Pit Beirer, KTM's head of motorsport, has confirmed that the Austrian manufacturer will enter MotoGP in 2017

Beirer told MotoGP.com, "We had plans to go first to Moto2 somehow and grow maybe in smaller steps, but it doesn't make a lot of sense to build a KTM with a Honda engine inside so it would never be a real KTM.

"So we decided to make the big jump and go into MotoGP. We are already very busy with this and we are trying everything to get ready for 2017."

Former Motocross Grand Prix star Beirer added that the MotoGP bike is likely to be powered by a V4 engine, use a tubular steel frame and WP suspension. The machine is due to start testing towards the end of next year.

A regular contender in the smaller grand prix classes since its 2003 debut, KTM's only previous premier-class involvement was an ill-fated engine partnership with Team Roberts in 2005.

KTM - currently battling to defend its perfect Moto3 title record - will join Honda, Yamaha, Ducati, Suzuki and Aprilia as an official MotoGP manufacturer.

MotoGP will introduce a mandatory control ECU and change from Bridgestone to Michelin tyres in 2016.