During the testing sessions for the Valencia Grand Prix this Friday, new parts were observed at KTM, particularly in terms of the chassis. It didn't seem like a huge change at first, but we think there might be more to it than we think
The new chassis developed by KTM engineers does not seem to be a revolution, seen from the outside, but on closer inspection, many developments have been made.
To start, here's a look at the standard 2022 chassis that powers all four KTM prototypes this season. The key area to look at in the following image is the engine mount bolt just above the swingarm pivot.
In this photo, we see this famous chassis tested in Valencia last Friday. What's intriguing is that it appears KTM simply added a large piece of metal on top of this area of the frame. Due to the nature of the part, it appears to have been added as an add-on to the current chassis, and is on the sides of the frame itself.
But this brings a question regarding the engine mount bolt. If this piece of metal is welded, where did this engine mount go? Is it hidden behind the metal part or simply missing?
In 2019, KTM developed the bike for then-riders Pol Espargaro and Johann Zarco. They had many different variations of their chassis that year and some of them were identical to each other, but other than that the engine mount was still present. It can be seen more precisely in the following two photos.
This prototype from the Mattighofen brand dates from 2019. At the pivot area of the swing arm, a motor support is present in the small support which extends from the main beam of the frame.
If you look again at this same area, KTM has completely hidden this support and there is no engine support on this prototype.
In 2019, this was done in an attempt to find the flexing characteristics they were looking for and it's a safe bet that KTM is looking for this type of characteristic again in anticipation of 2023. But there is another detail that is visible on this chassis.
Looking up the main beam, towards the steering column area, there is a small gray piece that goes around the top of the frame. It is located just to the left of the KTM badge on the tank/airbox cover. The shape of this small gray part has changed on the chassis which was tested in Valencia.
Changing this part may mean absolutely nothing, but since it follows the edge of the frame beam so closely, it would make sense to only change it if it is no longer suitable for following the line of a chassis evolution.
This could just mean that KTM has also changed the chassis around the steering column area. If so, it shows that this chassis is a big change and could be the basis of what KTM builds around its bike for 2023. This turned out to be positive last Friday because with this chassis, Brad Binder was in the top 10 and did his fastest laps on his handlebars. He also did it without putting on completely new tires, having done about 5 laps on his classic prototype, then stopped and immediately the team took those same tires and installed them on his second bike, equipped with chassis evolution.
Promising signs for KTM ahead of tomorrow’s official tests!
Photo credit: Dorna Sports
