The situation of the Austrian manufacturer, reigning World Champion with Brad Binder, is quite delicate after four Grands Prix. The first six in the provisional general classification ride Hondas, and in the manufacturers' classification Honda dominates with 100 points (4 victories) KTM which only totals 47.
Behind Joan Mir (74 points), we find Romano Fenati (65), Jorge Martin (59), John McPhee (49), Aron Canet (43) and Fabio di Giannantonio (35), all on Honda. The first KTM rider Andrea Migno is only seventh, and those of the official Red Bull KTM Ajo team even further behind with Niccolo Antonelli fifteenth and Bo Bendsneyder twenty-second.
Danny Kent tested for Aki Ajo at Jerez last Tuesday, and he will be a wild card at Le Mans. “ But only for testing, specified Johann Zarco's former tem manager, I have never broken a contract with a pilot ". However, Ajo is not the only one to decide, and both Red Bull and KTM have their say. “ Currently, it is not anticipated that Danny will replace either of the two original drivers, said Ajo in Jerez, but you never know what will happen in the future. »
For Pit Beirer, KTM Motorsport Director, the comparison between Kent and his current riders at the French Grand Prix will be instructive, because according to him the bike is not to blame: “We are missing a top rider in Moto3. So far we have had one in this category every year. Our bike is very good at braking, if you take it very radically in the curves.
“For that you need a rider who uses the KTM well. We don't currently have him in our World Championship team. And of course we don't want to miss the opportunity if we can make a comparison with a former Moto3 World Champion.
“With Danny Kent, we were able to try some different things that we didn't want to confront our current drivers with, so as not to completely disrupt them. Danny Kent doesn't have a job, we have a lot of work to do. That's why we're happy that he's testing for us. But we can't expect Danny to return to Moto3 after more than a year and a half of absence and immediately be among the best times. »
Photo above: Pit Beirer (credit Future7 Media for KTM)
Title photo: Niccolo Antonelli at Jerez (credit Gold and Goose for KTM)
Source: speedweek. com
