Yes, KTM is indeed an underdog when it comes to road bikes since it mainly makes dirt bike but thats going to change very soon... KTM has just released 1190 Adventure & 1290 Super Duke R, and is about to release 3 small displacement sports bikes called RC125/200/390, all powered by a high revving single cylinder engine. All that progression leads to believe that KTM is some sort of a mission!
Speaking of RC8R, it almost looks like STEALTH FIGHTER... Click this snapshot to see what I mean:
http://images.motorcycle-usa.com/PhotoGallerys/2009-KTM-RC8R-4.jpg
Reminds me of Lockheed F117 Nighthawk stealth fighter!
Thing is, "ALL" Jap sports bikes are inline-4. No V-Twin, Triple or V4... Nothing against "straight four bangers" but they ALL been building it since... the beginning of time!!! I really loved the V-Twin Honda RC51 that replaced Honda CBR929RR inline-4, but they killed it soon and replaced with Honda CBR1000RR 4 banger... Same can be said for Suzuki for its V-Twin TL1000R...
Atleast, Yamaha is rumored to convert its R6/R1's inline-4 engine to 675cc & 1100cc 3-Cylinder engine... Lets see what happens. After the success of their FZ9 (850cc Triple) I don't think its impossible...
Ok, that was a LONG post!!! Wasn't it?