The works team’s KTM RC16 hardly differs from the previous year’s motorcycle, but 2021 will start under completely different conditions. While it was still looking for confirmation in 2020, the Austrian manufacturer already has three MotoGP victories and the two riders who have won them in the official team are under their belt.
Miguel Oliveira has joined Brad Binder on the “first team” by reforming a pair that have already been seen in Moto2 and Moto3.
Your job is to help KTM take the final step towards ultimate victory. Meanwhile, they showed their new colors today: “In general, 2020 was a season in which we have achieved a lot in my opinion, some good results and of course with the first win – or the first KTM win – as the main thing – said Brad Binder . But there were also many days when we had the potential to do a lot more. Certainly the headroom is a little smaller now to try and improve, but I think over the course of last year, even though we had a small dip in the middle, it got better and better. I felt like I was improving not only because of the results, but also in the way I approached the weekends and went from session to session. At the moment I feel like we have a really strong package. We’re on the right track and I’m really looking forward to getting back on my bike this year. “
Miguel Oliveira strives to get on the track: “To become world champion, many details have to come together at the same time, and depending on the course of the season and events, we can usually lead the project to success. Sometimes 4th place is a very good result and sometimes 2nd place can’t meet our expectations, but you have to go through this process and right now I’m thinking pretty hard about setting a bar for results that we consider successful can. Being better than 2020 is definitely a good start. It is a relaxing factor to know that the bike is capable of winning, but at the same time you cannot take anything for granted and when it comes to repeating successes it becomes more difficult So I don’t see it as a static job. I think you have to get something on your side every year in order to maintain a very good level in this championship. I have the feeling that in a works team I can work on more details and at least be more consistent. I think these are the tools the factory team will give me. I am fully convinced of my work. “
Hubert Trunkenpolz, Board member of KTM AG adds: “MotoGP is currently the best platform for global motorsport and that is why we wanted to continue our previous successful cooperation for the next five years. Winning the first MotoGP race in Brno last summer with Brad Binder was one of the most emotional moments of my entire motorsport life and of course for the company too. We delivered and it took a lot of pressure off us. I don’t know if it happened by accident, but from then on our business went through the roof on a global scale. I think the fans enjoyed MotoGP in 2020 but what we really missed was they were on the tracks. Hope to go back to something normal this year. In general, our short-term goal is very clear: We want to end up in the top ten with our four drivers and regularly be on the podium. We would like to win another race in order to really continue what we have achieved in 2020. “
Pit Beirer, KTM Motorsport Director, KTM’s goals: “The entire MotoGP journey so far has been a dream, but the project started with the dream of becoming a GP winner in this class. We are really very happy that the dream with these GP victories has come true. You are a fact. They’re on paper and we’re definitely hungry for more. We have great staff and everyone is pushing hard. I think that’s the style of KTM and the whole company: having this new spirit with a new purpose means that the whole company stays together and we do it together. It brings extra energy. All four of our drivers have incredible skills and talents, otherwise they would not be in this class, but in the details they are all different and pursue their goal in different ways. All four drive in the very last second of motorcycle racing. We have our first victories under our belt, but now the new season is starting and everything is starting from scratch. I will be happy with 2021 when our drivers finish the last GP without injuries and we can look back on some very successful races. This is what I’m looking for. “
The last words were for Mike Leitner, Race Manager, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing: “Increased pressure certainly brings more motivation for the racing team because all KTM people who work in this racing business are ‘built’ for pressure. This is the DNA of our sport – or sport in general – and we take it positively. We’re on the timescale for 2021. We had ideas and had to find a good balance between what we can achieve now and the five days of testing in Doha before the start of the season because we have to homologate the engine specification and the aerodynamics package there. We have the things we want for ’21, but of course people in the company are already working on things for the ’22 season. The plan we had for the winter testing; these parts or units are ready, but what we can finally bring into the 2021 season will be decided after the five days of the Doha test. Our two drivers will get everything they need to do their best in 2021. “