For KTM, 2024 must be a year of great growth, but so far the results have been a little below expectations. The best driver in the standings is rookie Pedro Acosta, while the reference team achieved less than it imagined with Brad Binder and Jack Miller. The South African, second in the first races in Qatar, has accumulated 59 points: 10 less than the Spaniard and 33 less than leader Jorge Martin. Instead, the Australian is at 22: the two fifth places in Austin are his best placings so far.
MotoGP, KTM: the report after the test in Jerez
In the aftermath of the Spanish Grand Prix, the MotoGP riders returned to the track in Jerez for an important day of testing. KTM analyzed what didn’t work during the race weekend, but some new features were also tested: above all the new fairing, also tested by Pedro Acosta in the GASGAS Tech3 team.
Francesco Guidotti, KTM team manager, is satisfied with the work carried out: “We had things to try in each area. We found something interesting that we might use soon. We had some suspension to test and also a ride height device. We had a small delay in letting the riders try the new aerodynamics. This is one of the three tests we have during the season and therefore we have to be at full throttle. We have collected the data we need“.
Better RC16 in the next GPs?
Guidotti specified that all four riders of the KTM family are involved in the development, they have the same RC16 and it is important to hear more opinions in the development: “The bikes are the same – explains – and the pilots have the same specifications. Whenever possible we rotate the parts to get maximum feedback. With the starting riders we worked in the short term, with the test riders Pedrosa and Espargaro a different job was done, in the medium term. We want to keep it confidential, and then decide whether to proceed in one direction or the other“.
In KTM they have high-level testers like Dani Pedrosa and Pol Espargaro, two who can really give an important boost to the growth of the bike. Their feedback on things to improve is crucial, and their experience and advice can also directly help pilots. We’ll see if there will be a more competitive RC16 at Le Mans.
Photo: KTM
