KTM quits Team Roberts.

Austrian motorcycle company KTM has announced that it is no longer in a position to act as engine supplier to Team Roberts in the MotoGP World Championship.

KTM explained that the decision to end the supply of the 990cc V4 engine was based on a number of factors, including the change to the new 800cc MotoGP engine regulations in 2007.

For 2005 KTM's stated that their sole aim was to be an engine supplier to a fully operational team, meaning that the company's primary interest was engine supply and not to support a factory-backed KTM MotoGP team.

As such, Team Roberts were free to raise additional sponsorship and funding for the project, although KTM 'recognises that this undertaking has not been an easy task'.

To assist the project further KTM said they have made available significant additional funding, over and above the cost of engine supply: They contracted and paid team rider Shane 'Shakey' Byrne and agreed to fund the supply of Michelin tyres for the MotoGP season.

But KTM's budget did not allow for any request for funding over and above those three key areas - engine supply, rider contract and tyres.

KTM management also considered the impact of short-term investment in further development of the 990cc motor, which would become extinct at the end of the 2006 season.

For 2007, another significant investment would be required for an all-new 800cc motor.

It is for these reasons, and in an effort to focus on their 125 and 250 GP projects, that KTM decided to cease MotoGP engine supply.

In light of the new 800cc regulations any future involvement in MotoGP 'will be taken after a further assessment of the competition requirements best suited for the promotion of the KTM brand'.

KTM wished Team Roberts 'every success in its future racing endeavours'.

The KTM powered Proton KR has scored just one-point from the first ten races of 2005, with a lack of engine torque cited as the main obstacle to competitiveness.

Team Roberts are yet to comment on today's announcement and what it means for the future of the KR/Byrne/Michelin partnership.

Kenny Roberts Sr's team designed and developed their own V5 engines for the past two seasons, before deciding that manufacturer support was essential to take on the might of the Japanese factories in the four-stroke era.