The day after a nightmarish Misano Grand Prix for the Austrian brand, KTM regained some composure thanks to a group test rich in insights. While Pedro Acosta showed his mettle, Brad Binder and Enea Bastianini came away with more contrasting impressions. All this under the watchful eye of the indispensable Dani Pedrosa.
Peter Acosta did not leave doubts hanging for long. From the start of the second session of test in Misano, he proved uncompromising, setting a best time and finishing in the lead with a 0,340 second advantage over his closest pursuer. A performance that reassured KTM after the Sunday massacre (three retirements and an anonymous Binder 10th).
The young Spaniard nevertheless showed a clear head, pointing out room for improvement in the fast corners. But his authority in the afternoon served as a reminder that he remains the sharpest weapon in the RC16.
Brad Binder, on the other hand, did not play the headlines. 14th almost a second behindAcosta, the South African nevertheless hailed an "excellent" day of testing.
« We've tested different frames and swingarms, and we have gained stability, especially in the fast sections He explained. " In the slower sections I stay too slow, but the feeling was much better than during the race weekend. »
Binder insists: lap times don't tell the whole story. The track's high grip skewed the conclusions, but the driver says he's convinced that some developments – particularly those planned for 2026 – could already be incorporated in Japan. Another source of satisfaction: KTM would have found a solution to the chain breaks that affected several machines during the race.
KTM: “ Dani Pedrosa has an impressive eye for detail »
Enea Bastianini, for his part, had a weekend that was diametrically opposed to his brilliant performance in Barcelona. A crash in the race and disappointing tests (12th, more than six tenths behind Acosta), the Italian left Misano frustrated but not resigned.
He worked on settings to limit vibrations and improve traction, benefiting from the expert advice of Dani Pedrosa. “He has an impressive sense of detail ", saluted bastianini, aware that the veteran's experienced eye could help him take a step forward.
The pilot Tech3 also had to deal with the absence of its usual technical manager, Swivel, replaced by a new technician in this role. An additional constraint which slowed down the adaptation.
Despite its difficulties, bastianini keeps an eye on the next stage, Motegi (September 26-28), where he believes the KTM could express himself better. This might be a circuit where our bike can take advantage of its strengths. " he said, hoping to reverse the dynamic.
As for Binder, he expects to validate in Japan the progress seen in Misano. And Acosta ? He continues to create a climate of internal pressure, reminding KTM that the future is already written with his name at the top of the timesheet.
MotoGP Misano test: lap times
