Meanwhile, KTM is pulling out of Moto2.

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KTM AG CEO Stefan Pierer and Dorna Sports CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta inked a fresh contract for KTM to remain as part of the MotoGP grid for another five years at the Red Bull Ring for the myWorld Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich this weekend. The existing agreement will now extend to a total of seven years from the current campaign: KTM’s third as part of the high profile MotoGP series.

With the pledge to the pinnacle of Grand Prix racing confirmed, KTM have realigned their output in the support categories by placing principle emphasis on MotoGP and Moto3. Europe’s leading manufacturer will maintain their carefully constructed ‘road to MotoGP’ ladder from the new Northern Talent Cup (for 2020) and through the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup and the subsequent divisions up until MotoGP but will reshape their perspective in the following two areas:

-Withdrawal as a chassis manufacturer in Moto2 but keeping the close relationship with Aki Ajo’s team as the crucial stepping-stone for Red Bull KTM in MotoGP.

-Further focus on Moto3 as the building block for Grand Prix talent to showcase and develop their potential. This includes a renewed effort with the return of Husqvarna to road racing. Adopting the KTM technical platform the brand was part of Moto3 in 2014 and 2015 and scored two podium results in the first season thanks to Danny Kent. The intention for 2020 is to develop a new Husqvarna race bike specifically for Moto3.

KTM continues to make promising gains in the MotoGP class where the quest for single-digit race results in the fiercely competitive contest remains on-track. The brand is a firm believer in the educational role of Moto3. The company’s young heritage started in the best possible way with the first two titles in 2012 (Sandro Cortese) and 2013 (Maverick Viñales) and another in 2016 with Brad Binder and KTM wishes to enforce this initial rung into Grand Prix racing.

Stefan Pierer, CEO KTM AG: “We made a proactive decision here at our home grand prix to renew our stay in MotoGP and commit to another five years of competition. This is part of a wider strategic view and we now have seven years to rise towards the top of the MotoGP class; the same period of time we needed to conquer the Dakar Rally. We know we are firmly on the way and have made good steps in less than three years already. As part of this outlook we want to boost Moto3: it is the foundation and the base of road racing for us. It is where we began and where we are one of the leading brands. We see a very good opportunity here by bringing back Husqvarna with force; there will be a new bike and a special direction with this project. All of this movement means we will pool our resources and energy and as a consequence we will step out of Moto2.”

Pit Beirer, KTM Motorsport Director: “First of all it is fantastic for us to continue to stay in ‘sixth gear’ as a company in MotoGP and to be able to keep pushing hard to achieve our goals. With our knowledge of more than three-hundred FIM world championships in so many classes we know the ingredients to have success in racing and we are determined not to move from our objective. For this I want to thank Mr Pierer and the KTM AG board for the extra vote of confidence and for all the hard work and belief that every single person who touches this project has made so far. Secondly we have looked at the entire programme and know that our effort has to be well placed, and we believe that MotoGP and Moto3 are the main platforms for us moving forwards. Thanks to the great work and experience with Aki we can maintain a link to Moto2 and the perhaps what is the final preparation needed for the jump to MotoGP. We feel strongly that we can have this asset even though we will vastly reduce our presence as a chassis contributor. We can feel the passion for MotoGP at places like Red Bull Ring this weekend and it allows us to feed off that energy. We believe that exciting times are coming for us as a racing division and as a company.”

The post KTM Extends Commitment To MotoGP For Another Five Years appeared first on Motorcycle.com News.

After agreeing to a two-year contract, both sides decide to end the nightmare after just one season. The official KTM press release is below.

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The 29-year-old joined KTM towards the end of 2018 after his second term in MotoGP and for his first with full-factory support. Zarco tried to adapt his riding style to the KTM RC16 and the team tried relentlessly to mould the #5 machine to the Frenchman’s wishes and requirements while teammate Pol Espargaro made regular Q2 qualification appearances and persistently vied for top ten positions.

Ultimately both Johann and the team decided not to proceed with their joint project for 2020 and will now focus on giving the maximum for the final eight rounds and remaining months of MotoGP 2019.

The post Johan Zarco and KTM Calling It Quits After The 2019 Season appeared first on Motorcycle.com News.

MV Agusta raises 100,000 euro with custom F3 provided for UNICEF Fundraiser.

