MotoGP Exclusive interview Florian Ferracci (KTM) “Randy de Puniet is an excellent tester”

After the Silverstone GP and the very good eighth time of his driver Bradley Smith in qualifying, Florian Ferracci approached the end of the season at Misano before continuing it in Aragon, Thailand, Motegi, Australia, Sepang and finally at Valence. It will then be the arrival of Johann Zarco within the official KTM team, the day after the Valencia GP. Let's come back to Misano.

Randy de Puniet took part in the KTM MotoGP tests last Monday and Tuesday in Misano, with Espargaro Pol (but without Bradley Smith or Mika Kallio). What are Randy's qualities as a test pilot?

“Randy is an excellent tester who has a lot of experience having ridden many very different machines in several categories. He thus raced with the Kawasaki (2006 and 2007), the Honda (2008 to 2010) and the Ducati Pramac in 2011 in MotoGP and he now rides with the Kawasaki in endurance. He was also a test rider on the Suzuki (and a wild card at Valencia on the GSX-RR in 2014) so he has a lot of knowledge in extremely varied areas.

“From what I know, all the teams that have used him have always been happy with his feedback, the sensations that he communicated to the technicians and which were systematically close to those of the regular drivers.

“If KTM called him back to Misano for these two days of testing in place of Mika Kallio, it’s because they are happy with him, and have been since he did a test during the first year of existence of RC 16.”

Does he have merit because he usually rides endurance and the pace in MotoGP is much higher?

“It must have been funny when he got back on the KTM, especially since it had changed a lot since the very beginning. Randy had ridden the bike before it raced in MotoGP, in the first year when we only did testing. And I can tell you that the machine has evolved a lot since then!

“On the other hand, it might be difficult for him these days at the Bol d'Or to go from this MotoGP machine to an endurance bike. »

During the Silverstone Grand Prix around twenty days ago, the KTM achieved its best qualifying of the year with the eighth time. It was a little less good in Misano with the seventeenth time. Unfortunately the English race was canceled. How is Silverstone more favorable to the RC16 than Misano?

“This circuit has better grip in the dry and is faster compared to Misano. But it must be emphasized that this was Bradley (Smith's) home race at Silverstone. For this reason he must have been overmotivated, I think.

“Secondly there were sessions with particular conditions with dry, wet, semi-wet, etc. Bradley excels in these conditions (editor’s note: 2nd in the Misano GP in 2015 while remaining on slicks in the wet, his best result in MotoGP), as Loris Baz (4th in 2015 at Misano in MotoGP). These two drivers are very good when the conditions are special.

“As for Misano, it’s a circuit where we’ve always had a bit of difficulty. It turns a lot, the grip is average. We have to work on that, and that's why the team stayed to do tests on Monday and Tuesday. »

Among the circuits remaining on this year's calendar (Aragon, Thailand, Motegi, Phillip Island, Sepang and Valencia), which will be the most favorable to KTM MotoGP?

“We should be fine in Aragon and Phillip Island. In Valencia it was never too good because there are a lot of slow corners like in Misano. »

What would you think of Dani Pedrosa as development rider at KTM?

“I would only think good things about him because he has a lot of experience, he was three times World Champion in 125 and 250, participated in 289 GPs (211 in MotoGP) and won 54. Since he started in MotoGP in 2006, he won at least one race per year until last year, and 2018 is not over.

“From what I heard, when he sets up the bike, Dani Pedrosa's teammate copies the settings. He is very precise and his choices please his teammates. »

Despite the weight difference?

“Despite the difference in weight and height. »

Some elements of the KTM RC16's aerodynamic package were manufactured using 3D printing*, like other MotoGP machines. Do you think this is a technique that is likely to develop in the future?

“To tell the truth, this technique is already very developed. We use it when we need prototypes for small parts like supports and legs, not just fairing elements. But for small parts to attach wires or other things to the motorcycle, they use this technique. This makes it possible to check the effectiveness of these parts, which are then manufactured in carbon, titanium, aluminum, etc. To make a “first draft”, it is very practical. »

Is this a clear improvement in terms of saving time, for example?

“Yes, for sure, it’s very clear progress. And the most incredible thing is that some of these parts are attached to the engine, therefore subject to temperature and vibrations, and it works very well. We could even keep them over time. »

*Here is the photo of one of these appendages below (thanks for this photo to Thomas Morcellino / OffBikes).