Although Oliveira Won GP Styria, KTM Lost Their Concession Rights

Miguel Oliveira (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Miguel Oliveira did win at the Grand Prix Styria at the Red Bull Ring Circuit, Sunday, August 23 evening. However, KTM lost their concession rights in MotoGP. What does it mean?

Launched by Antara, Monday, KTM will lose their right to perform unlimited tests and their four MotoGP riders will not be allowed to take the test whenever they want, except only on official test days.

KTM have lost their concessions! 👀But what exactly does that mean for the Austrian brand? 🤔 # AustrianGP 🏁 | 📽️https: //t.co/3ZJhvgoIES

- MotoGP ™ 🏁 (@MotoGP) August 23, 2020

Meanwhile, test rider Dani Pedrosa will also not be allowed to test at any grand prix home circuit next season, but KTM is now allowed to select only three circuits for their test rider to use.

Concessions are given to each manufacturer who has joined MotoGP since 2013 and to those who haven't won during that period.

The concessionaire team has the opportunity to test on whichever track they choose, as well as having six wildcards throughout the season.

In order to maintain the concession, the manufacturer must not score more than six concession points over a two year period. If that limit is not crossed in two years their points will return to zero.

The point count is: three points for a win, two for a runner-up finish and one for a third place finish.

When six points are earned, the right to unlimited tests is automatically eliminated.

KTM this season saw their first win with KTM Factory Racing rookie Brad Binder in Brno, Czech Republic on August 9. Three weeks later Oliveira became the first Portuguese racer to win a premier class grand prix as well as presenting the first victory for the KTM Tech 3 team. Meanwhile, Pol Espargaro presented an additional prize to KTM when he finished third.

In excess of concession points, therefore, the machine allocation for KTM will also be reduced from nine to seven for the 2021 season. In addition, they will also only be awarded three wildcard slots.

But it looks like KTM, who debuted in MotoGP in 2017, don't care about that as they have shown rapid progress and established themselves as serious contenders this season.

"Only one thing matters and that is seeing the orange KTM at parc ferme on Sunday," Oliveira said.

Some say @ _moliveira88 can win around Styria with his eyes closed! 👀The Portuguese rider mastered the Red Bull Ring this weekend! 🇵🇹 # AustrianGP 🏁 pic.twitter.com/Kg16jFd2uX

- MotoGP ™ 🏁 (@MotoGP) August 23, 2020

"Whatever advantage we had in the past they are paying off now. So I think it's time to compare us with the best brands here and have the same rules.

"I think KTM shows if whatever they go through they will not lose and I think what they have achieved in MotoGP in a very short time is an extraordinary thing and they should be proud of that.

2/5 race wins this year have gone to KTM riders 👀Can they challenge for the title? 🏆 # AustrianGP 🏁 | 📰https: //t.co/FtzVyfalz9

- MotoGP ™ 🏁 (@MotoGP) August 23, 2020

KTM is currently in third place in the constructors' standings, only six points adrift of Yamaha at the top, and one point from Ducati.

Binder is in fourth place in the riders' standings, 21 points away from Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha). The points difference between Binder at P4 and Oliveira in P9 is only six points in the middle of a very tight season this year.