Austrian motorcycle giant and maker of the X-Bow sports car KTM is on the verge of bankruptcy and will begin a “self-administration” restructuring process to avoid dissolution. A big part of the company’s big money-saving efforts will see the MotoGP effort on the chopping block.

Being completely fair, though, think about what you'd do (or have done in the past) if a sudden expense comes up that's cutting it awfully close, and may even be beyond what you know you currently have sitting in your account.

MotoGP: Hubert Trunkenpolz doesn't question the project in MotoGP, but it costs 40 million euros and the wind tunnel test was canceled

So, how did KTM get to this point? And what does all it mean for current – and perhaps future – KTM buyers, and those of its partner brands like Husqvarna and MV Agusta? It all appears to be the cumulative result of a number of factors.

Pierer Mobility AG, the owner of several motorcycle and scooter/e-bike brands, announced last week that its subsidiary KTM is undergoing a self-administered restructuring to shed debt without involving bankruptcy courts.

KTM's MotoGP bosses have decided to pause the development of its bikes amid the huge financial crisis the Austrian manufacturer is facing, Motorsport.com has learned. The decision is one of the measures included in the plan aimed at keeping KTM's sporting project safe after the manufacturer filed for insolvency last week.