Rapid Espargaro sticks with new KTM engine for Jerez MotoGP weekend

KTM has reprofiled its powerplant with a view to improving acceleration, adopting the 'big bang' configuration used on other bikes.

After a brief test at Le Mans earlier this week, the engine was brought to Jerez with a view to Espargaro and Bradley Smith trying it during the race weekend.

Both riders used it during all of Friday's running, and Espargaro said he will continue with it for the balance of the event, before evaluating it against the old engine in Monday's post-race test.

"The power is softer and smoother and easier," he said.

"In that way you can put a little bit more power.

"I don't know if it is 100% the engine or 50% the engine-and-the-track but for sure it was important to come here pre-season and test with the team.

"We need to clarify everything on Monday.

"We have to continue with the engine we have but we need to work a bit more on the electronics and manage everything better, smoother power management and wheelie control so we can improve a little bit more."

Espargaro put KTM inside the top 10 in a race weekend for the first time in its fledgling MotoGP programme, with 10th in second practice, and was buoyed by the pace and being able to follow other riders.

"It is such a beautiful moment to come back and feel a normal rider and not the last one," he said.

"We have just arrived here and put the new engine in and it's going in a perfect direction. The situation is quite shocking.

"In the first practice we were not far away in the wet but in the second we were closer.

"It is a surprise and we are all surprised."

SMITH GOING 'DAY TO DAY'

While Espargaro has committed to sticking with the reconfigured engine, Smith said a decision was yet to be made on his side of the garage on Friday afternoon.

The Briton finished in 18th place, and conceded the noticeably-different-sounding engine was more like the units he used in Tech3-run Yamahas.

"The noise is similar to what we had last year so whether that helps us in terms of performance I'm still not 100% sure but it makes it sound better and in the right direction," he said.

"It's going in the right direction as with the rest of the paddock - they have followed suit so it's the smart thing for us to continue to go that way."