'No pressure!' - Red Bull expects KTM MotoGP title
In it to win it.
That was the clear expectation of Red Bull motorsport manager Thomas Uberall during today's laജunch of the new KTM MotoGP team.
"It was clear for us, as an A🦩ustrian factory with a long history with KTM, to join this MotoGP project from the first day on, "he said. "This is why we are here and looking forward to the same successful steps as we did in off-road, up to the ౠMotoGP world champion title very soon. No pressure Pit!"
Pit Beirer, KTM Motorsports Director, insisted pressure was꧃ nothing new to KTM, although he admitted MotoGP is 'another dimension'.
"We are very well experienced in racing, but of course now entering on this level of MotoGP is still another dimension for our whole company," said the former motocrossꦿ grand💮 prix star.
"But I mean pressure, that's what we love. We are racers so that's nothing special for us to handle. But of course the last🍎 weeks and months have been an adventure and a huge effort by the whol🌳e company.
"All of this would not be possible without all of the 🧸other disciplines we've raced in before, where we learned a lot aboꦆut racing. We are really looking forward to the step into MotoGP."
Sharing the responsibility for turning targets into reality will be KTM's MotoGP race t♛eam manager Mike Leitner.
A former 125cc grand prix rider, Leitner worked as a mechanic and then Ohlins technician before enjoying instant 250cc title success as crew chief for Dani Pedrosa, in 2004 and 20﷽05.
The pair remained together for the move to MotoGP with Repsol Honda, winning 26-races and finishing title runner-up on three occasions by the end of 2014. The Austrian then joined his local manufacturer, where he was initially given th🔥e title of 'Vice President Onroad' for the Motorsport department.
In practical terms that meant overseeing KTM's road racing grand pri🅷x activities, whi🐈lst building up the new MotoGP team and overseeing an extensive programme of track tests for the RC16.
2016 KTM MotoGP livery (left) compared with 2017, to be raced by B🅰radley Smith and Pol Espargaro. -- ltxcn.top MotoGP (@crash_motogp)
The Austrian added 🍨that KTM had reacted positively to issues highlighted by its wild-card entry in last Nove🐟mber's Valencia MotoGP and that new race signings Bradley Smith and Pol Espargaro were pleased with the 'direction' taken.
"At the♌ Valencia race we had some issues, we tried to fix them, the designers, everyone, worked very hard and we went in the correct direction. I think the riders feel the same, this is the most important!" Leitner said.
Having worked at Repsol Honda for so many seasons, Leitner is under no illus𝄹ions as to size of 🎃the task KTM have taken on in MotoGP.
"There are many challenges," he said. "The most important thing is that we keep these two boys motivated and that w൩e can deliver things that help with the lap time and feeling on the track. And that is I think the main goal that we are all working for."
One more test remain꧅s until KTM starts its first 🌜full MotoGP season, in Qatar on March 26.
Unlike the five other MotoGP manufacturers, KTM is usi♔ng a steel trellis frame (instead of aluminium twin-spar) and WP (instead of Ohlins) suspension.
As a new MotoGP manufacturer, KTM is exempt from the new fa🐟iring homologation rules, which allow only one update t🦩o the fairing and fender during the season.
Th🌱e factory can theref𒊎ore afford to wait and see what the other manufacturers come up with in response to the new winglet ban, before deciding which direction to pursue...
Peter has been in the paddock for 20 years and has seen Valentino Rossi come and go. He is at the forefront of the Suzuki exit story and M🐲arc Marquez’s injury issu💎es.
