Red Bull KTM team ready to take on hometown race this weekend

Michelle Liew

August 6, 2019

Will Red Bull KTM triumph in their home town race in Spielberg?

The Red Bull KTM MotoGP team will be preparing for their home town race in the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg this weekend. Riders Pol Espargaro, Johann Zarco, Hafizh Syahrin and Miguel Oliveira made full use of the test session in the Automotodrom Brno in the Czech Republic to enhance their strengths. All riders logged almost 200 quick laps to gain more vital information on the current development plan of the RC16.

Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM)- As It Happened

Photo credits: Red Bull KTM

“It’s tricky to make a hot lap when you are trying many changes. First of all we analysed the problems we had from the race: why we could not make the top ten and why we suffered when the rear tyre was used. Tests like these are always useful for making conclusions and finding solutions and today was positive for that. We worked on the engine, electronics, the rear shock to look for a smoother delivery and less wheel spin. We are looking forward to the home GP now and all those orange flags. I missed the race last year and that outstanding experience of feeling all that support,” says Espargaro as quoted from Red Bull KTM.

Johann Zarco (Red Bull KTM)- As It Happened

Photo credit: Red Bull KTM

I didn’t do so many laps today: we wanted to try things but also keep good energy for Spielberg. We gathered some important information but our base will more or less remain the same for next weekend because it is a totally different track compared to here. I’m still trying to improve my riding style. It is hard work but I am doing the best training possible to achieve this. I love Red Bull Ring and have had some good results there. We’ll see how we can manage the bike. We know it is an important track for the engine and we know our bike is quite fast. Let’s see.”

Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Tech3)- As It Happened

Photo credits: Red Bull KTM

“We have been very, very close to the top and mid-grid for the classification. Today the target wasn’t to do a fast lap, as we just wanted to try the parts that the factory team gave to us related to some things to the frame, some things to the engine, small details, that don’t make a big difference themselves but in the package helped us a lot to improve.”

Hafizh Syahrin (Red Bull KTM Tech3)- As It Happened

Photo credits: Red Bull KTM

“There were not too many parts we tried today; we focused mainly on my riding. Plus, we tried something different with the electronics and we had two tyres from Michelin, which we tested. I probably tried a bit too hard this morning in turn five and came off the track but it was not a huge crash, so in the end everything was fine. We used the test engine, which is different to the one in the race, so overall it was a positive day.”

Mike Leitner, Red Bull KTM Team Manager

Photo credits: Red Bull KTM

We didn’t want to take many risks at this test so we are happy with the outcome of trying some new items with good potential. We worked on our specs like aerodynamics and also an idea for the chassis as well as the engine. It was a fundamental test that gave us a few positive points for the future. In the coming days we’ll make analysis of what – and when – we can use for our race bike. Conditions were good here today and it was not our target to go for the best lap-time.”

Sebastian Risse, Red Bull KTM Technical Director

Photo credits: Red Bull KTM

“We had an intense test today with a good learning curve and some nice results. We tried some items on most areas of the bike: engine and calibration, suspension, aerodynamics. It was more about hardware for Pol and more about setting for Johann. We have some more of these items available for an update for Spielberg but we have to evaluate when it is the right time to bring them. Anyway, it has been positive step compared to the data we gained from the race and we are confident to go to our home GP.”