2017 KTM RC16 unveiled

KTM's first ever full factory effort in the premier class of racing begins with this, the 2017 RC16. It has a little more black than we remember from the initial designs, but it has served to make it look meaner, and the contrast with the KTM orange will certainly make it stand out. 

There aren't a bevy of sponsors on the livery - yet - because expectations from the team aren't very much. The motor is strong, but getting all that power down to the tarmac is going to be one of the big challenges for the team. They've also chosen to ride a different path from everyone else with the steel trellis frame, so it will be up to riders Bradley Smith and Pol Espargaro to understand the language of this type of chassis and help develop it to extract the maximum out of it. Initial testing was positive, but the motorcycle is currently off the pace. The RC16 also looks far more traditional compared to the other 2017 models because the team hasn't paid any attention to aerodynamics yet. That will come later, when the investment of time and money in it will return gains greater than it will developing the chassis and driveline. 

We'll be rooting for the Red Bull KTM MotoGP team, and not just because it is a manufacturer close to home (via the Bajaj connection) - it is the latest of the proper factory efforts, and who doesn't like to see the underdog upset the establishment?