They were expected and they were promised as attractive. We had the Toro Rosso Formula 1 team as a reference. And the veil was finally lifted. The team Tech3 officially presented itself as the manufacturer's satellite KTM in MotoGP with a blue orange indeed the most beautiful effect. All that remains now is to raise its colors to the forefront…
Hervé Poncharal moved from Yamaha to KTM with its prestigious Tech3 team, turning the page on 20 years of history. Its bikes now shine in both MotoGP and Moto2 classes in an electric blue that energizes fans.
So far, the blue design of KTM RC16 and Tech3 Moto2 machines from Marco Bezzechi et Philipp Öttit was kept secret. During the team's presentation, the secret of the design was finally revealed. The blue is different from that of the Toro Rosso Formula 1 team. It is derived from the blue-silver Red Bull can. It is designated by the Energy Drink group as “Electric Blue”.
The owner of the Red Bull KTM team, Hervé Poncharal, has achieved excellent results over the past two years with zarco, Folger et Syahrin in MotoGP. It has established itself as the best customer team in the premier class, even though it has never won a 500cc or MotoGP World Championship race with Yamaha in 18 years. Johann zarco has achieved six podiums on the Tech3 team over the past two years and twice finished sixth at the World Championship. Now, it is under the KTM banner that the French boss's troops will evolve.
Hervé Poncharal has full confidence in the Austrians: “ people like Stefan Pierer, Hubert Trunkenpolz, Pit Beirer and Mike Leitner won't sleep peacefully until they achieve their goals in MotoGP“, declared Hervé. “ KTM has all the ingredients you need to succeed in the premier class."
Hervé Poncharal wasn't worried either when his former pilot zarco was still far away after the two days of shakedown testing in Malaysia with a time of 2'01.401. “ I speak to Johann quite often. It focuses more on rhythm than anything else. Of course, Johann's first KTM test in Valencia was not so positive. He then realized after two falls that it was the wrong approach to push straight away without understanding or knowing the bike. He is now working on the setup, exchanging his impressions with the team, he wants to work and understand everything. He wants to contribute to the development of motorcycles. Before challenging the clock, he wants to improve his feeling on the bike »
The CEO of KTM, Stefan pierer, said from the start that in the third year of MotoGP, KTM should fight for the podium. At Valencia 2018, a third place in the rain was already celebrated. What objectives Poncharal was it set in 2019?
« If you look at the starting grid and the lap times, when you see what gap exists between all the riders, when you look at the level of the bikes and that of the riders, the mission will be difficult for everyone to get into the top 10. Same for Valentino Rossi, same for Maverick Viñales, for Dovizioso. For everyone ! the podium will be as hard to reach as rarely before. Because even Suzuki must not be forgotten. You have four to five very fast Ducati machines, with the three 2019 factory engines, Morbidelli, three Honda officials. The whole grid tightens. Of course, podiums for KTM are an ambitious goal. But if you are the boss, you must set goals, you must strive to achieve the maximum. That’s the job of a business leader. Now everyone must strive to get as close as possible to these ambitious goals. My opinion is that podiums for KTM will be very, very difficult in the dry this year. But nothing is impossible. "
Miguel Oliveira remained close to the KTM factory riders, zarco et I will espargaro, during testing at Sepang. “ In Moto2, Miguel clearly showed that he had nothing to envy of riders like Morbidelli, Bagnaia, Mir and Quartararo“, declares Poncharal on speedweek. " But the other recruits have mature material. This is why we are not the favorites for the rookie rankings at the moment. But Miguel has made big progress since November, the KTM already suits his riding style much better ».
