Honda Eyes Major Technical Boost with Potential Addition of Ex-KTM Director Fabiano Sterlacchini

HRC possibly recruiting ex-KTM MotoGP technical chief

Fabiano Sterlacchini, the former technical director at KTM, might be joining Honda.

Fabiano Sterlacchini, whose departure from KTM was revealed earlier this year after he started as their technical director at the start of 2023, is now rumored to be taking up a position in Honda’s MotoGP team.

Earlier this year at the German Grand Prix, KTM Sporting Director Pit Beirer announced that Sterlacchini would be leaving KTM. Beirer explained that the Austrian company and Sterlacchini could not come to terms on a contract renewal.

According to Motorsport.com, the Italian engineer who transitioned from Ducati to KTM at the end of 2022 is now rumored to be heading to Honda.

Acquiring Sterlacchini would mark the second significant technical expert recruited from other companies since 2022, following Ken Kawauchi’s move to HRC post-Suzuki's departure from MotoGP.

This move would mark Honda's initial acquisition of significant European engineering expertise, indicating HRC's alignment with the growing European influence in MotoGP. Similarly, Yamaha has recently adopted this strategy, hiring Italian engineer Luca Marmorini to head its engine development and bringing on Massimo Bartolini from Ducati as technical director during the transition between the 2023 and 2024 seasons.

According to Motorsport.com, Sterlacchini is expected to join HRC no sooner than November, assuming the Japanese company can secure an agreement with the Italian. As a result, Sterlacchini's impact on Honda's development is anticipated to be noticeable only partway through the 2025 season, when the team is projected to have similar testing and development allowances as it does currently.

Under the latest MotoGP concessions system, Honda is granted several benefits due to earning less than 35 percent of the available points in 2023. These benefits include unlimited private testing sessions at any Grand Prix circuit, the freedom to develop their engine throughout the season, permission for up to two aerodynamic modifications per season, and allowance for up to six wildcard entries in a season.

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