Pramac Ducati team.

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