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MV AGUSTA’S FASTEST FUNDRAISER FOR UNICEF

Racetrack-derived F3 800 dedicated to UNICEF auctioned off at gala event in Porto Cervo, Sardinia, to support vulnerable children worldwide

Schiranna, Italy, August 10, 2019 – MV Agusta announces the donation of a special edition, one-of-a-kind F3 800 motorcycle to UNICEF Italia in support of their worldwide fight to defend the rights of vulnerable children seeking shelter, food and protection. The bike, was auctioned off on August 9 in the course of a gala event held at an exclusive location in Porto Cervo, Sardinia’s undisputed capital of luxury holidays.

The “UNICEF Summer Gala”, in its second edition this year, was organised in cooperation with LuisaViaRoma, one of Italy’s top fashion online retailers. Among the celebrity guests,  Adrien Brody, Alicia Silverstone, Caroline Scheufele, Christopher Walken, Claire Foy, Devon Windsor, Elsa Hosk, Emily Ratajkowski, Georgia Fowler, Georgia Gibbs, Halima Aden, Jasmine Sanders, Jordan Barrett, Leonardo Del Vecchio, Lily Aldridge, Martha Hunt, Maya Henry, Neels Visser, Noel Capri Berry, Shanina Shaik, Zoe Saldana, Michaelangelo L’Acqua as long as appearance of Adriana Lima, Adrien Brody, Alex Lanipekun, Amaoury Nolasco, Andrea Fanjul, Ann Kathrin Gotze, Austin Butler, Beau Hemm, Bojana Krsmanović, Camila Costa, Carlo Sestini, Caroline Vreeland, Chantel Jeffries, Charlotte McKinney, Chiara Biasi, Cindy Kimberly, Claudio Marchisio, Daniela Lopez, Daphne Groeneveld, Devon Windsor, Elsa Hosk, Gabrielle Caunesil, Georgia Gibbs, Glen Powell, Guy Gerber, Halima Aden, Ione Omena Rangel, Isabelle Mathers, Jessica Serfaty, Jordan Barrett, Josefine Haaning Jensen, Justin Hopwood, Kara Jewell, Kat Graham, Lina Lademann, Mandy Bork, Marcus Butler, Mariano Di Vaio, Mary Leest, Maya Henry, Meghan Roche, Natasha Poly, Nathalia Soliani, Nathalie Emmanuel, Nathalie Kelley, Neels Visser, Niels Espersen, Noel Berry, Noonoouri, Riccardo Pozzoli, Shea Marie, Sophia Roe, Stefanie Giesinger, Tamara Kalinik, Vanessa Hudgens, Victoria Germyn, Vivie-Ann Bakos, Vlada (Elena) Roslyakova, Vivi Nevo, Xenia Adonts. After the welcome cocktail and the sit-down dinner surrounded by the mountains of Sardinia, the programme included a charity auction with performances by Dame Shirley Bassey and Ellie Goulding and an after party including DJs Guy Gerber and Blond: Ish. The auction featured a number of unique works of art and exclusive items. Among them, MV Agusta’s special F3 800 with an inline-3-cylinder engine of nearly 150 HP and top speeds of over 240 Km/h. It did very well and was sold to an MV collector for a stunning 100.000€, that will go entirely to UNICEF.

Timur Sardarov, CEO of MV Agusta, said: “I am so happy that our special F3 800 for UNICEF Italia found such a generous buyer. All our motorcycles are hand-crafted, and it takes an incredible amount of pride, passion and experience to manufacture one. This special one is unique, and to know it will serve a unique cause makes every woman and man involved in its production even prouder. I wish to thank UNICEF Italia for giving us this opportunity to support them in defending vulnerable children.”

About MV Agusta

MV Agusta is one of the world’s leading premium motorcycles manufacturers. Based in Varese, in Northern Italy, it crafts legendary racetrack-derived bikes. Iconic design and class-leading performance through advanced technologies and materials make MV Agusta motorcycles admired the world over and celebrated as unique pieces of Motorcycle Art. Since 1945, the brand has evolved to become a point of reference in the industry, having won 37 world championship titles. A record still undisputed.

About UNICEF

UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund, promotes the rights and well-being of every child, everywhere. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children.

UNICEF Italy is a registered charity. We are funded entirely by voluntary contributions from individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. We are always committed to finding new ways to save children’s lives, as in the case of the inaugural UNICEF Summer Gala: a new opportunity to involve more and more people at our side and find valuable allies to help children in need. We profoundly thank our partner LuisaViaRoma, without which all this would not have been possible.

LuisaViaRoma

Established in 1929, LuisaViaRoma is one of the first online luxury destinations. Pleased to join forces with UNICEF Italy to host the Summer Gala, LuisaViaRoma is grateful to be in the position to help the less fortunate children through the fantastic evening that has given back to children in need.

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