Red Bull KTM Factory looks forward to 3-day test
Posted on Jun 11, 2017 by Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
99,873 fans were at the Catalan MotoGP today with just one KTM RC16 on the grid as Bradley Smith opted not to race after injuring his left little finger in qualifying yesterday. His former Moto2 World Champion team mate Pol Espargaro made a great start however cornering problems meant he finished just outside the points at a track where KTM hadn't tested in the run up to this their debut season in the top class.
KTM Rally Raid and Dakar heroes Nani Roma and Marc Coma were trackside watching all three classes in temperatures similar to a Dakar stage that they won in Mauritania or Argentina. Enduro legend Jonny Walker was also supporting his KTM a Grand Prix team mates as he took time out from training for next weekend's Erzberg Rodeo in Austria where he'll be gunning for a fourth outright win.
The Circuit de Catalunya was going to be a tough weekend for the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing squad due to the track not being in the test programme last year before the team's debut in MotoGP this season, but the team worked extra hours researching set ups and data related to the new chassis that both riders now have in the garage. Although finishing just outside the points, Pol Espargaro raced hard today, gathering valuable data before an important three day test with the KTM RC16 here Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday next week. Bradley Smith didn't ride today after injuring his little finger yesterday in qualifying, but all being well, looks set to be back in action in two weeks time in Assen, Holland.
Mike Leitner (Team Manager MotoGP):
"Pol was fighting to the end of today's race in very difficult conditions out there. It was not easy at all, but the test we have over three days is very important for the engineers here and the team back at the factory in Austria. We have some ideas where we will be able to confirm some things as well as explore other avenues. There are parts already here being fitted on the bike for this test so I know we can find something. The main reason that Bradley did not ride here is because we wanted to have him back for the next race at Assen; there was just too much of a risk of infection if he'd have raced today, a risk we were not prepared to take. Bradley is missing from this test which is a big bit of bad luck for both of us but we will now split things up over the test slightly differently between Mika (Kallio) and Pol."
Next Race: June 25, 2017 – TT Circuit Assen (NED)