Optimis⛎m around KTM has been qꦜuelled by Simon Crafar’s concerns over their preseason.

Jack Miller and Br🅺ad Binder tested a bold aero design and various set-up configurations over the two-day Qatar test.

KTM had been tipped by ma🦹ny to be𝔉 Ducati’s closest challengers when the 2024 MotoGP season begins.

But is their c𝓰ompetitiveness better than their ওhumble lap times in Qatar?

Broadcaster and ex-rider Crafar insisted: 𒐪“ܫThat is the million dollar question!

“I have real🌺ly believed in KTM because they have brought so much.

The riders confirmed that it is better.

“When I say so 𒈔much, a couple of specs of engines.

“I asked Brad about the new engine. He said: ‘It’s great, I can’t feel anything different, it just gets quicker to the rev lim🍎it’.

“They have worked on electronics, exhausts,൩ the aero is confirmed as be♎tter.

“But I still haven’t seen what I was expecting.

“I w🦋as expecting, like last ye🐲ar, when it all came together, to see the results of all of this.

“I’ll be honest, I’m a 𓂃little bit nervous for them that it hasn’t turned up yet.

“It is the last minute. I really don’t know…

“I don’t think we’ve seen wꦕhat I expected, that KTM would get close 💟to Ducati.

“Aprilia, on the one-off lap, was the only one close [💦to Ducati].

“Brad, i🔥n his defence, did a big long run🐬. They he came in and put two softs on, just to have a go.

“He must have been tired, after two days, 🍸then did a long run.

🅷“What I’m saying is that there’s a chance still that we will see what I’m talking about at the first race. What I am expecting, like last year.

“Both KTM riders are ‘racers’ - they dig something deeper o🌊ut, at a race event.

“I think everyone will agree with that. Their ♌team 🅰do.

“There’s a good chance of seeing it. But I’m a little ꦅnervous for them, that we haven’t seen it on paper yet.”

Binder was fourth-fastest on Monday,✃ with Miller 14th.

They were ninth and 11th respectively on Tuesday.

KTM will run Miller and Binder as their factory duo, and havღe Pedro Acosta and August👍o Fernandez in their Tech3 GASGAS project.

The manufactu🍷rer also has the strong testing duo of Pol Espargaro and Dani❀ Pedrosa in reserve.

The season begins in Qatar on March 8.