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2021 was not a good year for KTM. After their good performance the year before, much was expected of the Austrian constructor that, instead, ended the last championship with two victories, one in Barcelona with Oliveira and the other at the Red Bull Ring with Binder in a flag-to-flag race, but also with lots of ups and downs.
Sebastian Risse took stock of the situation in an interview with motogp.com: “We had already known from the year before that 2021 was going to be unique, mainly because we had lost the concessions."
KTM had taken advantage of them to perfection, organizing many tests before the GPs and bringing many evolutions over the course of the season. All things forbidden during the last season.
"In general, we had focused on the details during development. But, from the first races, with a different tire assignment, we realized that it wasn’t enough.”
Michelin had, in fact, decided to no longer use the hard front tire that worked so well on the RC16 but not on the other bikes.
"We looked for a solution, did everything possible to face the situation, be faster, and not stray,” the engineer continued.
A new frame “with different hardnesses” made its debut at Mugello, and Oliveira had managed to get on the podium.
"Fortunately, it worked. We were able to handle the tires,” Risse explained. “We tried to explore every area where development was allowed, and we found something more thanks to a new gasoline. We changed suppliers."
However, the end of the season wasn’t brilliant, and now they have to face 2022. First of all, there will be important changes, with Fabiano Sterlacchino at the helm of the technical department and Francesco Guidotti in the role of team manager, with some changes made to the bike during the November tests in Jerez.
"We don't have much time. We worked on development and also on several concepts, but it’s still early to say what we’ll use next year,” Risse concluded.
