I'm still of the opinion the final hurdle KTM is going to have to surpass is to be on even ground with Honda and Yamaha...and that is far easier said than done given the sort of advantage they are working with...and have been working with for decades. Suzuki since the early-80s has only sporadically challenged that hegemony, and Ducati only ever managed it once successfully. KTM has good intentions of challenging those two, but as the saying goes, the road to hell is paved with good intentions.
With that said, one thing is for certain, success is also going to be predicated on their ability to attract a top flight rider for I would say the 2019 season. Watching the engine firing order change have the sort of impact was a good step in the direction of putting together a package that can attract such a rider. My thought now is that I suspect Lorenzo will leave Ducati and go to the KTM for 2019 assuming they continue progressing throughout 2017 and through 2018. I believe Zarco is destined for Rossi's seat barring any major unplanned event that would close that off, so Lorenzo's best option could actually be KTM and not Suzuki.
