The latest Qatar test session was not easy for the Austrian manufacturer, with Pol Espargaro returning from injury and unable to take part in the full test. Bradley Smith ranked fourteenth at 1.1, Pol twentieth at 1.4 and Mika Kallio twenty-fifth at 3.1 having driven little.
If we take into account all of the Sepang, Buriram and Losail tests, “ In total we had nine days of testing and we had a lot of ideas and a comprehensive testing schedule said Mike Leitner, KTM MotoGP team manager. “ We rode on three very different tracks, with Buriram being completely new to us. First of all, to improve a bike you need consistent conditions, but we had rain in Malaysia and we missed Pol in Thailand after he was injured in Malaysia. Even though he wasn't fit yet, we were happy when he was able to perform again in Qatar.
« Bradley et Mika have done a good job of development, especially Bradley with very good performances. I think we found a good basic setup, but of course we will have to continue improving this bike throughout the year.
“We did a good job, as did the guys at the factory, which is not always easy for them because we push them and ask for certain things, but time plays a big role in the race. We can be proud and we can look forward to our second season in MotoGP with confidence.
“It’s not easy to go two months without a test when you have a lot of ideas in mind,” explained KTM Technical Director Sebastian Risse. “ But I think we worked very well. It was important to put Pol back in the action.
“Of course he wasn't 100% in Qatar yet, but he wasn't very far away either. We will be able to concentrate during the race weekend on the set-up, tire choice and special track conditions. »
MotoGP Test Qatar, combined classification of the 3 days:
1. Johann Zarco, Yamaha, 1:54.029 min.
2. Valentino Rossi, Yamaha, +0.247 sec.
3. Andrea Dovizioso, Ducati, +0.302.
4. Cal Crutchlow, Honda, +0.488.
5. Maverick Vinales, Yamaha, +0.442
6. Andrea Iannone, Suzuki, +0.557
7. Marc Marquez, Honda, +0.562
8. Alex Rins, Suzuki, +0.621
9. Danilo Petrucci, Ducati, +0.630
10. Jorge Lorenzo, Ducati, +0.663
11. Jack Miller, Ducati, +0.720
12. Dani Pedrosa, Honda, +0.745
13. Franco Morbidelli, Honda, +1.103
14. Bradley Smith, KTM, +1.150
15. Aleix Espargaro, Aprilia, +1.203
16. Hafizh Syahrin, Yamaha, +1,244
17. Karel Abraham, Ducati, +1.271
18. Álvaro Bautista, Ducati, +1.318
19. Tito Rabat, Ducati, +1.436
20. Pol Espargaro, KTM, +1.460
21. Takaaki Nakagami, Honda, +1.510
22. Scott Redding, Aprilia, +1,566
23. Xavier Siméon, Ducati, +1,914
24. Tom Lüthi, Honda, +2,093
25. Mika Kallio, KTM, +3,189
MotoGP test Buriram, combined classification of the 3 days:
1. Dani Pedrosa, Honda, 1:29.781 min
2. Johann Zarco, Yamaha, + 0.086 sec
3. Marc Marquez, Honda, +0.188
4. Cal Crutchlow, Honda, +0.283
5. Alex Rins, Suzuki, +0.397
6. Jack Miller, Ducati, +0.404
7. Andrea Dovizioso, Ducati, +0.411
8. Maverick Vinales, Yamaha, +0.493
9. Danilo Petrucci, Ducati, +0.586
10. Takaaki Nakagami, Honda, +0.675
11. Tito Rabat, Ducati, +0.695
12. Valentino Rossi, Yamaha, +0.730
13. Franco Morbidelli, Honda, +0.677
14. Aleix Espargaro, Aprilia, +0.920
15. Andrea Iannone, Suzuki, +0.937
16. Jorge Lorenzo, Ducati, +0,948
17. Álvaro Bautista, Ducati, +1.102
18. Bradley Smith, KTM, +1.140
19. Mika Kallio, KTM, +1.388
20. Scott Redding, Aprilia, +1.530
21. Tom Lüthi, Honda, +1.573
22. Hafizh Syahrin, Yamaha, +1.756
23. Karel Abraham, Ducati, +1.880
24. Xavier Siméon, Ducati, +2.238
MotoGP Test Sepang, combined classification of the 3 days:
1. Jorge Lorenzo, Ducati, 1:58.830 min
2. Dani Pedrosa, Honda, + 0.179 sec
3. Cal Crutchlow, Honda, +0.222
4. Andrea Dovizioso, Ducati, +0.339
5. Jack Miller, Ducati, +.516
6. Alex Rins, Suzuki, +.518.
7. Maverick Vinales, Yamaha, +.525.
8. Marc Marquez, Honda, +.552.
9. Valentino Rossi, Yamaha, +.560
10. Johann Zarco, Yamaha, +0.681
11. Danilo Petrucci, Ducati, +0.998
12. Tito Rabat, Ducati, +0.717
13. Andrea Iannone, Suzuki, +0.785
14. Aleix Espargaro, Aprilia, +0.095
15. Takaaki Nakagami, Honda, +1.241
16. Álvaro Bautista, Ducati, +1,375
17. Pol Espargaro, KTM, +1.432
18. Mika Kallio, KTM, +1.634
19. Bradley Smith, KTM, +1.690
20. Franco Morbidelli, Honda, +1.696
21. Karel Abraham, Ducati, + 1.744
22. Xavier Siméon, Ducati, + 1,954
23. Scott Redding, Aprilia, +1,982
24. Sylvain Guintoli, Suzuki, + 2,290
25. Tom Luthi, Honda, +2,296
26. Yonny Hernandez, Yamaha, +2,393
27. Michele Pirro, Ducati, +5.937
Photo credits
Source: speedweek
