Dani Pedrosa won an unusual race on a frozen lake, taking KTM’s RC16 up against a Red Bull Formula 1 car that had won the 2011 title, a Subaru, an off-road truck and a snowmobile. All five machines ran studded tyres, bringing a MotoGP motorcycle and four very different vehicles together on the same icy surface.

The competitors shared the start and finish lines, but each was given a separate course to make the contest more even. The snowmobile had the longest route and a top speed of 105 mph. The RC16 and the F1 car, driven by Patrick Friesacher, were assigned the shortest and most twisting layouts. Pedrosa finished the calibration lap as the second-quickest machine, behind the Formula 1 car.

KTM’s RC16 received specific preparation for the ice and the cold. Its suspension travel was reduced, steel brake discs replaced the carbon items and the engine mapping was altered for the conditions. Driving a single-wheel-drive motorcycle on such a slippery surface was the toughest challenge in the group, yet the 31-time Grand Prix winner came through the final in first place, beating all four rivals.