Let's talk MotoGP: KTM, a disappointing record?

Not so long ago, we thought that KTM was the manufacturer closest to Ducati, but six months later, in my opinion, their results are a bit disappointing. Played by Brad Binder, the Mattighofen firm competed widely with Aprilia, and sometimes achieved magnificent results. A year later, it seems to be much more difficult. Victory is now further away than ever.

 

Insignificant figures

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On the statistical side, it is difficult to realize the decline. Last year, after nine rounds, KTM totaled 172 points in the manufacturer standings, compared to 165 at the same time in 2024. Yes, but here it is: GasGas is not counted as a brand in its own right, which means that Pedro Acosta's results for Tech3 come into play. This is completely normal, but despite this significant addition, the results are still less good.

All the difference is there: the Tech3 team already has a better total than last year even though we didn't play the first half of the season. On the other hand, the official KTM team is in difficulty. While she had 221 points after the 2023 British Grand Prix, it has only picked up 143 units at the time of writing.

 

 

A big difference

 

At KTM, and by that I mean at Tech3 as well, two riders are significantly underperforming. Augusto Fernandez, 17th, and Jack Miller, 16th, are no longer there at all. In 2023, they were capable, at times, of shining, even if the Australian was unable to maintain a good level of performance over an entire Grand Prix. But in 2024, both are no longer progressing. A double fifth place for Miller at Portgual – one of his favorite circuits – could not alleviate his desperate situation. Moreover, neither has been extended; They are currently looking for handlebars elsewhere.

For the two favorites Binder and Acosta, it's a little better. The rookie was initially impressive but tends to get bogged down recently. Brad Binder has traded his explosiveness of 2023 for the consistency of 2022, but without leaving his excesses in the locker room, each one as hazardous as the other. While he was still chasing victory at the end of last season, he has been content with a few top 6 finishes since the second Grand Prix of this year. He is no longer the best driver of the brand at present.

 

Aprilia went ahead

 

When we move away from the stats, the appearance of the races shows an even more significant difference. The inevitable happened. Aprilia, Ducati's second European competitor, has now moved ahead in the hierarchy. The KTM package no longer allows you to fight for the laurels, and this phenomenon only grows as the races progress. Since the Qatar Grand Prix, where Binder finished in second position, never has a KTM been able to win while it will be legion in 2023. Remember Jerez, Thailand and many more other sleeves.

 

 

Aprilia took the opportunity to become Ducati's main competitor even though its start to the year was not exceptional either! Certainly, Maverick Vinales won but Sprints included, Aprilia had three victories after nine rounds in 2023 compared to two (including one GP less) now. Aleix Espargaro is not there much anymore and was slowed down by a nasty injury at Assen, which forced him to miss two races. Despite this, the Noale firm has ten points more than KTM in the manufacturers' standings, and the factory team sticks 64 units to its Austrian rival. In Germany, Acosta, best KTM, finished 14 seconds from victory; it was 16 at Assen for Binder and more than seven at Acosta at Mugello. Clearly, it is the firm from the old continent which is progressing the least because these differences are much greater than at the start of the year.

 

What to do ?

 

All the symptoms seem to come from the motorcycle, which, for everyone, no longer allows them to play at the forefront. If it was just Binder or Miller, then perhaps we could put this down to a slight dip in form. But even Pedro Acosta is much further away even though we know his ability to learn, and he is supposed to progress more than the others. Binder is not bad and is holding his own, but he is also facing the best adversity since he played on the RC16. He had never had to deal with a driver of the caliber of the young prodigy under the Mattighofen awning since his arrival in 2020. On the other hand, the repeated poor performances of Augusto Fernandez, and even, of Jack Miller – in to a greater extent given his status, don't help, that's for sure. Therefore, how can we not be disappointed with this assessment?

I await your analysis in comments!

As a reminder, this article only reflects the thoughts of its author, and not of the entire editorial team.

 

 

Cover photo: KTM