KTM Readying Supersport Racing Effort

03/05/2024 14:00

KTM is preparing to make its next step in the world of production racing, with the Austrian manufacturer reportedly planning an entry to the World Supersport class.

This is according to GPOne, who say that KTM - which currently competes in the WorldSSP300 class with its RC 390 sports bike - has been in talks with Dorna for multiple months. Additionally, the Italian site reports that a test is being organised with what will be a new motorcycle, and that former KTM MotoGP project leader and current KTM consultant Mike Leitner was in Barcelona to discuss the Austrians' plans with Dorna, the WorldSBK promoter.

Further, an upcoming BSB round is reported to be under consideration for the test. 

This weekend, BSB races at Oulton Park, but the next round at Donington Park, on 17-19 May seems the most likely option if a test during a BSB weekend were to take place.

The motorcycle in question would most likely be a KTM RC 990, since KTM doesn't build enough of its RC 8C track-only bikes to pass homologation. The RC 990 has been rumoured for a while, with spy photos of a production version emerging in 2022.

The engine used in the new-for-2024 KTM 990 Duke, a 947cc parallel twin producing 121bhp and 76lb ft, would be a logical motor to find in a KTM RC 990, but GPOne suggests that the sports bike's engine would actually be a larger displacement to achieve greater performance - somewhere around 140bhp. 

Important to consider here is that the current technical regulations for the WorldSSP class restrict twin-cylinder bikes to 960cc, so KTM theoretically only has 13cc to play with to find the 20-or-so horses it is reportedly looking for.

KTM's rumoured RC 990 is the second large-capacity bike reported to be on the way to the new-look Supersport class in the near future, after rumours emerged earlier this year that a Yamaha R9 could be incoming to replace the existing Yamaha R6.

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