At KTM, it is also time to take stock of this 2019 season MotoGP version which must, however, still experience a Grand Prix, in Valencia, this weekend. The Austrians' objective was to rank among the single-digit places and to be in the top 10 of the championship at the end of the year. Ambitions which were not far from being realized, since it is in eleventh place that Pol Espargaró emerges in the still provisional general classification. Not bad, but at KTM, this notion is not used. We are therefore disappointed, but there are good reasons to explain this situation. Pit Beirer, the sports boss in Mattighofen, develops them and lifts the veil on 2020…
KTM experienced the joy in Misano of starting from the first row and finishing the race after a good fight in seventh place. A feat of arms due to the inevitable Pol Espargaro who unfortunately then fractured his wrist in Aragon. The ensuing overseas campaign suffered from this: 13, 11, 12, 11 were the positions conquered in Thailand, Japan, Australia and Malaysia. In Sepang, the battle was particularly tough: “ we were under pressure and procrastinated on Friday and Saturday before finding the right direction on Sunday " remember Pete Beirer. " Having time is useful, but in MotoGP we never have any » recalls the sports boss of the orange brand who notes: “ to be frank, our place is currently eleventh ».
Furthermore, in addition to working hard on the RC16, KTM had, like last year, to deal with injuries to its riders and even the premature end of the contract for one of them… “ We are working hard on the development of the bike, and the new features allowed Miguel Oliveira to finish eighth in Austria and Pol Espargaró to place seventh from the front row in Misano. " Yes, but… " Both pilots were subsequently injured. So we fight on two fronts. Our two riders are injured and we know that our bike is not yet sufficiently developed to work well everywhere. »
« The bike is not easy to ride, and this is what the overseas circuits have demonstrated. Our best drivers are injured and there is even one who is unavailable. One has definitely left us. We are not satisfied at the moment » insists the demanding Beirer. But he also has good hopes for 2020. And that's Dani Pedrosa, in the midst of development work, which gives him comfort: “ if you look at the new motorcycle in details you will see the changes. Each piece has been worked ».
And the validated developments have gone into production. Because for 2020, there is a strong desire at KTM: “ We have set ourselves the goal of providing the same bike to our four riders for the next season. We have launched the production of parts to have a motorcycle with the minimum weight with new ideas that will give us the grip on the track that we currently lack. »
Pol Espargaro, Brad Binder, Oliveira et Iker Lecuona would therefore start their season with a technically identical motorcycle. But for developments during the season? It will be the championship ranking which will decide the position of the cursor. But Pete Beirer does not yet plan that far: “ above all, I prioritize having four healthy riders on the latest generation of our bike. From there, we will evolve our potential before moving to the next stage » assures the sports director on motorsport-total.com.
