MOTOGP: KTM's test bike turns first laps

KTM's 2016 MotoGP test bike completed its debut outing at the Red Bull Ring in Austria last week. The manufacturer will join the MotoGP grid in 2017, after undertaking an extensive test program next year.

Alex Hofmann completed the three-day Austrian test, while Mika Kallio, who has been signed as a test rider for KTM, will make his debut on the bike later this year. KTM motorsport director Pit Beirer said watching the first laps completed by the bike on Thursday was "an emotional moment."

"A very big thanks to Alex and the entire team for the excellent performance," he said. "The feedback and the fact that we were already able to put in very many laps without any problems gives us a lot of motivation for the next steps in this long journey towards our entry into MotoGP in 2017."

"There was of course a great deal of tension and pressure on the team and the roll-out took place earlier and on a larger scale than originally planned," Technical director Sebastian Risse said. "The fact that it all went as smoothly as it did, and the data that we have been able to gather makes us very optimistic about the further development of the KTM RC16.

"Although we are still far removed from the detailed work, these three days were a very positive and instructive test for us."

Originally on Autosport.com