French Grand Prix, Le Mans, MotoGP: The French Red Bull KTM Tech3 team arrives in Sarthe very motivated

After the first GP in Europe and a day of testing at Jerez de la Frontera, Miguel Oliveira and Hafizh Syahrin are heading to Le Mans this weekend, brimming with motivation. The French Grand Prix is ​​the most exciting event on the calendar for the entire Red Bull KTM Tech3 team, as it is the home race for the Bormes les Mimosas-based team.

Although MotoGP newcomer Oliveira was the first rookie to take the checkered flag at the Spanish Grand Prix, the young Portuguese is looking to improve on his KTM RC16 and his result this weekend in front of the passionate French crowd. Likewise, Syahrin, who was able to stay with his teammate until the end of the last lap, looks forward to being back on his bike this Friday at 9:55 a.m. local to participate in FP1 and continue to evolve aboard his new machine.

According to Miguel Oliveira « Le Mans is a very beautiful track. This is our home GP for theteam up , so it's obviously very special for everyone. After Jerez, I think we have a lot of work to do and are going in the right direction. So I think we can basically confirm every little step we took during testing in Jerez and throughout the Grand Prix, at Le Mans. Therefore, I assume we will have a good weekend and finishing close to the points – or better inside the points – remains the target. I am motivated and very eager to discover this track on my MotoGP machine.”

According to Hafiz Syahrin, who are " I'm really looking forward to being at Le Mans for my team's home GP. I really like this track and have great memories from last year. I know it won't be easy for us, but I believe I can improve, even if it takes time to understand everything in this situation. I keep my motivation high and train hard. I never stop learning and I am confident that the team will be better and stronger soon. I prepared well this year, so let’s see what we can do in France.”

To Hervé Poncharal, the team boss, “The French Grand Prix at Le Mans is for sure a very special event for the Red Bull KTM Tech3 team. Your home race is always very special. Of course there are more French fans than anywhere else on the MotoGP calendar and plenty of national media that you want to treat well, because for some it's the only event you see them.”

“We still remember the incredible reception we received from the crowd last year, which is definitely something a little different this year without a French rider on board, but Miguel still speaks French very well and Hafizh , I think, is very popular with all his jokes among the French public. It's also very important for us, because France is a key market for KTM, an important market for Red Bull, but we also have our sponsor Elf, who is French, and will communicate a lot about the team for the GP of France ".

“I really believe that after the Spanish Grand Prix, Monday's testing was quite productive. Thanks to KTM we were given a few new things to test, all of which were very positive, not an immeasurable gain, but small gains and I think that's how we will grow together. We were faster, we had a more consistent lap time, better pace and more confidence for the riders. Although we have never been present with the KTM RC16, from my point of view it should be a little easier than what we had to do in Jerez.

“The weather is going to be a big question mark, as usual there, but it's something that's going to be the same for everyone, except that our two guys have never done a lap under the rain on the KTM, so I think like everyone else we are expecting dry conditions and hopefully some sunshine.”

“Last year, Claude Michy, the organizer of the French Grand Prix, managed to get the highest participation on Sunday and we hope that with Fabio Quartararo in MotoGP, Johann Zarco on Factory KTM and the whole Tech3 team wearing the French flag, we can at least match this result and make this event very special and enjoyable. We can’t wait to be there, we can’t wait to see the fans and give them what they’re looking for.”