CFMOTO to make Moto3 World Championship debut in 2022

Chinese motorcycle giant CFMOTO is set to enter a team into the 2022 Moto3 World Championship thanks to a little help from its friends at KTM.

The ever-growing company will use KTM-built machinery and the team will be run by the Germany-based Prüestel GP outfit, which currently operates under the team name CarXpert Prüestel GP.

Riders are yet to be announced, however Prüestel GP currently comprises of Ryusei Yamanaka and Filip Salac. The team made headlines earlier in 2021, when once of its riders, Jason Dupasquier, was tragically killed in a crash at the Italian Grand Prix.

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The CFMOTO-branded Moto3 entry will be the first by a Chinese manufacturer and it will likely be announced officially at the Misano MotoGP round from October 22-24.

CFMOTO’s entry into the MotoGP universe comes off the back of increased activity between the Chinese brand and Austrian giant KTM. The two companies began a joint-venture partnership in 2013 to produce small-capacity, KTM-badged motorcycles, however it has since grown significantly.

The CFMOTO/KTM joint venture, officially known as CFMOTO-KTMR2R, now comprises of an R&D centre and an all-new manufacturing facility in Hangzhou. CFMOTO holds a 51 per cent share of the joint venture, while KTM holds the remaining 49 per cent.

Recently, the unique partnership has produced the CFMOTO 800MT adventure tourer, which is powered by a version of the 790cc parallel twin used in popular KTM models. CFMOTO is also gearing up to release China’s largest production motorcycle in the form of the CF1250 – a bike powered by a 1279cc version of KTM’s LC8 v-twin motor.

CFMOTO will be the fourth brand connected to KTM to join the Moto3 ranks following KTM, Husqvarna and GASGAS. However, unlike the other three, CFMOTO isn’t owned by KTM’s parent company, Pierer Mobility Group.