Marc Marquez remarkably claims that KTM will become MotoGP’s No1 manufacturer
And remarkably he maꦍde this eye-openಞing statement while sat alongside KTM motorsport director Pit Beirer.
The Repsol Honda star rider has been linked with a move to KTM, who he shar𝓰es Red Bull with as an influentia🌱l sponsor.
"When KTM started 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 t♒han people 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 thꦑe level of engineers and also pi💦lots.”
This TV s🎐how was broadcast ahead of this weekend’s Austrian M🐼otoGP, the home race for KTM who are enjoying a productive year.
Their ambition extends to increasing theඣir four bꦺikes on the grid.
They admit to trying🧜 to recruit Marquez but they will have to wait until 2025, when his Honda contract expires.
"It's a ♔compliment to us to be associated with Marc a꧒nd to hear him say words like the ones he just said,” Beirer said.
“He's the most successful rider we have ♏with🙈 59 wins.
"Unfortunately, I'm afraid that Marc will not be in our line-up next year because he🧜 has a contract.
“We discussed it and he gave 𒀰us a clear answ⛦er and that's it.
"🥂That doesn't change the fact that we wish him all the luck in the world to get back to the top positions as soon as poജssible.”
These words are sure to fan the flames of rumours a🐽round Marquez’s fut🐓ure.
Thiꦦs weekend in Austria he is just hopingℱ to complete a grand prix for the first time in 2023.
"I thought that in Germany I cou⛄ld fight again for a place on the🌠 podium,” he said.
“I arrived at the grand prix 💮and I had a lot of problems with t🎐he bike, I couldn't find the rhythm.
“I crashed often during the three days. In the warm𝓀 up I broke my knees, ribs, ankle and a finger. I was mentally destroyed.
"During🅷 the holiday break I had to say🔯 to myself: 'I have to accept that it's not possible at the moment'.
“We have t♎o improve the bike, I have to improve myself, the team too. We want to come back𝄹 and fight for victory again.
"It's very difficult to ac♋cept that. I real🦋ly decided not to take any risks at Silverstone, my mentality has changed a bit.
“I was in♌jured in Por🐓tugal, Germany and Holland this year, I also injured my groin.
"I need a dif𝓡ferent style if I want to continue competing for a few more years.
“Now we have to find a base again at Honda on 📖which we can develop further.”
J𓂃ames was a sports journalist at Sky Sports for a decade covering everything from American sports, to football, to F1.
