Both parties say they are relieved to have agreed to an anticipated amicable end to the story. A divorce by mutual consent, a conventional break, but if appearances are kept, there remains a void to fill. KTM is now looking for the rider who will take the place of Johann Zarco, also described as exhausted by this painful experience. And it won't be so easy to find...
L'expérience de Johann zarco on the RC16 of KTM will undoubtedly be closely studied by managers and riders who have learned the lesson: wouldn't signing for this bike be like making a pact with the devil? For a guaranteed descent into hell. Certainly, Pol Espargaro or even Miguel Oliveira seem to show that there is no inevitability in the matter. But still...
A situation of which KTM is perfectly aware. Hubert Trunkenpolz is a member of the board of directors of KTM. Aged 57, he is in charge of brand and product management, as well as PG&A (parts, clothing and accessories). The T in his last name is part of the KTM brand. When he speaks, we listen to him… “ Yes, we are missing a driver » he admits to Speedweek. “ If Zarco stops driving, test driver Mika Kallio will replace him until the end of the season ". This is clear for 2019.
If the KTM rider problem for 2019 can therefore be resolved relatively easily, for the 2020 season it will be a different story. Hubert Trunkenpolz gives his feeling: “ my preferred solution for the Red Bull KTM Factory team would be a driver duo with Pol Espargaró and Dani Pedrosa. But Dani signed a test driver contract and explicitly stated that he was not available for racing. However, we will definitely ask him again, because we have a new situation. But the decision will be Dani's. It would be the obvious solution. This is the situation. Whatever he decides, we will accept his answer ».
The hypothesis that KTM could transfer the rider from the Tech3 satellite team Miguel Oliveira, who finished eighth and best KTM representative at the Austrian Grand Prix, would not be taken into account: “ KTM promised me that Oliveira will be at Tech3 in 2020 » told Speedweek Hervé Poncharal. For the Red Bull Tech3 KTM team, 2020 is therefore planned with Miguel Oliveira et Brad Binder.
So who ? A young person coming from Moto2? “ In Moto2, we only think of Álex Márquez or Remy Gardner Says Hubert Trunkenpolz. Jack Miller having declined the KTM offer, everything remains to be done for the men of Mattighofen for the next campaign.
