MotoGP

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Alex Rins got back into the MotoGP groove at the Philip Island test, moving up the timesheets to take P6 by the end of the three days and improving on good promise shown in Sepang.

Injured on his premier class debut at the Valencia post-race test, Rins recovered well over winter to get back on good terms with his new Suzuki.

The Spaniard’s best lap was a 1:29.103, set on Day 3.

“The truth is that I’m very satisfied with these three days of testing. Apart from the best lap, the most important thing is that our progress during the sessions has been consistent and significant, cutting more than 2.3 seconds since Day One." Siad Rins

"We are able to better understand the machine and also develop a finer sensitivity with the settings and the changes. With my team, we are working very intensively, and this pays us back in the end."

"We still have many areas to improve, both in the GSX-RR and in my riding, but our ideas are getting clearer after each session. I also had a little crash today, but this didn’t affect my performance." He added.

"I’m satisfied with these days and confident that we will be able to further improve.”

MotoGP

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The covers have come off the bulls: the 2017 KTM RC16 has been revealed in its full glory in Austria, as Red Bull KTM Factory racing unveiled their MotoGP World Championship projects for the coming season.

After debuting in the 2016 Valencian GP with Mika Kallio as a wildcard, the team are now fresh from the first tests of 2017 at Sepang and Phillip Island as they prepare to line up full time on the MotoGP grid.

Riders in the premier class Pol Espargaro and Bradley Smith were on hand to present their machines, with the new Moto2™ and Moto3™ projects also revealed during the launch. Espargaro was first to talk, before Smith gave his thoughts on the upcoming season – with Team Manager of the MotoGP project, Mike Leitner, later taking over the mic.

Pol Espargaro: “Right now the bull is a little bit wild, but it feels really good. KTM is really new to MotoGP compared to other brands and we’re making huge steps. Every time we jump on the bike we get closer and it’s beautiful to see the evolution. I want to thank KTM for trusting me, and for this project.”

Bradley Smith: “There’s a lot of pressure. It’s something that you’ve always wished for and worked for throughout your career but when you finally get that opportunity there’s the pressure that comes with it. But I embrace the opportunity that I have and both me and Pol – and the team – will be working extremely hard. We’ve been busy so far already in the winter tests and the work won’t stop. It’s just the beginning and I’m excited to see what 2017 brings.”

Mike Leitner: “First of all I want to see I’m super happy. The whole company has been working like crazy in the past year to get to this moment with the project. After the Valencia race we had some issues and the designers have all worked very hard. I think we went in the right direction. The most important thing is that we keep these guys motivated and can deliver what they feel in the laptime and what they need on track. That’s what everyone here is working for.”

All classes of attack for the Austrian factory were presented – including Moto2 and Moto3. In Moto2, Red Bull KTM Ajo are headed by reigning Moto3 World Champion Brad Binder and 2015 Moto3™ runner up Miguel Oliveira, with a new KTM chassis in the class proving a new challenge for the riders and for Team Manager Aki Ajo.

Miguel Oliveira: “I’m very happy to be part of the project and after working with KTM in 2015 it’s nice to come back and embrace a new challenge. I’m looking forward to it. It’s been really positive and so far so good. We still have a lot of things to improve but for sure we will.”

Brad Binder: “Stepping up from Moto3 to Moto2 will always be tough but I haven’t set a goal to be honest, I just want to get on the bike and improve every time I do. Just keep working as hard as possible and see where we end up.”

Moto3 has a line up change for Red Bull KTM Ajo, as Brad Binder graduates to Moto2. Bo Bendsneyder remains with the squad after his first podium finish as a rookie, but lightweight class race winner Niccolo Antonelli joins the squad on the other side of the garage.

Aki Ajo: “First of all we are all so proud to be part of this project. It’s difficult after good seasons because expectation is really high but we need to keep our feet on the ground. Every season is different, especially with this new project in Moto2 - it’s like starting from zero and we can’t expect to win straight away but that’s our aim. And in Moto3 we’ve fought for the title and this year we’ll try and do the same. Our targets are high.”

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Andrea Dovizioso did 73 laps on the third and final day of testing at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit in the second official test of the year, ending the three days P7 on combined timesheets with a 1:29.248 – just ahead of new teammate Jorge Lorenzo.

DesmoDovi is concentrating on testing for 2017 as Lorenzo focuses on adaptation, and the Italian was positive about the workload completed Down Under – but adamant there’s still much more to be done when MotoGP gets back on track in Qatar.

“During these three days at Phillip Island we’ve been able to do a lot of work, gathering a lot of important information." Said the Malaysian Grand Prix winner.

"We worked a lot on the setup and some things with the chassis, making the feeling even better. We can say it was a good test: I’m especially happy with having been able to do the time at the right time."

However I’m not completely satisfied because we’ve not been able to improve everything on the bike, and there’s still a lot of work to do." He added.

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Andrea Iannone may have finished the Phillip Island test outside the top ten on the timesheets, but the Italian left the Island satisfied with the program completed and positive about the countdown to Qatar.

Concentrating on longer runs on the final day of action, the “Maniac” used his tyres on that instead of a time-attack all-out laptime, ending the test with a best of 1:29.547.

“We understand more-and-more the direction we need to take for the future." Said the Maniac.

"I managed a very constructive long run where we could put together all the information collected in these three days and I must say the result was not bad at all."

"Obviously, I couldn´t take advantage of the new tyres for a proper time attack. I ruined the front tyres as I used them so much for the long run attempts, one in the morning and one in the afternoon."

"Therefore, my position in the classification is not the one I’d like, but looking overall, we did a good job. We are working on the electronics but not just there." He added.

"We have many areas where we can make big or small improvements, and we are trying to fix everything. These kinds of tests require time and patience."

"It is like being a test rider more than a race rider. It is hard to be in the position of tapping the bike´s full potential, but I’m confident that in Qatar we will reap the benefits of this hard work." He concluded

 

         

 

 

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