Preparation for the 2023 MotoGP season has only just begun, but some are already identifying KTM as the next revelation. After Ducati's title and the advent of Aprilia, the Mattighofen brand would therefore be the other European manufacturer to show itself in full light to push the Japanese emblems a little deeper into the shadows. A perspective that makes sense, because the Valencia track revealed an increasingly efficient RC16 while in terms of organization, structures and drivers, this time we seem to have put ourselves in battle order. Dani Pedrosa, the test driver, and sporting director Pit Beirer say what they think. And that’s of course only good…
At KTM, we finished the 2022 season with a smile and the reward of the title of the best team. However, the banana was also in order because the dominant feeling on the evening of Valencia, from the last Grand Prix of the vintage to the first 2023 test, was that the best was yet to come and that next year, the orange tunics would reap the rewards of work started in 2017.
It must be said that in the hands of Brad Binder, the RC16 surprised people while the comments in the Austrian stand betrayed the arrival of some devilishly effective new features on the chassis. And then, too, good recruitments were made, all from Ducati, a brand that has established itself as the benchmark. Finally, serenity seems to be in order, a state of mind that the sports director conforms to Pit Beirer, about his new group of drivers, now all more experienced than the others, the rookie Augusto Fernandez except.
We read of him on speedweek this summary: “ I think now, looking ahead to 2023, we have created an atmosphere in which we can see exactly who really wants to come and stay with us » he begins. And apparently the right staff has now been found: “ I feel like the changes we made over the winter last put pieces of the puzzle into the project. Now, we are better prepared than ever to start the new season. We have a solid foundation. The best example is Valencia, where we knew exactly why we were bringing the new chassis to Brad. Our technical manager, Fabio Sterlacchini, has created a database that we will benefit from in the future ».
« We made mistakes, we openly admit it at KTM«
The question of pilots is also essential: “ we now have four pilots who are determined and want to ride, but who also have the necessary experience. In the new GASGAS team we have an experienced Pol Espargaró who knows us and celebrated the first successes with us. We added a young driver to him. The pairing with Augusto Fernández is the one that will work »Ensures Beirer. “ Maybe we were too young as a team at the time to field two rookies. We made mistakes there. We openly admit it ».
He also specifies: “ we are happy that we are now separated from Raul and Miguel in friendship, even if it hurts that Miguel is gone. I think we hurt his pride early in the season with all the moves that happened. We would have liked him to stay ". Without a word for Remy gardner, He pursues : " we opened the door to Augusto Fernandez, who is a really great guy and who has a great family around him. Jack Miller is somewhat back. He jumped straight from Moto3 here to MotoGP. But he knows what he expects of us. And Brad Binder: He's made a decision, he wants to stay with us and succeed with us. So now we have a range of riders to go through thick and thin with. This is MotoGP, there will be difficult days, it will never be easy. Especially these days we have to stick together as a team »
For its part, Dani Pedrosa is delighted with the arrival of a driver from another manufacturer. And it's not about Pol Espargaro from Honda… “ Jack Miller comes from the reference manufacturer. This is a great added value for us. Because it is not only the difference between Ducati motorcycle and KTM motorcycle, but also the strategy which is crucial. Especially how they approach qualifying, what is our weakness and how they prepare for the race. Next year, sprint races will be added. Jack's experience will help us a lot ". Clearly, if the success of KTM is at the end of the checkered flag in 2023, we cannot help but point out that it will owe a lot to the method and skills of Ducati...
