Cookie Consent by Free Privacy Policy website Ktm makes further gains at Brno test and before home MotoGP
august 06, 2019 - KTM

Ktm makes further gains at Brno test and before home MotoGP

Less than twenty-four hours after KTM placed three RC16s in the points of the Monster Energy Ceske republiky #motogp – and just four days before the paddock forms again for the myWorld Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg – both Red Bull KTM and Red Bull KTM Tech3 were once more lapping the 5.4km layout.

Pol Espargaro (14th) was the quickest from the group with an effort that was a second away from Fabio Quartararo at the top of the time sheets and achieved on the 25th of 49 laps as the Spaniard worked through engine settings and electronics among other details. Johann Zarco (20th), still feeling the positive energy of his front row qualification effort on Saturday finished the test early in the afternoon after riding 31 laps. Miguel Oliveira (15th) and Hafizh Syahrin (19th) managed almost a hundred circulations between them and the Portuguese ended the day less than half a second from the top ten.

All thoughts now turn to the inviting straights and fast turns of the Red Bull Ring where KTM will enjoy more passionate home support.

Pol Espargaro“It’s tricky to make a hot lap when you are trying many changes. First of all we analysed the problems we had from the race: why we could not make the top ten and why we suffered when the rear tyre was used. Tests like these are always useful for making conclusions and finding solutions and today was positive for that. We worked on the engine, electronics, the rear shock to look for a smoother delivery and less wheel spin. We are looking forward to the home GP now and all those orange flags. I missed the race last year and that outstanding experience of feeling all that support.”

Johann Zarco“I didn't do so many laps today: we wanted to try things but also keep good energy for Spielberg. We gathered some important information but our base will more or less remain the same for next weekend because it is a totally different track compared to here. I’m still trying to improve my riding style. It is hard work but I am doing the best training possible to achieve this. I love Red Bull Ring and have had some good results there. We’ll see how we can manage the bike. We know it is an important track for the engine and we know our bike is quite fast. Let’s see.”

Miguel Oliveira“We have been very, very close to the top and mid-grid for the classification. Today the target wasn’t to do a fast lap, as we just wanted to try the parts that the factory team gave to us related to some things to the frame, some things to the engine, small details, that don’t make a big difference themselves but in the package helped us a lot to improve.”

Hafizh Syahrin“There were not too many parts we tried today; we focused mainly on my riding. Plus, we tried something different with the electronics and we had two tyres from Michelin, which we tested. I probably tried a bit too hard this morning in turn five and came off the track but it was not a huge crash, so in the end everything was fine. We used the test engine, which is different to the one in the race, so overall it was a positive day.”

Mike Leitner, Red Bull KTM Team Manager: “We didn't want to take many risks at this test so we are happy with the outcome of trying some new items with good potential. We worked on our specs like aerodynamics and also an idea for the chassis as well as the engine. It was a fundamental test that gave us a few positive points for the future. In the coming days we’ll make analysis of what - and when - we can use for our race bike. Conditions were good here today and it was not our target to go for the best lap-time.”

Sebastian Risse, Red Bull KTM Technical Director“We had an intense test today with a good learning curve and some nice results. We tried some items on most areas of the bike: engine and calibration, suspension, aerodynamics. It was more about hardware for Pol and more about setting for Johann. We have some more of these items available for an update for Spielberg but we have to evaluate when it is the right time to bring them. Anyway, it has been positive step compared to the data we gained from the race and we are confident to go to our home GP.”

Brno IRTA Test Day final times

1. Fabio Quartararo (FRA), Yamaha 1:55.616
2. Maverick Viñales (SPA), Yamaha +0.012
3. Franco Morbidelli (ITA), Honda +0.139
4. Alex Rins (SPA), Suzuki +0.221
5. Cal Crutchlow (GBR), Honda +0.324
14. #polespargaro (SPA), Red Bull KTM +1.065
15. Miguel Oliveira (POR), Red Bull KTM Tech3 +1.195
19. Hafizh Syahrin (MYS), Red Bull KTM Tech3 +1.994
20. Johann Zarco (FRA), Red Bull KTM +2.153

Press & PR Manager
Sebastian Kuhn
+43 676 599 0084
sebastian.kuhn@ktm.com

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