After the Buriram test, it looks like Aprilia have raised their game to start to disrupt Ducati's domination of the series. And it also appears they might have overtaken KTM, with Marco Bezzecchi just a fraction slower than Pedro Acosta, and much stronger in race pace.
So where does the Austrian manufacturer stand? And how are their signings of Maverick Viñales and Enea Bastianini to the Tech3 team working out?
Comments
Great analysis thanks David…
Great analysis thanks David. Being a KTM fan these past few years has aged me greatly. Here's hoping the orange crew show up ready to race, as it were.
Odd photos, great analysis
Some of the shots were oddly cropped.... kind of strange.
In any case we will see what happens. I feel like Pedro and Maverick will be KTM's front runners.
Almost???
Almost completely consumed? You're generous, I'd call that completely destroyed and nearing structural failure. :)
I think KTM will be where…
I think KTM will be where KTM have been since 2020. Sort of there but not. They've got good riders. Acosta is fast, Mav is Mav, Enea will hopefully find his way and there is no one better come Sunday than Binder on a bad weekend (on a KTM).
Thankfully the howl of the…
Thankfully the howl of the engines is back, i am still a fan of austrian machinery - historically there were more manufacturers - and KTM is one of the last remains of that history. But i doubt that there will be major leaps of progress in this season. With development frozen on the engine-side, there are two options left, aerodynamics - which is a game of try and error (and windtunnel time costs a fortune) - and chassis/frame where KTM is a alone with its steel appliances, which will likely lead to more try and error. So it would be great if they can keep up, but i guess this year the japanese manufacturers will make larger progress and it will likely be that three manufacturers will be chasing Ducati on a comparable level and one will fall behind. On the riders side Acosta will be the benchmark with Binder trailing a bit behind, what Vinales can do - i really don't know - and unfortunately - i guess - Bastianini wil be the main victim.
Over the last weeks the whole affair of bankruptcy and how to proceed shifted a bit away from the headlines with only some rumors that KTM (the investors?) is willing to pay the 30%-quote - that is offered - immediately in cash and not over a given time span. I guess there is still massive pressure from some creditors (e.g. hedgefonds ?) and the main reason for the "deafening" silence is ongoing negotiations, which in turn means the outcome of the final decision is still open.