At KTM, we are heading towards the last four Grands Prix of its first season in MotoGP already with the feeling of accomplishment. The objective was to systematically monitor the gap separating the first RC16 from the winner. And this delta, in fact, has continued to shrink. With what's more the satisfaction of some brilliant results during testing and two top 10s. Pol Espargaro, spearhead of the Mattighofen factory, insists on the progress made.
In Aragon, the RC16 of a Pol Espargaro who entered the first part of the ranking for the second time this year was 14.075 seconds behind the winner at the Honda, Marc Márquez. For the record, the delay was 33.601 seconds in Qatar and even 43,085 seconds in Argentina. What's more, in Aragon, the beautiful result was overall since Rock finished eleventh. He is ultimately only the poor ranking of the third thief Bradley Smith to remember that the Austrians are only in their very first season.
A debut which takes place in a category which has undoubtedly never been so competitive: “ the level has never been so high in MotoGP »Insists Pol Espargaro. " Competing drivers have won tons of races and titles. The factory bikes are top notch and the satellite machines are very capable. Despite this, KTM embarked on the adventure and they showed that they had the level. To finish just 14 seconds in Aragon behind drivers and teams who have so many years of experience is impressive ».
« We continue to work on the RC16. In all areas. The new parts received in Aragon have further helped us to progress. It will be interesting to see what we can do in Valencia. And especially in 2018 ". A job that Pol Espargaro loves working with the technical director Sebastian Risse : " EAs a pilot, he is the ideal man to work with. At each race, he comes to see me and asks me what I want to improve, how to make the bike even better. This is ideal for a pilot. And, honestly, everything that KTM brings in terms of evolution is in the right direction ».
Pol Espargaro is seventeenth in the championship, tied on points with the official Suzuki Andrea Iannone. During the final in Valencia, there will be three KTMs in the running since Rock will do it again after Germany, Austria and Aragon. The only shadow on the orange board is called Bradley Smith...
