The 2023 MotoGP season got off to a rather bad start for Jack Miller, with very disappointing winter tests…
17th during the only day of testing in Valencia while Brad Binder finished 7th, the Australian, newly arrived in the colors of Mattighofen, concluded the three days of testing in Sepang in 18th position (Binder 14th) and the two in Portimão 17th (Binder 9th).
However, in Portugal, number 43 qualified his RC16 in 5th place and even briefly took the lead in the Sprint before crossing the finish line in 4th position. The next day, he finished 7th in the Portuguese Grand Prix just behind his teammate before continuing his momentum in Argentina by finishing the GP 6th.
How can we explain this sudden return to form allowing
Jack Miller to be among the best, that is to say the Ducati?
The official MotoGP website looked into the issue through its Facebook page dedicated to technology, and this gives a very interesting analysis of the progress of the drivers in orange over the first two Grands Prix.
Here is a translation which will allow everyone to become aware of certain elements.
Let's talk about KTM.
Where did they find this speed? During pre-season testing it looked like KTM might be at the bottom of the pecking order, but now, after two rounds, we wonder if KTM can continue the momentum and start challenging riders like those from Aprilia and Ducati as we progress through the season.
We decided to delve into what their pilots had to say and discovered some interesting things. Be sure to check out the image descriptions to understand how KTM suddenly found the speed of MotoGP Sprint victory.
The start of KTM's 2023 season has been quite interesting, to say the least. During the 2022 Valencia testing, the initial feedback on the new bike was overwhelmingly positive and we all believed that in 2023 KTM would hit the ground running and be right in the mix during testing. This was not to be the case and, as pre-season testing progressed, a growing sense of disquiet seemed to arise within the KTM camp.
But today, two rounds later, KTM seems to have regained momentum. And you may be wondering: “ Wait, didn't they do the same thing in 2022? ". You're right, but we think this year is a little different and KTM may have just taken a step forward that it will carry with it all season, instead of slipping back into obscurity.
Let's start with Portimão and how Jack Miller was able to suddenly go from the back of the pack to fighting at the front, and even lead the first MotoGP Sprint for a lap. It was absolutely disconcerting to see Jack suddenly find himself with the best drivers, but he mentioned a few key things in his report that seem to have been instrumental in getting there.
When asked what the biggest factor was that allowed Jack to suddenly be fast on the RC16, he said the electronic changes they made were the biggest factor. From what Jack said, it appears to beapplying the tricks of the trade learned at Ducati to your KTM and to change the philosophy somewhat. Jack mentioned two areas in particular that have improved significantly since he got on the bike, the connection of the accelerator and the engine brake.
Jack indicated that he could have ridden the KTM with a " on/off switch as "accelerator" when he drove the RC16 for the first time during the Valencia test, buttoday it's much better. Undoubtedly, this improvement contributes greatly to one's overall assessment of the bike's handling, but the improvement in engine braking should not be underestimated. Throughout KTM's MotoGP history, its 'on the limit' braking characteristic has always been present, regardless of modifications made to the bike. This feature allowed them to use the harder front tire, and most often the hardest, available during race weekends. But During the very first MotoGP Sprint, Saturday in Portimão, Miller rode with the softest front tire and managed to make it work. Not only that, but he was probably the best of all on the brakes. How ?
Looking at Miller in this clip, you'll notice that he's very swayed in the turn and it's exactly this sway that Miller says helped him. He mentions that having the bike next to you in the corner takes some pressure off the front and takes away a bit of the feeling of being on the limit. But just having a bike sideways in the corner is not enough, you have to get it tuned first. Miller mentions that during testing the bike was sideways in the corner, but it wasn't giving him much deceleration and he was constantly struggling to brake the bike. But from testing to the race weekend in Portimão, KTM managed to work on the engine braking to give it better deceleration performance while allowing the bike to move out of the way and lighten the weight of the Before.
This is a major step forward for KTM, because the inability to use softer front tires was its Achilles heel for many years. This hampered them during qualifying, but also during races, on circuits where temperatures are low and where softer tires are better suited to the track. By unlocking this, KTM could take a big step forward that would become permanent.
Far from the dark art of electronics in MotoGP, KTM has also found something with the geometry of its bike. Miller and Binder both indicated that the changes made to Portimão allowed them to gain stability and maneuverability, Jack mentioning that they had lowered the bike, which probably refers to the ride height of the front or maybe even the rear. Either way, it obviously worked for them, since Miller also noted that they returned to the Portimão setup, with the bike lower, in Argentina, a place where one usually rides the bike to try and find some grip on the low-grip surface. As soon as this change was made and the bike was lowered, Miller felt more comfortable on the bike again. This is a positive sign that Jack has found a good basic setup with his new bike.
Brad mentioned similar benefits to Miller, saying the bike felt more stable after the change and, from his comments, it seems like it gave him better mechanical grip too, the South African saying he could use more power and less traction, being able to drive in a more normal way.
And that's a point we want to address: We've probably learned more about the KTM RC16 since Jack got on it than we have in recent seasons.
Jack is full of praise for the feeling the RC16 has given him since he got on it in Valencia. Although he had his problems and struggles with the bike, the sensitive throttle and the need to improve the engine braking maps, he never said the bike had a single big weakness. It's always intriguing to hear this, as previous examples of riders switching from another bike to a KTM haven't always worked out well. Jack's biggest and most recurring comment about the RC16 is that it gives him great feedback and confidence in the front end., which is the first thing a rider needs to ride a motorcycle quickly.
This is an interesting comment to ponder, as one wonders what the determining factor is that allows Jack to have such feedback. Of course, Jack went from the Ducati, a twin-spar aluminum frame machine with Öhlins suspension, to a tubular steel frame with WP suspension. Of these two, we can say that it's more likely the difference in chassis that gives it such good front-end feel, and that's perhaps the first real advantage of KTM's steel chassis over its aluminum-framed competitors that we heard from a rider.
It's not just the feel up front, now that Jack is getting closer to the electronics he wants, he was very complimentary about the rear grip of the KTM and Binder also mentioned that a new part for the Portimão race weekend helped them with rear grip. However, both drivers know that while rear grip is great when they have it, it can be a temperamental beast.
They both mention that if they lose rear grip entering the corner it can be almost impossible to regain it and if the bike starts to spin on throttle it spins throughout the corner. Miller also mentioned a more specific scenario: LWhen they have to change direction while accelerating, when they go from one side of the tire to the other, they can lose grip immediately and the bike starts to spin and it is very difficult to regain control.
Overall, KTM has made huge progress since pre-season testing and one wonders if the injection of a new way of doing things has not been the key to success. If Jack Miller is a great MotoGP rider, he will be the first to tell you that he is not a motorcycle genius. Instead, we're talking about his team boss Christian Pupulin, who Jack brought with him to KTM from Ducati. Perhaps it was simply the addition of some Ducati secrets that allowed KTM to unlock a little more performance.
Whatever the story behind KTM's closed doors, the work put in by the entire team has allowed it to take a big step forward in achieving its goals. Miller fought at the front in Portimão, then Binder won the Sprint in Argentina in the most incredible way, which is simply remarkable. The team has just started rolling, now they need to make sure they keep it going.
Text and photo credit: MotoGP.com
