On Friday June 24, the press conference of representatives of the six manufacturers involved in MotoGP was held in Assen in order to take stock of their 2022 mid-season before the summer break.
So these are Massimo Meregalli (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP, Team Manager), Paolo Bonora (Aprilia Racing, Team Manager), Paolo ciabatti (Ducati Corse, Sporting Director), Francesco Guidotti (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, Team Manager), Livio Suppo, Racing Consultant (Suzuki Ecstar, Team Manager) and Alberto puig (Repsol Honda Team, Team Manager) who summarized the first 10 races of the year before answering journalists' questions.
Note that the order in which they spoke corresponded, and still corresponds, to the ranking of the drivers and not the manufacturers or teams. After Massimo Meregalli (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP, Team Manager), Paolo Bonora (Aprilia Racing, Team Manager) and Paolo ciabatti (Ducati Corse, Sporting Director), it is Francesco Guidotti (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, Team Manager) who spoke thanks to the impressive consistency of Brad Binder.
As usual, we report here the entirety of their remarks without the slightest journalistic formatting.
What assessment do you draw from the first 10 races after a good start and difficulties since?
Francesco Guidotti : "
I mean, it's a bittersweet start to the season. I mean, the start was really amazing, but then we had some difficulties on some tracks. In the last five races we have performed very well. Our race results were affected more by qualifying, where we need to improve our performance, but the race pace is good and the effort of the drivers… they are fully committed. We are now focused on how to improve our qualifying performance to be more competitive during the race. We saw that when we were able to start on the front row, we were able to fight for the podium, so that will be the key to perform better in the next races. »
What improvements does KTM hope to make in the second half of the season?
« As I said, it's more in the qualifying practice that we need to improve, and we also changed a little bit the way of working in the garage, the way of working from last year, so that's a certain automation which should be easier for technicians in general. We only need to improve the qualifying, and then we will know better where we really are in the race. »
Will Pol Espargaró return and when could KTM decide on its rider line-up?
« We have already made an announcement for the factory team, which is a big change for us, and we need time to make the decision with Hervé and Tech3 for the satellite team line up. There are still some decisions pending. »
This year, Tech3 has two rookies. Looking back, do you think maybe that wasn't the best strategy and do you think development suffered as a result?
« Of course, looking back, it's always easier to talk (laughs). It's easier to say this was right and this was wrong, but I think at the time the decision was made, the circumstances led to that decision, and to be honest it seemed the best at the time- there. I think we have to consider a lot of factors to make the next decision regarding the satellite team, because a lot of people and a lot of parts are involved, and first of all Hervé. But yes, it seems like we need (a rider) more experience in this team to help with the development of the bike. This can be a crucial key.
»
Raul Fernandez, Dutch MotoGP, June 25, 2022
Remy Gardner, Dutch MotoGP, June 24, 2022
