http://www.gpone.com/index.php/en/20...he-la-KTM.html
The story went almost completely unnoticed, but KTM's announcement that they will compete in some 2012 WSBK rounds is very important.
In fact - should Yamaha find a way to field their bikes - the production based series could tout the participation of no less than eight manufacturers next year!
Recently we received word from Wolfgang Felber, head of road racing at KTM, that Martin Bauer has signed on to be the development rider (and racer) for the latest version of the RC8 R, the bike on which he won the 2011 IDM Superbike championship. "With Martin and the team led by Konrad Hefele, we will certainly obtain the necessary feedback to develop the Superbike, applying the same method we use for off-road racing."
The Austrian manufacturer actually made its debut in 2008, racing in the FIM Cup Superstock championship, with Renč Mahr and Pauli Pekkanen riding. The results weren't exactly encouraging, however (the best finish was a 13th place for Mahr at Brands Hatch), and KTM decided to concentrate their efforts on the IDM for 2009. In German championship, which has regulations different to those of WSBK, actually making it more similar to STK, things went better for the team, with rider Nebel finishing second in the championship.
The improvement continued during the 2010 season, when the team hired two time German champion (2007, 200 Martin Bauer. The experienced rider scored three wins for KTM, at Oschersleben, Sachsering and Hockenheim, allowing the Austrian team to win the constructors' championship, edging out rivals BMW.
This past season, KTM switched to the use of semi-official teams (like Bauer's Motorex squad), so that the factory could concentrate on the development of a Moto3 engine. Now the manufacturer from Mattinghofen has turns its attention once again to Superbike.