The struggle to evolve motorcycles does not stop in MotoGP, and KTM is one of the brands that needs the most improvements. After a promising start to the season in which they got a second place with Brad Binder in Qatar and a victory with Miguel Oliveira in Thailand, the Mattighofen factory has been deflating, with more disappointments than satisfactions.
The RC16 has shown some difficulties , especially in the qualifying sessions. However, in the race they managed to climb positions, with a good pace. Therefore, it is in the time attack where they should concentrate their efforts.
Sometimes teams make subtle improvements, but on this occasion it was almost impossible not to notice the new exhaust . The lower tail has been drastically lengthened , and instead of being located next to the swingarm, as in the previous version (below image), it practically coincides with the one located under the tail.
Although it is not a particularly aesthetic solution , team manager Francesco Guidotti has explained that with it the power delivery is smoother . With this, they manage not to lose time in terms of acceleration and top speed.
But this is not an exclusive KTM innovation. Ducati had also tested a similar exhaust in winter tests (in the photo at the end of the article), but decided to leave it aside and did not use it in any Grand Prix.
The first touchdown seems to have been a positive one, with Binder setting the 10th fastest time in FP1. Oliveira gave it a try in the afternoon, and the Portuguese climbed to sixth place in FP2, just over two tenths off Fabio Quartararo’s fastest time.
