Nothing was easy for the KTM troops during this Qatar Grand Prix. A crossing of the desert itself, lasting four days. A small point brought back from this ordeal would have been the oasis. But it was only a mirage seen by Pol Espargaro. There are still too many grains of sand in the RC16 project.
The two Austrian motorcycles started from the last two places available on the starting grid and the slowest of them regretted a liability of 2.8 seconds on a Maverick Vinales in pole position. During the race, the gap was smaller, but still around 1.6 seconds per lap. So nothing to brag about.
The RC16 needs to be given wings and it's not what is written on its fairing that has worked miracles. However, it only took four seconds for Pol Espargaro brings an unexpected point to the Mattighofen factory.
The brother of the one who made a festival on theAprilia explain : " This Losail route is undoubtedly the worst that our bike could find. We filmed in Phillip Island, Valencia, Malaysia and Jerez. And Losail is clearly the least favorable to us ". Especially with a motorcycle in search of traction and with an engine character that is still too generous.
« We still have to draw positive things from it. We finished four seconds behind a few Ducatis and a Honda. KTM begins its story with this Grand Prix. And that's the most importantyou”.
The most important thing is also to have both motorcycles at the finish. Essential to collect maximum data and experience. Bradley Smith, who finished seventeenth behind his teammate insists: “ the goal was to bring home a point and we didn't get far so we're a little disappointed ».
« If we had had an FP4 and real qualifications, maybe things would have been different. Until then, we had no idea how the bike would behave until the end of a Grand Prix ". Furthermore, the two residents did not finish last. This place went to Sam Lowes on the Aprilia.
