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Cast an eye down the timesheets after day one at Jerez and there's one name that jumps out, that of KTM, in tenth place with Pol Espargarò. The Austrian manufacturer has not had an easy MotoGP debut and has often found itself running at the back of the field in the first GPs.
In Spain the wind has changed though and it's not just luck, because KTM has debuted a new Big Bang engine (the same timing as that used by Aprilia, Honda and Yamaha for their engines) after having had the riders test it a few days ago at Le Mans.
“It's undoubtedly better than I could have hoped and, considering it's brand new, we can only improve - comments an almost incredulous Pol - To be honest, I'm more surprised than pleased, because I didn't exactly know what would happen and instead it's all worked well”.
He's not just satisfied with the position either.
“I came up behind Vinales at one point and he didn't break away in acceleration, the same happened with Dovizioso - he continues - It was a great sensation, but for now we have a great deal of information to analyse and little time. I still need to understand this engine, for this reason I'd say we still have margin to improve”.
How does the new engine behave?
“It's more docile, it delivers the power more softly. This means we have better traction and can transfer more horsepower to the ground”. Basically: “it's more similar to what I was used to”.
Or rather, to the Yamaha 4-cylinder and it's not just a feeling, because smiling team-mate Bradley Smith (18th) backs him up: “it has a sound that I know well”.
The Brit reveals that they decided to use the new engine at the last minute, “we've tested at this track, so we had information to be able to test this new engine”.
Which he liked, though he's keeping his feet on the ground.
“We were immediately quicker than usual, we're not yet 100% there of course, but it seems we're going in the right direction. We've got what Pol and I have been asking for since the first test at Valencia” he explains.
