MotoGP Rumor: Honda On The Verge Of Poaching Ex-KTM Technical Director

Saajan Jogia | Aug 14, 2024

Apr 12, 2024; Austin, TX, USA; Joan Mir (36) of Spain and Repsol Honda Team during practice for the MotoGP Grand Prix of the Americas at Circuit of The Americas. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports / Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Honda is on the verge of signing former KTM technical director Fabiano Sterlacchini, with negotiations reportedly underway. This highlights Honda’s pivot towards integrating European engineering practices, signaling a significant move away from its historically Japanese-focused approach.

In its quest to revamp performance, Honda Racing Corporation's (HRC) latest significant engineering acquisition is Ken Kawauchi, a key engineering talent who joined from Suzuki after the Hamamatsu manufacturer closed its MotoGP division at the end of 2022.

After failing to witness a turnaround in performance, HRC's top management engaged in discussions with Ducati's chief, Gigi Dall'Igna, in an attempt to secure the engineer who has played a pivotal role in transforming Ducati into a dominant force in MotoGP in recent years.

Now though, as per a report by Motorsport.com, HRC attempts to poach Sterlacchini, who spent 17 years at Ducati before moving to KTM. The Austrian manufacturer announced in July that it was parting ways with him after being unable to renew his contract, as the parties were unable to mutually agree on the terms and conditions. Revealing his views, Pit Beirer, KTM motorsport director, said last month:

“The distance from his home, which is quite far from here [Austria], was an element to take into account, but I don't want to use it as a main excuse.

“We couldn't agree on certain things about how to continue, and that's the reason we agreed to part ways.”

HRC isn't the only option for the Italian engineer, who is currently considering whether to stay in MotoGP or take on a new role outside of racing. If an agreement is reached, he will be unable to join Honda until November due to contractual obligations with KTM.

Should Sterlacchini join Honda in November, his impact on the development of the 2025 bike would only be fully realized during the 2025 season. This timing means that his influence will coincide with Honda's likely continuation of the same testing and development concessions it currently enjoys.

Under the new MotoGP concessions system, Honda, having scored less than 35% of the available points in 2023, is granted several key advantages. These include unlimited private testing at any GP circuit, unrestricted in-season engine development, up to two aerodynamic updates per season, and the allowance of up to six wildcard entries per year.

As MotoGP heads to the Red Bull Ring in Austria this weekend, Repsol Honda Team rider Joan Mir looks forward to the race where he secured his first Moto3 world championship win. He told Honda.Racing:

"I am looking forward to seeing how we can improve in Austria after a run of weekends where we haven’t been able to deliver on our potential properly.

"Spielberg is a very particular circuit and usually I am very good under hard braking and hopefully we can find something to help on corner exit to stay with the others.

"It’s an important period coming up to work on things for the end of the season. I earned my first World Championship win there in 2016 in Moto3."

Repsol Honda rider Luca Marini remained optimistic about the upcoming race considering the team's progress thus far. He added:

"Our previous weekend in Silverstone showed the progress we have been making with the bike, everything is coming together better and better and I am able to improve and make progress during the weekend.

"The results are not what we want of course but we’re building and working. I think in Austria we will be able to make another step at a track which is very different to the rest, it’s all about braking and acceleration so we will need to focus a lot on these areas."