The 2017 season of KTM in Grand Prix was very satisfying both in MotoGP and Moto2. But the former preserve of Moto3 has been poached by Honda to such an extent that last year, the Mattighofen firm only gleaned one victory. All the rest of the 18 Grands Prix reverted to the winged crest. A situation badly experienced by the Austrians to such an extent that they decided to radically review their approach...
The sports director at KTM, Pete Beirer, is not happy with the year 2017 in Moto3 experienced by its representatives: “We are told that we only regret a small gap with Honda. That's nice, because in fact this gap is significant! » he regrets crash.net. " It's even a disaster. I'm not going to hide it. If we pay for our program anywhere in MotoGP, it's probably in Moto3. My best elements focused on the RC16.”
And then there is also another factor: “It's never very nice to say that, but there were also the drivers. All this meant that we lost a lot against Honda, even if the gap after 20 laps of the race is on average two seconds. But it’s enough in this category and we’ll have to work hard to find them again.”
And KTM will give itself the means in 2018: “ there will be a big wait in Moto3 this season. We are really working to get back into the race. Losing one or two races is perhaps acceptable, but missing podiums so many times is not really satisfying. We are not happy with this situation ».
We know that with the abandonment of the flagship Ajo team, KTM will no longer put its eggs in one basket and work on a real sector going from the Rookie Cup to MotoGP. A decision taken on this observation: Joan Mir, George Martin or even Fabio Di Giannantonio were on KTMs before turning out to be on Hondas. However, it will also be necessary to make the technical effort... KTM won the Moto3 rider titles in 2012, 2013 and 2016. In 2018, there will be fifteen KTM riders on the starting grid compared to thirteen in Honda.
