Petrucci hoping to get new KTM chassis in Catalunya

Danilo Petrucci hoping the promising new KTM chassis reaches the Tech3 pit garage in time for this weekend's Catalunya MotoGP.
Danilo Petrucci, Italian MotoGP, 29 May 2021
Danilo Petrucci, Italian MotoGP, 29 May 2021
© Gold and Goose

Danilo Petrucci and Tech3 could get the promising new KTM chassis for this weekend's Catalunya MotoGP.

Miguel Oliveira and Brad Binder used the new frame, alongside a change of fuel supplier (ETS), to take the factory's best results of the season so far with second and fifth places in Mugello last Sunday.

"The main point we improved with the new frame is that we found a little bit of natural turning," explained Binder.

"When the bike turns a little bit more naturally and you don’t need to lie on the edge of the tyre as long, it’s also better for the tyre over the race distance, because you can get onto a bigger contact patch quicker and we can also get through the exit of the corners better.

"It seems to have given us these two-three tenths a lap. I’m really excited to get to another track with this new package and Barcelona is a track where the tyre wear is incredibly high.

"The quicker you can get off the edge of the tyre there then the better you are in the long-run, but I’m confident we have made a step forward regardless of where we go."

Petrucci, who crossed the line ninth in Mugello, said: "We know, we need to work a lot and maybe we’ll get an update [the new chassis] from KTM.

"But anyway, we also have to perform better with what we have. We already made some positive steps in Mugello and I hope we can continue this way this weekend.”

New chassis or not, team boss Herve Poncharal believes the Catalunya layout and warmer temperatures (the race being held in late September last year) will suit the RC16.

"This is a track, where I believe our bike should also be quite competitive," he said. “The long straight will help us to show how strong the KTM engine is.

"Last year we were quite competitive there. Our main issue has been the cold temperatures, which didn’t allow us to use the tyre we felt good on, but I don’t think we will face the same this year. So, we are moving to Montmeló with high spirits.”

Read More