KTM had a brilliant start to the season in 2022. Brad Binder finished second on the podium in Qatar and subsequently Miguel Oliveira won the wet race in Indonesia. However, after nine grands prix, the Austrian factory slipped back to fourth place in the constructors’ championship.
One of KTM’s big problems is during free practice and qualifying. Neither Binder nor Oliveira have started from the top 10 since the third round of the season, both last in Q2 in Portimao (Portugal).
“At the moment we don’t have the results we want,” KTM Motorsport Director Pit Beirer openly said. “Although the start was extremely good, then it became brutally difficult. Our biggest problem is a fast lap. We are competitive, but if everyone is chasing times, then we don’t take the step.”
“I dare say we have the strongest bike to start with,” Beirer ventured. “We gain positions every start. We don’t need the front row at all. We have brutal race speed and the power for the start.”
“But if we’re 16th or 17th on the grid, the morale of the whole team is rock bottom, because of course everyone expects more. That’s a little hiccup every week that you have to try to get out of the garage.”
Meanwhile, aerodynamics have become a decisive factor in MotoGP. It’s not just about keeping the front wheel on the ground during acceleration to avoid wheelies . Aerodynamics also play a role when cornering.
“We haven’t gotten to that point yet as far as top speed is concerned, but that was also the goal with the new aerodynamics. You have a feeling you’re on the right track. Then you find out in April that you’re not. Of course , that is the worst case scenario,” he assessed.
“After Qatar we started to work a lot on the new bike for next year. Our headline was stability, but then all of a sudden you have your back against the wall.”
KTM drives new developments
At Mugello, KTM brought a new fairing. That was the only update of the season allowed by the championship regulations.
“We had to do something, because our cornering advantages were at the expense of top speed. When you have eight very fast Ducatis down the straight, you need top speed to overtake,” Beirer said.
“On [Barcelona test] Monday we also had some good parts on board during testing. Of course we want to give our drivers a lighter tool.”
“At the beginning of the year I said that our goal must be to attack the podium regularly. We can’t do that at the moment. We want to reverse the deficit before the end of the season. We have to offer something to the drivers to get them back to their normal level of performance. job”, concluded the KTM director.
