The Austrian manufacturer has chosen technical options quite different from those of its competitors, such as for the frame as well as for the WP suspensions. KTM has a great deal of experience with tubular chassis, of which Ducati has been a staunch defender – with success – in Superbike.
Ducati had also used this type of chassis from 2003 to 2008 in MotoGP, before switching to the carbon chassis in 2009. The Italians then adopted a frame made of aluminum beams like the Japanese. On the KTM side, we now have sufficient control over the tubular steel chassis to obtain satisfactory performance in MotoGP.
According to Technical Director Sebastian Risse, “ We have a lot of experience in other categories where this fundamental question is the same. At the moment, the main point that we are missing, and which interests us, is the know-how, i.e. what exactly is the target [for chassis properties]?
“Reaching the target in terms of a particular design is not a problem with steel, for us, because we have a lot of know-how in the manufacturing and design process to do it with steel.
“But we need to know what the tires need, what this category requires, because it's a very powerful bike compared to other categories where we have experience. That's primarily the process we're in now, but we believe we can do it with steel, without a doubt. »
KTM Motorsports also uses the tubular steel chassis in other Moto3 and Moto2 categories.
According to Pete Beirer, KTM Motorsport Director, “ We had a lot of respect before arriving and we prepared as best we could. But you couldn't fully prepare for your first MotoGP season. So we had to learn every day, every hour in this paddock. In the end, things turned out better than expected.
“We started on the very last row of the grid in Qatar. It was dark, it was raining a little and we almost couldn't see the starting lights!
“Then we got to the second line a few weeks ago [Espargaro Pol qualified sixth in Australia]. So this is an incredible development. Our team did a fantastic job. I have to thank all the drivers and the team for this effort. We are happy and very proud to be part of this first-class motorcycle racing spectacle. »
Photo © Red Bull
Source: crash.net
