English
Italiano
Hervé Poncharal's Red Bull KTM Tech3 team will be presented tomorrow in the new design, as in 2021 and 2022 in KTM colors, after this satellite team had recently promoted the GASGAS brand for two years and competed in 2024 with Pedro Acosta and Augusto Fernández. The KTM RC16 MotoGP motorcycles were assembled in Munderfing in mid-January and then shipped to the MotoGP test in Sepang (Malaysia).
In an interview with gpone.com, team owner Hervé Poncharal talks about his expectations for the first test of the year and the upcoming 2025 season.
Hervé, your Tech3 team has been taking part in the premier class since 2001, but with MotoGP winners Enea Bastianini and Maverick Viñales you are now looking at the best line-up you have ever had at your disposal. These are two former world champions. What do you expect from the Sepang test and then from the 2025 season?
"I completely agree with you, we have by far the best rider line-up at Tech3 since we entered the "premier class". In 2024 we had an alien with us in Pedro Acosta, he showed amazing performances and exceeded all our expectations. But we only had one strong rider under contract last year. Because Augusto Fernández had some difficulties, that was clear to see. But with Enea Bastianini and Maverick Viñales we now have two world champions and two proven MotoGP aces who have already won races in MotoGP. That's why we can dream big".
"I can't describe how proud and happy I was when we signed these two riders at the Mugello GP and the week after. We celebrated these commitments together with Pit Beirer and Hubert Trunkenpolz. The violent storm that hit Pierer Mobility and the KTM brand has now calmed down a bit. We can now concentrate on our most important task, MotoGP racing. We have already shipped two motorcycles each for Enea and Maverick to Malaysia. They are already equipped with the development parts that we tested in November after the finale in Catalunya. The main goal of the Sepang test is to give both riders more track time with the KTM RC16. Barcelona was a very revealing test, but we only had one day, so only a limited number of laps could be done".
Bastianini and Viñales talked very positive about the KTM after the test.
"Yes, their first feeling with the RC16 was excellent, their comments were quite enthusiastic. Until this test we were a bit worried because Enea came from the Ducati Factory Team, which is currently the benchmark in MotoGP. And Maverick had been in the Aprilia factory team since 2021, so it was uncertain how they would judge the KTM. We prayed that we would see grinning faces in the box after the first few laps of this test. And it was clear: both riders left the Barcelona test with a really positive impression. But it was a short test. In Sepang it will be hot like in the autumn at the race, in Barcelona it was quite cool".
"So it will be important that Enea and Maverick feel at home on the bike after the three days of testing. And we are curious to see what they will choose and what wishes they will express. KTM has some new development parts ready for this test that the riders have to assess and sort out. As soon as our riders can push 100 percent to the limit, they will also be better able to communicate where improvements are desired. Each rider can express individual wishes and put together his own package. After that we have the Buriram test later in February, where we will do the fine-tuning in order to be ready for the first Grand Prix in Buriram".
The Red Bull KTM Tech3 team will have exactly the same material as the Red Bull KTM Factory Team with Binder and Acosta?
"When the motorcycles were assembled in Munderfing two weeks ago, all eight KTM RC16s were assembled in the same specifications. In Sepang, all four riders will start with total equality. This is very important for the morale of the riders. And we have sent this message very clearly to Maverick and Enea".
KTM has not won a MotoGP race for 3.5 years. Miguel Oliveira last won for the Tech3 team in 2020 in Spielberg and Portimão. Are you hoping that Tech3 will win earlier this year than the factory team with Binder and Acosta?
(He grins). "Pedro Acosta led the sprint race in Japan in the autumn by 1.5 seconds ahead of Bagnaia, but he crashed with 2.5 laps to go... In addition, a customer team won the team world championship in 2023 and even the riders' world championship in 2024. And although rookie Pedro lost fifth place in the riders' world championship in 2024 by a few points to Brad Binder, he managed to achieve a total of nine podium finishes. Five on Sunday, four on Saturday. That performance shows that KTM also supplies the satellite team with equal material. And when you have riders like Bastianini and Viñales in the team, you can't believe in anything other than the possibility of victories. If we manage to do a good job in the preseason tests and at the first races, we will fight for victories. But of course we have to take Brad and Pedro into account alongside Enea and Maverick. Any KTM MotoGP rider can win races in 2025".
