Moto2, Exclusive interview with Florian Chiffoleau (team leader of Marco Bezzecchi): “For the French GP, we have a lot of hope with the developments from KTM”

After a brilliant 2018 season in Moto3 which led him to the final podium of the World Championship, with Jorge Martin and Fabio di Giannantonio, Marco Bezzecchi is forced to wait, to “chance his brakes” this year in Moto2 like all KTM riders due to the current lack of competitiveness of the motorcycle.

It's just a bad time to go through, if you look back on your entire career, but not a pleasant one nonetheless. Let's return with his team leader Florian Chiffoleau to the weekend of the Spanish Grand Prix of the Italian rider of the Red Bull KTM Tech 3 team.

On Friday, Marco ranked 25th overall, 1.139 behind leader Jorge Navarro, but achieved his time in the afternoon on a slower track, with only 4 drivers improving. Was this a positive motivation for the rest of the weekend?

“It was positive because of the difficult conditions we experienced in the afternoon, like the very hot track. It was then more complicated for us because the grip was weak. We were among the only four drivers who improved. So in the ranking we were far away, of course, but the progress was good because it was really very difficult to put all the sectors together correctly to make a time. So it was really not bad.”

That same Friday, the two official KTM riders Brad Binder and Jorge Martin were 2nd and 3rd overall. The best privateer was Marco Bezzecchi 25th. Is there such a difference between factory KTMs and private ones?

“No, there is no such difference. The two factory drivers did their times in the morning. We were less efficient at that time, and Marco too, because in fact we had a big problem with "stopping" in the slow corners, that is to say we had difficulty getting there. slow down the motorcycle.

“It really bothered us, because otherwise, apart from that big problem, he was pretty good. It’s true that it made a big difference. But we saw in the afternoon when the conditions became more complicated, that those in front were unable to improve, or even get close to their morning times.”

The positive side is that the factory seems to have now produced a better chassis for the Triumph engine, and we hope that satellite teams like you will receive one as soon as possible. For this Tuesday's tests in Jerez, it was a little short. For the French GP, perhaps?

“At the moment we are waiting for confirmation from KTM because they are working on several ideas. They had to confirm after the Spanish Grand Prix the directions to take.”

“We did not test a new chassis this Tuesday during the test day in Jerez. On the other hand, other fast pilots tried to confirm the direction. It is certain that we all hope to have a good progress at Le Mans.”

Qualified 25th in Jerez, Bezzecchi was involved in the first lap crash. Were there any consequences for him or his motorcycle?

“Yes, unfortunately there were consequences. He was hit and then his left arm was very sore. The bike was quite damaged*, so we made the necessary repairs so that it could go again. Unfortunately, that wasn't enough for the bike to perform well enough. ».

*During a subsequent disassembly after the race, the team realized that the frame was bent.

What is the French Grand Prix like?

" That's a very good question (laugh) ! In fact we have a lot of hope with the developments from KTM. We also have some developments from WP (Editor’s note: the suspension brand that belongs to KTM) which will be validated during the tests this Tuesday in Jerez.”

“Otherwise Le Mans is a circuit that Marco likes more than Jerez, so I have a lot of hope for the French Grand Prix. We will try to be more consistent and more regularly in the top 15.”

Photo above: “Márquez-style” catch of Bezzecchi during the Argentine GP

Video: Marco congratulating his friend from the VR46 Riders Academy Niccolò Antonelli, winner in Moto3

Above: Marco this Tuesday during the Jerez tests

Photos © Red Bull KTM Tech 3, and motogp.com / Dorna