Espargaro: KTM adding Tech3 can 'double, triple' MotoGP development
KTM rider Pol Espargaro believes the addition of Tech3 to the manufacturer's MotoGP stable will allow it to "double or triple" its development rate
After making its full-time MotoGP debut last year KTM has been largely fought for the lower reaches of the top 15.
It scored just five points more in 2018 compared to its first year, despite Espargaro's shock maiden podium in the wet in Valencia.
KTM will expand to four bikes on the 2019 grid, having lured top independent team Tech3 over from Yamaha.
It has also brought in the series' leading independent rider Johann Zarco and signed Dani Pedrosa as a test rider.
Espargaro insists KTM has made "unbelievable progress" in its time in MotoGP, but believes the addition of two more factory-spec RC16 bikes, run by Tech3, will be a boost to the programme.
He feels the works team's results have been held back by the sheer amount of development workload.
"Many times we changed the whole bike - the engine, the chassis, the swing-arm, during race weekends," he said.
"And in racing life, this is crazy changes to do in a race weekend. But we needed to do that, I'm not against that, I asked for that.
"This also makes your life harder, and difficult, and this things that we are going to have next year - [like] Johann and Dani and all the Tech3 team - it is going to help us so much.
"The Tech3 team is going to have the same spec bike as us, we will have the same info, they are going to test the same things as us and this is going to make us improve double or triple than what we are improving now."
Tech3 will field its 2018 rider Hafizh Syahrin alongside Moto2 graduate Miguel Oliveira next year and has had a low-key start to life with KTM, its riders largely resigned to the bottom of the timesheets in testing in Valencia and Jerez.
"What we need is fast riders on the bike, not just one - my team-mate Bradley [Smith] last year," Espargaro said in Jerez.
"We need a team-mate as fast as Johann is, but also we need to test riders like Dani and Mika [Kallio].
"Also these young talents coming from Moto2 and Syahrin with less experience but are still very good.
"They just need time. It doesn't come easy, we know that KTM is not easy, for example starting like Suzuki, it is not as easy and as fast at the moment.
"We will be, but for that we need time and they need experience and they need to test."
Previous article
MotoGP introduces new rule for riders who finish races off bike
Next article
Jorge Lorenzo almost retired after Ducati MotoGP exit
About this article
| Series | MotoGP |
| Drivers | Aleix Espargaro , Pol Espargaro |
| Teams | AB Motoracing , Tech 3 |
| Author | Valentin Khorounzhiy |
Where does Honda's new MotoGP signing sit ahead of its king's return?
Pol Espargaro’s first results as a Honda MotoGP rider may not appear special. But dig a little deeper and a clearer picture of his performance emerges. And, as Lewis Duncan writes, it’s cause for celebration at Honda with the return of Marc Marquez set to provide Espargaro with the reference he has been missing so far this year
The "pit bull" MotoGP rookie already drawing legendary comparisons
MotoGP’s 2021 rookie crop is one of the strongest in recent years, but one is already standing out. Jorge Martin’s Doha GP heroics have courted many to compare him to numerous MotoGP legends. Autosport spoke to Pramac boss Francesco Guidotti to find out why MotoGP’s latest Spanish star is already making such an impact
Why MotoGP's stewards must revisit Miller and Mir's Losail clash
Despite Suzuki’s decision not to appeal against Race Direction’s refusal to penalise Jack Miller following the incident with Joan Mir in Losail, something must be done to avoid a repeat of such an incident, which could have easily ended in tragedy
Has Yamaha banished its demons with its 2021 MotoGP bike?
Against the expected run of play at Qatar's Losail circuit, both Yamaha riders Maverick Vinales and Fabio Quartararo carved through a resolute Ducati defence to secure back-to-back MotoGP wins for the Japanese marque. After a difficult 2020, it appears that Yamaha has swaggered back into championship contention
Why MotoGP’s top gun looks more dangerous at the Doha GP
Lightning hasn't struck twice for Maverick Vinales since 2017 and his wayward form of recent years makes predicting how he'll fare each MotoGP race weekend tricky. But fresh from his Qatar GP win, Vinales looks like an even more dangerous prospect for the Doha GP following an intriguing Friday practice
Why MotoGP’s new Amazon series is long overdue
OPINION: MotoGP is getting its own version of Drive to Survive on Amazon Prime at some point in the near future. It was news welcomed by the grid’s leading riders. And following the impact DTS has had on Formula 1, MotoGP desperately needs the same boost.
Did the Qatar GP hint at Ducati’s true MotoGP leader?
OPINION: Johann Zarco talked a big game pre-season, and is so far vindicating himself as a factory rider at Pramac after finishing the Qatar GP as top Ducati in second. And contrasting his and Jack Miller's weekends and their approaches, is Zarco emerging as Ducati's true MotoGP leader?
The key changes behind the latest 'return of the Mack'
Maverick Vinales’s authoritative victory at the MotoGP season opener came during a period of personal and professional change for the Yamaha rider. Can it be the springboard for a title challenge?
