MotoGP, Hervé Poncharal (Red Bull KTM Tech3): “The orange division is coming”

At the dawn of a 2020 season which promises to be exciting, Miguel Oliveira achieved a good time of 1'58.764 at Sepang, only a tenth behind the two other top KTM riders Pol Espargaro et Dani Pedrosa. The rookie Iker Lecuona achieved an encouraging 1'59.898, under two minutes. He thus found himself in a group of very experienced pilots including Jorge Lorenzo, Bradley Smith, Takaaki Nakagami and Sylvain Guintoli.

The fastest KTM during the Sepang winter tests last year was 1'59.640 driven by Johann Zarco (seventeenth). Then during the Malaysian Grand Prix, the best qualified was that of Pol Espargaró who was positioned 15th on the grid in 1'59.812. The best time for a KTM in the race was 13th in 2'00.648, to the credit of Pol.

Oliveira's 1'58.7 is therefore very encouraging, as is Lecuona's 1'59.8. Generally speaking at KTM, Pol Espargaró clocked a time of 1'58.610, which this year earned him seventh place overall. He was a bit faster than the 1'59.640 which earned Johann zarco last year the seventeenth position at the end of the three days, with the best time for a KTM.

According to Hervé Poncharal, Team Director Red Bull Tech3, and President of IRTA, “Finally, after a long stay in Malaysia, the first test of 2020 is over. For Red Bull KTM Tech3 it was a difficult mission, because we not only tested three days with the entire grid, but we also had the opportunity to do the shakedown, which took place three days before the official test.

“After a long winter break without any MotoGP riding, it was clear that both riders' bodies would suffer, especially over the last two days. »

“Regardless, it was a very, very productive test. Honestly, I have to say that I'm amazed by what KTM did over the winter, by what the whole racing department brought to Malaysia and by everything we tested, from the chassis to the aerodynamics to the electronics was a big step forward. »

“Compared to last year at Sepang testing, especially considering Miguel's gap to the fastest, KTM was clearly much, much closer to the front, not just on a single fast lap , but also in terms of racing pace. This is what I would like to emphasize above all, that KTM has become a real force for a top 5 finish or hopefully even more in just 12 months. »

“Miguel is very positive about the result of this test, and about his own physical condition. With Pol (Espargaró) and Dani (Pedrosa), they are really the best, KTM can really count on them to develop the bike. »

“On the other side, Iker did a great job, he improved day by day and, as he is a fighter, he was not satisfied with that, but anyway we can be proud of him. He is the youngest driver on the grid and he was already less than two minutes behind, which is a good lap time at Sepang. His physical condition suffered towards the end, but that's what you need to become a good MotoGP rider. I'm sure he will return to Spain with a lot of data in mind, ready for Qatar. »

“I want to thank Miguel for his excellent work and also our rookie who did a good job. Overall we are positive. I think we have a good squad. We're not making headlines right now, but if people look closer at the data, they'll see that the Orange Division is coming. Now everyone should go home and rest until Qatar is the last test for the first race. »

 

Combined ranking of the three days of testing:

Photos and videos © Red Bull KTM Tech3