Brad Binder couldn't stop smiling after giving Red Bull KTM Factory Racing its first ever MotoGP victory in the Czech Republic last August, just 3 450/XNUMX seasons after the Austrian manufacturer joined the premier class . The South African displays a similar smile on his face as he practices on the handlebars of his KTM XNUMX SMR.
Images of MotoGP riders training on a motocross circuit or a Flat-Track track are becoming more and more common. This allows them to stay sharp between events at the World Championship, which has 20 events (14 this year due to COVID-19). But recently, we have seen many drivers adopting another discipline: Supermoto.
“It's the best training tool I've ever had. Since the start of my career, I have always ridden a Supermoto. It's ideal for preparation », says Brad Binder. “It's something I practice a little more during the off-season, when I can't ride MotoGP, but it's still a weekly activity. When I'm back at my European base during the season, I plan one or two days a week of Supermoto. It's just a fantastic way to stay sharp, but also keep your body in shape. »
While these pilots must tame machines of almost 300hp which propel them to speeds exceeding 350 km/h, the Supermotard is an essential option for training. “If I want to get on a motorcycle between races, this is the simplest and most suitable choice for training,” says Pol Espargaró, who took the RC16 to KTM's first pole position this summer and was also able to reach the podium several times. “It’s safer than MotoCross. I can use the KTM 450 SMR to test different lines and improve my consistency with lap times. There are quite a few good circuits near me. »
“It’s definitely different from MotoGP but there aren’t many other options for training,” adds the Spaniard. “The SMR is a 450, so it has a lot of power down low and you have to control the throttle when you come out of the corners, which is similar to MotoGP. Of course the top speed isn't the same, but what helps is that feeling, the traction. You must be in good physical condition, and this allows you to work on your reflexes. »
“For me, Supermoto is my basic training for MotoGP,” says Pol Espargaró. “It's quite physically demanding, so I find it useful for the muscles. Dirt bikes are good but they're not as close to what we do in MotoGP, Supermoto is a bit closer and it's also so much fun. »
When it comes to the temptation of testing this discipline in official competition, for example by participating in a round in Mettet, it is a subject on which KTM riders have a different opinion: “I don't take part in any official races, but with a large number of friends in South Africa, all of whom have raced motorcycles at some point, we all turned our attention to Supermoto,” says Binder. “Among us, I would say there is always a good group of 8 to 15 guys who ride regularly. It's a lot of fun and there's nothing better than practicing Supermotard sliding: the line between sliding and being efficient is hard to find, and it's a lot of fun. »
“I ride with other people on track – sometimes with friends – and no matter what, you're always competing! We are in the world of competition,” says Espargaró. “I rode against guys who are competing in the World Championship and they are super fast. Riding with them motivates me and allows me to improve”
Having accumulated enough laps on these machines, the KTM rider perfectly understands how riders in the discipline seek to push their limits with such light bikes: “I always ride on asphalt, which is not the essence of Supermoto” admits Espargaró. “But I see the guys going off with these bikes: they're jumping in the dirt with slick tires and it's scary! Maybe I can face them on the asphalt but as soon as they go into the dirt, they smash me! Of course, you have to combine the two to know how difficult Supermoto is, a discipline of its own. »
“What’s incredible is their ability to be fast on tarmac and dirt: that’s always something I’ve found super tricky,” adds Binder. “It’s really something special and the pros are the best at it. »
Notice to enthusiasts, KTM is making a comeback in the Supermoto field in 2021 with a model that has had enormous success among fans of the discipline: the 450 SMR.
This machine is a pure track concentrate, the reincarnation of the KTM 690 SMC R fitted with slicks and slightly lightened. It's no surprise that riders like Binder, Espargaró and others use this machine. The bike contains the latest evolution of the KTM 450 SX-F engine, developing 63 horsepower and weighing only 27 kilos. The Keihin engine management system includes different engine maps, launch control and traction control. The five-speed transmission is produced by the same company that develops components for the RC16. As for the frame, it is made of chrome-molybdenum reinforced steel, oriented for mass centralization and maximum sensations, specific to the demands of the discipline.
Photos: © KTM
