KTM's ambition to be present in all three Grand Prix categories currently seems to be on track, with the best results in MotoGP being a twelfth place for Pol Espargaro and a thirteenth for Bradley Smith. The Austrian rookie manufacturer totals 8 points in the manufacturers' standings, which is very good compared to Aprilia's 19 and Suzuki's 28.
In Moto2, Miguel Oliveira continued in Catalonia on its brilliant momentum after second place in Argentina and third in Jerez with fourth position in Montmelo for its hundredth Grand Prix.
He thus occupied fourth place in the provisional ranking, while his teammate Brad Binder gradually picked up the pace after his return from injury (missing three Grands Prix) and his good tenth place obtained at Mugello. The KTM Moto2 team took advantage of the MotoGP team tests to carry out two days of testing in Barcelona on Tuesday and Wednesday, in preparation for the upcoming Dutch and German GPs.
The Moto3 team was also present, to improve the performance of the new frame used since Mugello. Progress is necessary because last Sunday the 5 Hondas of Joan mir, Romano Fenati, Jorge Martin, Enea Bastianini and Aron Canet preceded the 5 KTMs of Marcos Ramirez, Andrea Migno, Nicolo Bulega, Niccolo Antonelli and Bo Bendsneyder. In the provisional classification, the four Honda riders Mir, Fenati, Canet and di Giannantonio were ahead of the first KTM driven by Andrea Migno.
However, Aki Ajo (Moto3 team manager) remained constructive: “ It was a positive weekend. Mugello was not easy, but after some modifications to the bike and working with the riders, I see progress. Niccolo (Antonelli) worked constantly throughout the weekend and had a good race. The final position for him was not the best, but he remained quite close to the winner and that reflects a step forward.
“We will try to give more in the races to come. Bo (Bendsneyder), unfortunately, didn't have a good race, but in the end he managed to improve a little. I think at the next race in Holland, his national GP, things will be much better for him. Now it's time to focus on these two days of testing here, during which we will do everything possible to continue improving. »
The only slight disadvantage for Moto3 and Moto2 is that they had a shorter running time than MotoGP. These could run on Monday from morning to evening without interruption, whereas with the three categories present, they were distributed according to reserved slots.
Photo credit: Sebas Romero and Gold and Goose for KTM (below, during the GP)
