Teams close to KTM will be equipped with WP shock absorbers in the 2024 Moto2 season – New competition in the wake of the switch to Pirelli tyres
The formerly Dutch company has been part of the KTM empire since 1995. The development and production of the components takes place in Munderfing in Upper Austria. In addition to Moto3, development in racing is currently being pushed mainly in MotoGP.
From next year, Moto2 will be added again. Great successes have already been celebrated in the middle class. In 2015 and 2016, Aki Ajo’s private team at the time relied on WP dampers and won the world championship title twice with Johann Zarco.
In 2017, KTM entered the Moto2 class with its own steel frame. From then on, Kalex prohibited its own customers from using WP components so as not to allow any technology transfer on the chassis side from Kalex to KTM.
With KTM, Miguel Oliveira finished third in the World Championship in 2017 and runner-up in 2018. Brad Binder also finished the 2019 season as vice world champion. KTM then withdrew from Moto2 as a chassis manufacturer. WP also disappeared from the middle class again.
From 2024, three teams supported by KTM will be equipped with WP shocks. These are Ajo, Aspar and IntactGP. This is no longer a problem for Kalex, as KTM will not develop its own Moto2 chassis and will buy the chassis from Kalex.
“Exactly. From that sense, we are unrivalled there,””KTM has committed to continue with us.” Kalex have also always insisted that Kalex are in the manufacturers’ standings.
The teams’ branding with KTM, GasGas and Husqvarna are pure marketing activities. In Moto3, KTM can be named under different brand names in the manufacturers’ classification, even though it is the same bike. In Moto2 it officially says Kalex everywhere.
In the more or less one-size-fits-all Moto2 class, Öhlins will thus get competition from WP again next year. “So from that point of view, some colour comes into play again,” Baumgärtel sees this step positively.
“When WP came on board, they had a good product right from the start. It was very competitive. With that, they also stimulated Öhlins to work again. Certainly they are starting at a good level. You can see in MotoGP that they are just as competitive.”
The 2024 comeback comes at a crucial moment as Moto2 switches from Dunlop tyres to Pirelli next year. All teams will have to work out new set-ups for the bikes.
The switch to WP could be an opportunity for Ajo, Aspar and IntactGP to gain an advantage against the competition. “The most important point we deal with is the tyre,” Baumgärtel stresses. “At the end of the day you have to make the tyre work. That will also open up one or two windows again. “
