As the final stage in ౠits transition to a non-Concession MotoGP manufacturer, KTM is allowed to change engine design ahead of the new s🐻eason.

That has always been the case for a manufacturer leaving Concession status, not least because each engine must now last longer, butꦇ when combined wit𓂃h the special 'Covid' technical freeze it puts the Austrian factory in a unique situation compared to Suzuki, Yamaha, Honda and Ducati.

The four established non-Concession factories are unable to change their engine🍎 designs from the start of 2020 until the end of 2021, restricting them to chassis and electronic develoℱpments – plus one aerodynamic update - for this season.

But any fears that KTM, which smashed through the Concession threshold by winning three 🎃MotoGP races last season and took a total of eight podiums, might roll-out a completely new bike were played down by Motorsports Director Pit Beirer.

"It’s the same bike concept and not a radical new engine," Beirer said.ᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚ "We touched some parts but we didn’t bring a completely new model.

"If we would really use the gap in-between the lines [regulations], actually we could bu🧸ild a completely new bike.

"But first of all you need to have also the manpower to do so, and we committed to our colleagues [with the technical freeze] that we’re going to go a🤡ll together ♉in a useful format and not destroy too much material, and that’s what we did.

"So we didn’t p𒅌lan to make a completely new machine and use this moment to make an advantage.

"It’s the same bike concept, but for sure many parts have been touched. There are also a huge amount of parts which are not homologated [by the fr💫eeze], which everybody will change and try to improve.

"So it was still a huge development going into the bike. Everything we knew from last year we tried to pack in there, but not with ไa completely new engine."

If the 2021 MotoGP calendar remains at its planned 𒁏number of events (at least 19), the non-Concession manufacturers need to complete the season using no more than 7 engine changes.

Aprilia, the only manufacturer still with technical C🧸oncessions, would be allowed 9 eng🉐ine changes (and can also modify engine design during this year).

The shortened (14-round) 2020 season allowed 5 engine changes fo🌸r riders from non-Concession teams and 7 for those with Concessions.