Orange Overload: KTM Cup Season 3 Off To A Lively Start

  • Published January 21, 2026
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The 390 Duke is finally Ready To Race, and we got to experience it first-hand!

KTM Duke 390 Replaces KTM RC 390 For KTM Cup Season 3

KTM Cup Season 3 got underway exactly the way you’d expect a KTM event to – loud, lively and wrapped in a sea of orange. The brand loves to talk about its “controlled chaos” philosophy, and this event delivered aplenty. Honestly, that slightly unfettered energy is what makes KTM experiences feel so raw and exciting.

A New Era: The 390 Duke Takes Over

The main attraction of the day was the all-new KTM 390 Duke race bike. For the first time, the KTM Cup will no longer use the fully-faired RC 390 as the track machine. Instead, the naked 390 Duke steps in as the official race bike – and seeing it prepped for competition was easily the highlight of the event.

Race-spec KTM 390 Duke

At first sight, the bike looks almost identical to the standard road-going Duke. But a closer look reveals a host of race-focused updates. KTM has added a sleek headlight cowl, a revised tail section, rear-set footpegs, lever guards, a thin foam racing seat and a protective belly pan (for racing homologation requirements). The bikes were also shod with sticky Reise Moto Trace Rad tyres to handle proper track duties.

Ready To Race! But With A “Small” Twist

Our riding session happened later in the evening, around 7:30 PM. The venue? A compact go-kart circuit. Tight corners, short straights and a fairly technical layout – perfect for smaller machines, but a bit of a squeeze for something as punchy as the 390 Duke.

Out on track, the bike constantly felt like it wanted to go faster and stretch itself, but the layout simply didn’t allow that. Every time the engine started to wake up, another sharp corner arrived. It demanded rider skill and precision over brute horsepower. 

Race-spec KTM 390 Duke

Compared to the regular 390 Duke, the race version felt slightly more aggressive, mainly thanks to the taller seat height and sportier ergonomics. It immediately puts you in a more focused riding position.

We were given roughly five laps, following a lead rider at a controlled pace, but even in that limited run, the bike felt eager and precise. It’s clear that in a proper racing environment, this machine has serious potential.

Entertainment Off The Track

Once the riding sessions wrapped up, the action shifted from the circuit to the stunt arena. KTM had flown down stunt icon Rok Bagoros, and he made sure the crowd stayed fully entertained.

Throwing around specially prepared KTM 160 Duke and 390 Duke stunt bikes, Rok put on a spectacular show full of wheelies, stoppies and insane balance tricks. It was the perfect way to end the evening and a reminder of KTM’s wild, playful side.

Stunt Ride Rok Bagoros Doing Stunts

ZigSays

KTM Cup Season 3 delivered exactly what it promised – excitement, energy and pure motorcycling fun. Getting a taste of the new 390 Duke race bike and watching a world-class stunt performance made the event well worth it.

Chaotic? Definitely. Entertaining? Absolutely. And if this is just the opening act, the rest of the season is going to be a blast.

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Delhi Rs. 3,45,439
Kolkata Rs. 3,51,864
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