Marc Marquez remarkably claims that KTM will become MotoGP’s No1 manufacturer
And remarkably he made this eye-opening statement while sat alongside KTM motorsport direcꦛtor Pit Beirer.
The Repsol Honda star rider has been linked with a move to KTM, who he shares 🧔Red Bull with as an influential sponsor.
"When KTM sta🐈rted they were last on the grid,” Marquez said on a Servus TV show, sat next to Beirer.
“Little by little, they have been getting closer.
“Now they are the second best constructor🎐 in the championship, but very soon, more than p💫eople might think, they will be first.
"In competition, the key is ambition. If you have ambition you will get💞 there.
“KTM is making very good ❀additions at the level of engineers and also pilots.”
This TV show was broadcast ahead of this weekend’s Austrian🔯 MotoGP, the home race for KTM who are enjoying a productive year.
Their ambition extends to i🎃ncreasing their four bikes on the grid.
They admit to trying to recruit Marquez but they will have to wait until 2025, when his Hꩵonda contract expires.
"It's a compliment to us to be associated with Marc ♕and to🤪 hear him say words like the ones he just said,” Beirer said.
“He's the most successful r൲ider we have with 59 wins.
"Unfortunately, I'm afraid that Marc will not 𒐪be in our line-up next year because he has a contract.
“We discussed it and꧅ he gave us a clear answer and that's i✨t.
"That doesn't change the fact tha🐻t we wish him all the luck in the world to get back to the top positions as soon as possible.”
These word🌳s are sure to fan the flames of rumours around Marquez’s future.
This weekend in Austria𒆙 he is just hoping to complete a gra꧂nd prix for the first time in 2023.
"I thought that in Germany I could fight again for a place on th💃e podium,🍸” he said.
“I arrived at the grand prix and I had a lo🔯t of problems with the b🏅ike, I couldn't find the rhythm.
“I crashed often during the three days. In the ෴warm up I broke my knees, ribs, anဣkle and a finger. I was mentally destroyed.
"During the holiday break I had to say to myself: 'I ha🅷ve to accept that i🃏t's not possible at the moment'.
“We have to improve the bike, I have to improve myself, the team too. We want to c🔥ome b🔯ack and fight for victory again.
"🥀It's very difficult to accept that. I really decided not to🅘 take any risks at Silverstone, my mentality has changed a bit.
“I was injured in Portugal, Germany 🐟and Holland this year, I also injured my groin.
"I need a dꦯifferent style if I want to continue competing for a few more years.
“Now we have to find a♑ base again at Honda on whicཧh we can develop further.”
James was a sports journalist at Sky Sports for a decade covering everythinᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚg from American sports, to football, to F1🎃.
