How Did KTM Turn Their Fortunes Around At Mugello?

Calum Gill 09:13 02/06/2021

Up until round six of the season, 2021 had been a struggle for the KTM teams.

After Brad Binder took the constructor's first premier class win at last years Czech Grand Prix, Miguel Oliveira furthered that for the customer Tech3 team, taking 2 wins including his home race in Portugal. However, things have been much different this season. 

Before the Italian Grand Prix, the highest finish by a KTM runner was 5th, for Brad Binder on the factory team bike in Portugal, and for Tech3's Danilo Petrucci at the French Grand Prix. Oliveira, who switched over to the factory team for this year, had not finished inside the top 10 at any of the 5 races before the Mugello round.

So how did their upturn in form in Italy come about?

KTM themselves have said that they have been aided by a new race fuel supplier in the form of French company ETS. ETS was formed by a group of former Elf engineers, who used to supply KTM with their fuel. This new fuel does seem to have had an effect though, as at Mugello, Binder matched Johann Zarco’s all-time MotoGP record of 362.4kph at Mugello, showing a vast improvement on top speeds.

However, the real big area of improvement comes in the shape of a new, modified chassis that was first tested post-race at Jerez a month ago. It was originally intended for use in the French GP, but the ever-changing weather conditions and the need to dial in a base setting put the launch of the new chassis on hold.

Binder explained the benefits of the new chassis after the race last Sunday. “The main point that we’ve improved with the new frame is that we’ve found a bit of natural turning,” explained the South African rider. “Obviously when the bike turns a little bit more naturally, you don’t have to lie it on the edge of the tyre for as long and it’s better for the rear tyre life for race distance. You can get onto a bigger contact patch quicker, and you can prepare the exit of the corners better. I’m happy with the step we’ve made, and I think it’ll be good for us in the coming races.”

And Binder is excited, as we head into another race weekend for the Catalan Grand Prix straight away, a good chance to see if it was not a one-off in Mugello. 

“Barcelona is a track where the tyre wear is incredibly high, and the quicker you can get off the edge of the tyre the better you are in the long run. It’s a track where our bike worked really well last year, and I expect that this week we have a really good opportunity to see how the frame works – but I’m confident we’ve made a step forward regardless of where we go.” 

The improvement in Mugello was clear to see, with Oliveira taking KTM's first podium of the year. You'd imagine that Binder would have been up there as well, if his airbag had not gone off in the race. He had to ride with it inflated for almost a whole lap, costing him quite a chunk of time. Even still, he recovered to finish fifth. Satellite team Tech3 did not fare as well, with Petrucci 9th and Iker Lecuona 11th. Tech3 are still to receive the new fuel and frame, so we will wait to see whether they will reap the benefits like the factory team have.

The 2021 Monster Energy Catalan motorcycle Grand Prix, this weekend, across The Grid Talk.