There will be a new manufacturer on the grid in Moto2™ next season, NTS, as the Japanese manufacturer becomes the sixth - joining Kalex, Suter, Speed Up, Tech 3 and KTM. RW Racing has signed to run the new chassis on a three-year deal, and the riders will be South African Steven Odendaal, the current European Moto2™ Champion, and American Joe Roberts, who moved onto the world stage at Brno this season with the AGR Team.
NTS is a Fukushima-based precise metal process proto-typing company serving in aerospace, high-end motorsports, marine and medical industries, and will be supplying RW Racing with Moto2™ chassis designed and produced fully inhouse by NTS - developed from scratch. In collaboration with engineering specialist Geo Technology, headquartered in Switzerland, they will become a brand new manufacturer to line up alongside Kalex, Speed Up, Suter, Tech 3 and 2017 newcomers KTM.
The NTS bike was taken to third in the FIM CEV Repsol Moto2™ European Championship last season by Alan Techer, including a number of podiums and a first win at Jerez, and this season has seen Odendaal on board - leading races and taking his first podium with the manufacturer in Valencia in Race 2. Following another podium at Jerez ealier in September, Odendaal also wildcarded at the Aragon GP on the NTS bike as preparations for next year get underway.
Steven Odendaal: “I am very happy to announce my plans for next year. And I am very grateful for this opportunity to represent NTS and Geo Technology in the World Championship and also to collaborate with RW Racing. I think, together, we will bring a great package to show what NTS is capable of on the world stage. I would like to thank everyone who has been behind me, supporting me on and off track and everyone who has made this project possible.”