Last year, after the first two Grands Prix, the Austrian manufacturer occupied sixth and last place in the brand classification with 10 points, compared to 45 for leader Honda ahead of Ducati and its 41 points. This season, at the end of the second event, KTM is tied for third with Honda (19 points each) behind Yamaha with 50 and Ducati with 26.
The best placed RC16 driver is Pol Espargaro, tied with third Takaaki Nakagami and their 19 points, against, last year after two GPs, tenth place for Pol with 10 points. The progression is obvious, and the team has good hopes for the next races which will take place in the Czech Republic and at home... in Austria!
Stefan Pierer, CEO of Pierer Mobility AG with the brands KTM, Husqvarna Motorcycles, GasGas and the electric bike division Pexco with the brands Husqvarna and R-Raymon, regrets the departure of his team leader Pol Espargaró to Repsol-Honda. However, he was always confident that the combative 29-year-old Spaniard would put up a fight in his fourth and final season with KTM. “Pol also wants to prove that he is the right driver for his future team. And we will do everything possible to provide him with the best possible equipment until the last day” explained the CEO of KTM (Kronreif Trunkenpolz Mattighofen) to Günther Wiesinger of Speedweek. com.
“Our goal for the 2020 MotoGP season is to achieve single-digit results,” said Stefan Pierer, that is, between 1st and 9th place. “Pol only missed the podium by 0,9 seconds at the first GP in Jerez. We have a very unusual season this year. We have two races in a row for the first time in five places. »
“You can scale relatively well when it comes to data because you have a second opportunity a week later. We also achieved encouraging results during pre-season testing. I have high hopes for the races to come. »
Red Bull – KTM had to face the upcoming departure of Pol Espargaró and briefly negotiated with Andrea Dovizioso, whose remuneration of around 4 million euros did not correspond to the Austrian concept during the Covid-19 crisis. The choice therefore fell on Danilo Petrucci, sixth in the World Championship last year.
At KTM, we would have liked to see Dani Pedrosa, a 34-year-old test rider, become a permanent rider for a year. “This subject has been discussed,” admitted Stefan Pierer. “But the decision is up to the pilot. And I think Dani Pedrosa was right when he told us : « Non, je ne ferai plus jamais ça ». But I'm not ruling out the possibility that he makes one or two appearances in 2021 as a wild card. It would surely be a great marketing story. »
Concerning the Portuguese Miguel Oliveira, who will then compete in his third season in MotoGP with KTM and will join the factory team “the health crisis worked very well for Miguel, he treated his shoulder injury very well”, Peter said. “We have already seen that he called on Pol. He has already shown it during private tests in Misano. »
The good performances of rookie Brad Binder surprised and delighted Pierer. “Actually, you shouldn't expect too much from Brad in the first year. But we know him, he's a reindeer! »
“I knew three years ago that we would take him to MotoGP. He always comes out on top in the race! Our long-term planning with the internal path from the Rookies Cup to MotoGP has proven itself. »
“We are very motivated. Despite the crisis, we have a budget that is easy to imagine and we also have reserves. Thus, we can afford to advance development adequately. »
Photos © Sebas Romero and Philip Platzer KTM
