Bastianini explains why the breakthrough never came with KTM

Enea Bastianini will join Trackhouse-Aprilia in 2027 after two seasons with Tech3-KTM. The move had already been confirmed, but he has now explained more clearly why he chose to switch manufacturers: despite the support of Tech3 and KTM, he never felt a sufficiently natural match with the RC16.

Bastianini believes the KTM has more potential than he managed to extract, with Pedro Acosta repeatedly proving that point. For him, the issue lies in the meeting between the bike’s character and his riding style. He sometimes found the speed to fight for strong results, but never with enough consistency.

Aprilia’s development convinced him early in 2026. Trackhouse will keep Raúl Fernández and add Bastianini for the move to 850cc engines and Pirelli tyres. The decision remains a gamble because every MotoGP bike will change substantially in 2027, but Bastianini prefers to restart with a technical philosophy that currently feels more compatible.