The teams KTM Racing and Tech3 have chosen one more year to jointly present their projects for the MotoGP season that is about to start. KTM has shown the RC16 that will use its two structures in 2022 through a short video of just five minutes. Red Bull blue highlighted in the factory team as usual since 2017. One of the few innovations in terms of design is the introduction of white bordering the logo of the team’s main sponsor. Tech3 keeps its aesthetics intact and continues betting on the orange KTM.
There are also no changes in the KTM Racing rider tandem. Brad Binder and Miguel Oliveira will try to sneak another year among the top positions after a somewhat gray 2021. The victories achieved by the Portuguese in the Catalan GP and by the South African in the Austrian GP did not manage to dispel the team’s feeling of stagnation. In fact, you have to look at the figure of the team manager to observe something different at KTMRacing. Francesco Guidotti, former Pramac team boss, takes over from Mike Leitner.
Loading tweet…
1486631314203762694
The Tech3 lineup consists of newcomers Remy Gardner and Raúl Fernández, current Moto2 champion and runner-up. They both know what it’s like to work together as they were teammates at Reb Bull KTM Ajo last season. The choice of these riders, therefore, maintains the idea of continuity that emerges from the entire project of the Austrian brand. Despite Gardner’s broken wrist earlier this month, the two ‘rookies’ are expected to participate in the shakedown which will take place in Sepang between January 31 and February 2.
The first collective pre-season test will be held on February 5 and 6 in Sepang and will be followed by three days of testing on the new Mandalika track between 11 and 13 of the same month. From then on it will begin to be seen if the performance of the RC16 is sufficient to meet the objectives set by the team. In this sense, Pit Beirer, head of KTM motorsport, stated the following: “The goal for us now is be in the top five consistently every weekend and fight for the podium at the end of the season.
To get to that position, KTM has to substantially improve its 2021 records. Last year the manufacturer only scored five points more than in the previous campaign, despite having played 18 grand prix compared to 14 in 2020. His results earned him to be fifth in the constructors’ standings, just ahead of Aprilia. We will have to wait a few more weeks to see in the race if the brand is in a position to fight for the top positions.