KTM will pull out of 250GP racing at the end of this season and will concentrate on the 125cc class for 2009.
The factory is known to not be happy with the proposed switch to four-stroke 600cc bikes in 2010 and it's leading rider Mika Kallio is moving to the Alice Ducati MotoGP squad in 2009.
“We have decided for the GP 125 cc class because contrary to the 250 cc class, its existence is secured in the medium to long term”, said Winfried Kerschhaggl, head of KTM Racing.
The Red Bull KTM Team, under the technical leadership of constructor Harald Bartol, will be a newly formed factory squad. Next to the Spanish youngster Marc Marquez, American Cameron Beaubier, the successful protégé of the KTM MotoGP Academy, will be officially appointed to compete for the Mattighofen (Austria) factory. A further developed version of the 125 FRR will be deployed as a replacement motorcycle.
The company, which has for years encouraged the next generation with intensive activities in offroad and road racing activities, thus re-affirms this strong and long-term commitment to the smallest cubic capacity within the world championship competition.
