Hiking in the Alps is a bit like taking on a MotoGP season. There are slopes with high points and low points that you have to climb without losing your breath although at high altitude. An association between the mountains and the premier category of Grands Prix which suits the Austrians of KTM well, geographically and sportingly right on the subject. Especially since, according to the admission of sports director Pit Beirer, the parallel applies to the appearance of this 2019 season...
KTM had a rich 2019 season in MotoGP. Everything went a little awry with the injury of Pedrosa enlisted to transform the RC16 behind the scenes, and the rejection of the graft Johann zarco. But Pol Espargaro held the house of Mattighofen while the satellite team Tech3 was getting his bearings. In summary, the final top 10 envisaged was certainly missed, but by very little.
« The results are a little ambiguous » recognizes Beirer on Speedweek. “ I don't think we put everything down on paper this season to turn it into results that would have been possible. We would have liked to have sometimes had better results. On the other hand, our steps nevertheless went in the right direction. »
KTM wanted single-digit rankings, a goal achieved on seven occasions in nineteen races. Six times with Pol Espargaro, once with Miguel Oliveira. The same I will espargaro also produced eight top ten results, while he claimed just one in 2018. The Spaniard also increased the points yield from 51 to 100 compared to 2018. In the championship standings, he rose from 14th to 11th place.
« The statistics therefore do not seem unpleasant. It's also a fact: we are eleventh in the MotoGP World Championship »Adds Beirer. “ This is a result you have nothing to apologize for. You have to hang on to achieve such a performance in this category, because the peloton has become extremely tight in the fight for the top ten. »
« But we certainly weren't in a good position to be in the top 10 overall with two riders like Miguel and Pol injured at the end of the year. ", admits Beirer. “ Everything has to work perfectly together for us to get into the top ten. It was a tough fight this year. That’s why the 2019 season brought a headache or two, and also brought some disappointments. » In 2020, Pol Espargaro et Miguel Oliveira will continue on their way, while Brad Binder et Iker Lecuona will start theirs…
