CFMOTO: A NEW TEAM IN MOTOGP?
With the financial issues that KTM have been battling, could investment or even a takeover by a Chinese company be an option?
In November 2024, KTM entered self-administered insolvency, which led to Bajaj Motors rescuing the company in May 2025. However, with the increasing cost of being competitive in MotoGP, a sale or external investment may still be imminent. KTM currently field four bikes on the grid, and before discussing the factory team, their satellite outfit Tech3 must be acknowledged.
At the end of 2025, former Haas F1 team principal Günther Steiner took control of the team from Hervé Poncharal. Steiner will be expecting big things from the squad, and in recent weeks they have reportedly been considering a switch to Ducati machinery for the 2027 season.
CFMoto currently partner Jorge Martínez’s Aspar squad in the feeder series and have done so since the end of 2023. Martínez has recently stated that CFMoto aim to reach MotoGP, and that their only realistic route for 2027 would be to “enter through an existing manufacturer”.
At present, CFMoto have star talents in Colombian David Alonso and Spaniard Daniel Holgado. Having a MotoGP team and being able to guarantee seats for those two riders could be a major advantage when attempting to enter the premier class in 2027. As things stand, it is expected that both Alonso and Holgado will reach MotoGP regardless of whether CFMoto make the step up.
In conclusion, it could be considered quite likely that we see CFMoto on the 2027 MotoGP grid, whether through a full takeover of KTM or via a significant sponsorship role that adds crucial funding. As for the rider line-up, it is probably too early to be definitive, but a pairing of an existing KTM rider, such as Brad Binder or Maverick Viñales, alongside one of the CFMoto-backed Moto2 riders, David Alonso or Daniel Holgado, could be a strong starting point for the manufacturer.
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