Press Release | September 30, 2024
Francesco Guidotti will depart as MotoGP team manager of Red Bull KTM at the end of this season, the factory has confirmed on September 29, 2024. The Italian joined KTM in 2022 from Pramac Ducati, replacing Mike Leitner.
KTM announced the following day morning on September 30 that Aki Ajo is to take over the running of the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing MotoGP team from 2025.
Aki Ajo will take on the role of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing MotoGP team manager from 2025.
Photos Courtesy of KTM Images/Polarity Photo
Here is the press release from KTM on September 29, 2024.
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s MotoGP team will come under new management for the 2025 season and the seasons to come. The company wish to thank Francesco Guidotti for his passion, knowledge and commitment to the role.
Francesco Guidotti will depart as Red Bull KTM MotoGP team manager at the end of this season.
Francesco brought a proven track record to the works squad for 2022 and for what was his second stint in Grand Prix racing in KTM colors. For almost three years he was able to oversee considerable improvements both on the technical and sporting aspect of the team and his easy and accessible personality helped unify the crew across the board. He helped KTM achieve two Grand Prix wins in this period and 12 podiums finishes. Francesco steered the team into the MotoGP Sprint era where 11 podium appearances and 2 victories were celebrated. He contributed to the firm’s highest championship standing to-date when Brad Binder finished 4th in 2023 and KTM were runner-up in the Constructors table.
For 2025 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing will enter a new chapter for what will be only their ninth campaign on the MotoGP grid and then in the approach to 2027 and the revamped technical regulations.
Pit Beirer, KTM Motorsports Director: “After three years with Francesco and a lot of positive progress and working methods, we are moving the team with a different leadership approach. Making these changes is never an easy process and we can only thank Francesco warmly for what he has done in our MotoGP story. 2025 will bring some big movements to the whole program in this close and exciting sport and we are laying the foundations now to keep making steps ahead.”
Here is the press release from KTM on September 30, 2024…
Aki Ajo to helm Red Bull KTM Factory Racing MotoGP team from 2025
The Finn has overseen his own team, Ajo Motorsport, in Grand Prix racing for more than two decades and begun an official and prosperous spell with KTM in 2012 when they delivered the very first Moto3™ world title with the KTM RC4. Red Bull KTM Ajo won another two championships in the class (2016 with Brad Binder and 2021 with Pedro Acosta) and provided the ideal platform for talent emerging from the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup. Ajo’s Moto3 program assisted six riders to make the breakthrough to the MotoGP category.
In 2017 Ajo expanded Red Bull KTM representation to Moto2™ and amplified the KTM GP Academy through the Grand Prix pyramid. Three more of his riders in the intermediate division went on to MotoGP and the crew claimed three consecutive titles from 2021-2023.
For KTM’s ninth season of MotoGP competition with the KTM RC16 in 2025 and with riders Binder and Acosta in place, Ajo will now assume duties as Team Manager. His intimate knowledge of the company, staff and racers as well as a championship-winning philosophy will take KTM’s MotoGP representation to the next level. KTM is seeking the final few percentages of performance to fight consistently for trophies and believe in Aki’s spirit and organization to make that happen.
The Red Bull KTM Ajo structure in Moto3 and Moto2 will retain the same focus on developing some of the brightest prospects in the KTM GP Academy.
Aki Ajo: “It’s an honor to be offered this great new role and opportunity to work in MotoGP with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing. At the moment MotoGP is at a very high level so we need to continue to work in many areas and use the strengths that we have to build this KTM package to an even better standard. We need to keep pushing but I think this project already has many good parts to be right at the very top; we have to manage them in the best way. Thank you to Stefan, Hubert, Pit and Jens and everyone in the KTM structure.”
Pit Beirer, KTM Motorsports Director: “We have a special relationship and a very close collaboration with Aki and so we felt this was the best decision to take the MotoGP project forward. I’ve said it before and will mention it again: he believed in us when we were just getting organized in this paddock, so the trust and the friendship is unmatched. His team’s success speaks for itself. He has won titles with both of the riders that will be in the pitbox for 2025 but that knowledge is just part of the skillset he will bring. We know we can count on a lot of pedigree and, of course, Aki knows our company and the way we race. I’m really pleased and proud that we are taking this challenge together and we are continuing a story that began a long time ago and has had so much success and great stories already.”
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