At KTM, we are heading to Brno like the rest of the MotoGP field with a view to a Grand Prix of the Czech Republic which will launch the second half of this season. It is also a track on which new test driver Dani Pedrosa rode during the summer break. The men at RC16 therefore have valuable information to communicate to their two main drivers who expect a lot from their elder. And firstly because he is perhaps more listened to than them…
An attention that the director of the KTM team, Mike leitner would almost confirm by recognizing this on Motorsport-total.com: “ he is a very, very experienced MotoGP rider, who has won many Grands Prix. You can take his comments seriously ". We will also recall that Leitner has known the Spaniard for many years since he was his team boss at Honda until 2014.
The authority of Pedrosa therefore seems superior to that of a Pol Espargaro or Johann zarco : " it is also very good for all the technicians in the factory to have confirmation on one side and sometimes no confirmation on the other. That's how you run a project, there are ups and downs, we just try to keep the ups and eliminate the downs moving forward ».
The same Leitner lifts the veil on the first evaluations of Pedrosa about the KTM: “ I think we have a very good engine,” declared the Austrian. “So we are in a very good position on this side, which does not always mean that such an engine is always easy to operate, and we will certainly have to do even better. As for the weaknesses, they are not much different from those of other manufacturers ».
Leitner precise : " all drivers, and all brands entered in Grand Prix, want more grip on the rear tire, they want better. They want to brake later and accelerate sooner. These are our weaknesses, like everyone else… ».
The objective for the second half of the season is also announced: “ when you achieve a result like at Le Mans, you want to repeat it, it's logical, but the objective for this year was very clear: we want to position ourselves among the top ten. This is what we did with Pol until the summer break, so I hope we can do it for the future ».
