The black spot of the orange tunics in this Grand Prix season is the Moto2 category. The transition to the Triumph era was not a success and, halfway through, the ambitious Mattighofen firm was not only dominated by the German brand Kalex, but also by the Speed Up chassis which had not only two representatives on the grid and a team. So, obviously, it puts pressure on the already naturally hot Pit Beirer…
Certainly, the last two races at Assen and Sachsenring have reconciled Brad Binder and therefore KTM with the podium in the Moto2 category. But the Austrians are not the type to settle for so little. In the manufacturers' championship, KTM is only third behind Kalex and Speed Up. With a liability of 173 points regretted against Kalex.
« Sometimes things turn out in such a way that it reminds us that we're not super smart. No, we are not " said Pete Beirer, sports boss at KTM, to Motorsport-Total.com about the situation in Moto2. “ We are very humble here in this paddock and we have a huge program. If you're there from the Rookies Cup to MotoGP and you get beaten in Moto2, that's all we're talking about. And it bothers me a little ».
It explains the corrective actions internally: “ it doesn't matter if we send the project manager home or who will build a new chassis, you won't find anyone sitting in their living room able to build a chassis that beats Kalex. Kalex is doing a great job – congratulations. I think this is the way to go in recent years. I've always had a lot of respect for Kalex and they prove that they are the best in the business, and if you want to beat them you have to be pretty darn good ».
Jorge Navarro scored two pole positions and four podiums. Brad Binder has already been to the front row with the KTM. Otherwise, the season is dominated by Kalex drivers. Nine victories in nine races represent the performance of the German company. Returning to the forefront, Binder nevertheless showed that KTM has progressed.
« We go home, analyze and work hard to get closer " said Beirer. " But it's not like we go home and make a new chassis that then goes and murders Kalex. It's not that easy, we will focus on Moto2 in the near future and try to counter it ».
« We have a lot of projects that are priority number one, and we probably won't always succeed in being the best in enduro, motocross, rally, supercross and all the road series and things will be better elsewhere, but that's why we don't Let's not start kicking people out and sharing them. Stability is very important »Insists Beirer.
He even sends a message… “ You need to solve the problem with people who are just understanding why we are not so good, not with new people who come in from the outside and talk intelligently » declared the director of KTM Motorsport. “ We are in the paddock facing the best in the motorcycle industry in the world, you have to be on par with them, it's fun, and when you get there you always have to keep working. We do not hide behind our pilots, we know, as far as we are concerned, that we must do our homework and we will continue to do them ».
That being said, Brad Binder has already saved his season. Next year, he will be in MotoGP with KTM Red Bull Tech3…
