Bradley Smith: KTM MotoGP project feels built for me

Having already declared that he was leaving the Tech3 Yamaha outfit at the end of the season, the Briton was announced as a factory KTM rider for 2017 and '18 last Sunday, before the Qatar Grand Prix.

Contact between Smith and the Austrian manufacturer started last December, with the deal signed last Saturday.

KTM is current testing with a prototype RC16, with riders including Randy de Puniet, Mika Kallio, Alex Hofmann and Thomas Luthi.

"It is a project that I believe is built for me," Smith said.

"The fact that it is going to be taking a new project along and the development, that caught my eye.

"I don't usually take the easy routes and I think that everyone involved in that project knows how hard it is going to be, but there is a lot of talented guys in there and I believe that they are all highly motivated and ready to do a good job.

"They got me on the development side, I am keen to see what they have done.

"As a manufacturer, anything they have turned their hand to they have been very successful from motocross, to enduro, to off-road to now Moto3 as well so you have to believe that they will do the same in MotoGP."

Smith has visited KTM's base but not yet seen the bike, and acknowledges he is relieved to have his 2017 ride sealed so early.

When unsure about his future leading up to the German Grand Prix in 2014, Smith had a "meltdown", crashing five times over the weekend.

"[It's] a bit surreal because it is weird to be talking about next year when we have only just done the first race," he added.

"But it was important for me because especially after a situation like we had in Sachsenring a couple of years ago, where there was a lot going on inside my head about 'where is my contract going to be?'

"I had a bit of a meltdown there, so I wanted to make sure that kind of thing was not going to happen in this last season.

"To get it sewn up before the first race and to have everything clear inside of my mind exactly what is happening in the future means I can focus on the Tech3 project and making sure that I am top satellite this year."