Image Source: motogp.com
KTM (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) rider Brad Binder finally reached the top of the podium at the fourth round of the 2020 MotoGP season in the Czech Republic. It was KTM's first win in the MotoGP class and the fourth year in the premier class. Let's take a look at some of the secrets to KTM's strength.
A company dedicated to winning races
First of all, the corporate policy of the manufacturer KTM is probably the most important factor. The biggest difference between KTM and other manufacturers is that KTM's top management has a strong determination to win in MotoGP. That's the biggest difference from other manufacturers.
As KTM's famous slogan "Ready to Race" suggests, KTM is a manufacturer with a strong commitment and passion for the challenge of racing and winning the top races. Despite being a small company, it has dominated the world's off-road racing scene and was the driving force behind the company's 18 consecutive Dakar Rally victories.
Dedicated steel frame evolves and matures
KTM's factory machine, the RC16, has also made significant progress in its evolution and maturity. This season's RC16 has not lost any of its top speed to the other strongest competitors, and the motorcycle seems to be turning better. Riders have commented that the motorcycle has become easier to ride.
What has changed? First of all, in comparing images of the 2019 and 2020 machines, you can see that KTM's unique steel-tube trellis frame has a much different shape. The old model is exactly pipe-shaped, but the new one looks like a pipe combined with some plates, and the swingarm is also made of full carbon.
The cowl design has also been changed and the shape of the aerodynamic devices have been significantly modified. Especially when it comes to the frame, the team continues to stick to the only steel frame in the MotoGP class. This is because they are trying to replicate in MotoGP the winning formula that they have achieved in the Dakar Rally and many other off-road tracks.
The rider behind the machine's improved performance
Of course, this dramatic evolution didn't "work out" by accident, as the direction of the motorcycle was ultimately determined by the riders who rode it. It is the actual rider who will determine the direction of the final machine, and there is no doubt that Dani Pedrosa's presence in the most important post is a key factor in KTM's success.
After retiring from MotoGP at the end of the 2018 season, Pedrosa has thrown himself fully into the development of the RC16 as a test rider for KTM since 2019. There is no doubt that the cutting-edge knowledge and know-how absorbed during the 13 years of the Repsol Honda era is being poured into the RC16.
The evidence of this was again in the Czech Republic, where Binder worked his way up from the 3rd group and was able to fend off the likes of Quartararo and Morbidelli (both YAMAHA), both of whom are at the top of their game this season, in the final stages. His KTM factory colleague Pol Espargaró was also in 3rd place at one point, and if it weren't for the collision with Zarco (Avintia), he could have had a shot at the podium, which shows the speed of the RC16.
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◆ What is the Secret Strength of KTM's Break-through in MotoGP? | Part 2
