We expected the KTMs to perform better during the five days of testing in Qatar, which marked the MotoGP off-season. Certainly, the Losail track has never been the favorite playground of the Austrian RC16s, but all the same, not seeing any in the top 15 at the end of this prelude was worrying. Especially since the Doha site will host the first two Grands Prix of the season. Initially, the message within the brand was intended to be reassuring, putting the raw result into perspective. But as the days pass, he becomes more frank. Race director Mike Leitner no longer hides a concern whose reasons can be found at Sepang...
KTM would he have gotten us used to it badly with his great 2020 season in MotoGP ? Three victories, five third places and three pole positions convinced that the RC16s were now able to play at the forefront. Then came the first laps of 2021 at Qatar. Five days of testing where no Austrian motorcycle reassured about its potential for the coming season.
Certainly, we were in Losail and as indicated Mike Leitner, this route has always been a difficulty for the KTM : " this circuit has always been difficult for us. The previous year we did not achieve great results in the test there in 2020. For example, Pol Espargaró lost 1,1 seconds back then. But the race did not take place because of the health crisis ».
This time, the meeting will take place, and it will even count double since the first two Grands Prix will be organized there. What is cause for concern: “ we were not satisfied with this test. We wanted to be a little fasters » recognizes Leitner. The latter does not hide behind the difficulties inherent to a track which can offer different features depending on the moment chosen to turn there: “ this should not be an excuse, because every team had these difficulties. We have to go through this » he said. But then, what happened?
The manager KTM delivers an explanation which reveals an event in February which seriously upset the organization of work in Mattighofen: “ three out of four KTM riders, with the exception of Lecuona, have new crew chiefs. This is why the cancellation of the Sepang test particularly affected us. We could have done the basic work in Malaysia. With new racing machines it always takes two days for the rider to sit properly and get everything working ».
Mike Leitner also fears other circuits
He adds : " we also had to run an extensive testing program. Since we lost the Malaysia test in February we are not where we need to be with the setup. This applies to all manufacturers. But some are already better positioned than us ". On speedweek, and thus launched, Leitner does not hide the fact that this type of setback can also be repeated elsewhere in the season: “ we saw last year that we still have problems on some tracks, and these are the “fluid” tracks.
These are identified as follows: “ this also includes Catalonia and Aragon. These are routes on which we have always had our problems until now. In Aragon, things improved during the second event in 2020. We did very well on the other circuits last year. We were often competitive during the second event on the same track ».
A double dose imposed by the situation of the health crisis and which will also be served at Qatar This year : " we have problems in Doha. We will now see if we can find better solutions for the two Grands Prix » finished the man KTM.
MotoGP Tests Qatar 2: combined ranking
Credit rankings: MotoGP.com
