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After starting sixth with Maverick Viñales, who won the Qatar GP in 2017 and 2021 (both times on a Yamaha), Hervé Poncharal's Red Bull KTM Tech3 team was hoping for the Spanish veteran's best race result since joining KTM. Indeed, "Top Gun" left his foes and friends speechless for 22 laps on Sunday when he took the lead from Franky Morbidelli on lap 12, was pushed into second place by Marc Márquez after lap 15, and successfully defended this position to the finish line – even against two-time world champion Pecco Bagnaia.
Hervé Poncharal, who celebrated his 68th birthday in Doha on Thursday, was overjoyed, as his two KTM rookies, Viñales and Bastianini, hadn't always lived up to expectations in the first three Grands Prix – primarily due to adjustment problems with the RC16.
Two days after the Qatar GP, Hervé Poncharal sighed in an interview with GPOne.com: "I've been a team owner for almost 40 years. During that time, I've experienced many ups and downs. But when you asked the question how I feel about this setback with the 16-second penalty for Maverick, I don't have to think twice. I would rank this penalty as among our top three worst incidents. When you look back, memories tend to blur, but this incident is still fresh in our minds. It constantly preoccupies the team and me, and the impact is therefore greater and more lasting than events that happened 20 years ago. I can tell you quite honestly: I haven't slept a wink for two days; I've had two sleepless nights since Sunday. My energy is running low - and I can't think of anything else at the moment."
"The disappointment is enormous. But I want to make it very clear right at the start of our interview: I'm not criticizing these tire pressure regulations. The Latins say: 'Dura lex, sed lex.' That means: 'The law is harsh, but it is the law.' In my position as IRTA President and as team owner, I have always respected all the regulations, and that will not change in the future. The rules are the same for everyone. And I don't like people who ignore the rules or do anything to avoid penalties when violations occur. It's important to maintain this point of view."
"At the same time, I can't even describe how frustrated I feel that Maverick was robbed of the fruits of his efforts. Sure, the officials who gave us a 16-second penalty that dropped us to 14th place are doing their job. There's no getting around that. On the other hand, no one sees what's behind a result like that. It's not just about the rider who completed 22 flawless laps and then only gets 2 points instead of 20. We liked what Marc Márquez said on Thursday in Doha: 'Sometimes I ride like I'm in a trance.' Ayrton Senna once gave a similar description. And I think Maverick rode like he was in a trance on Sunday, because he felt completely at one with his bike. It may not have been the ride of his life, but it was one of the best races of his entire career. He surprised everyone – even himself. He later said he didn't take too many risks; he was in a trance-like state where mistakes hardly ever happen. The team also suffered another setback after Maverick was sent out on the soft tire in Saturday's sprint, ruining our chance of a top result. Then, for 22 laps, we watched each of the four sectors very closely, constantly checking the gaps to the front and back. It was a race of incredible intensity. When the checkered flag finally was waved and Maverick crossed the finish line in second, it was like an explosion of joy, of indescribable happiness, of enormous relief, because a podium like that after a performance like the one Maverick demonstrated on Sunday is very important for the entire Red Bull KTM MotoGP project. Everyone involved knew we had a competitive bike, so we expected a top result right from the first Grand Prix. This podium finish was such a boost for the project and a huge boost for the other three riders, because they now know the bike is capable of podium finishes. It was also a good change for the championship to finally not have three Ducati riders at the front. Ducati's dominance remains undisputed, but since Sunday we've known that the Italians can be challenged. In the parc fermé, Davide Tardozzi said to me: 'Hervé, we're so happy. We need strong opponents, so we're very excited about what you achieved today with Maverick."
Hervé Poncharal is convinced that Maverick Viñales didn't gain any advantage in his lap times due to the low tire pressure (the riders must keep the front tire pressure below 1.88 bar for 60 percent of the race).
"That's why our frustration is so immense. Basically, we didn't gain any advantage; basically, Maverick deserved this second place. But we respect the regulations, so we're not complaining about the penalty. What I'm saying now are facts. On Sunday, the temperature was a bit cooler than on Saturday. Many riders plus the Michelin people, were surprised after the race that the tire pressure dropped so drastically; no one expected it. When you're in a superior position like Marc Márquez, who even dropped back in Buriram to avoid tire pressure issues, you start with a certain tire pressure. To be honest, our team never expected Maverick to lead for five laps, in addition to the cooler conditions. If Maverick had battled with the group containing Marc, Pecco, and maybe Morbidelli the whole time, his tire pressure would have stayed within the prescribed limit. But since the tire pressure window is very narrow, Maverick was undercutting the permitted limit. Maverick saw the tire pressure alarm on the dashboard, so he opened the door for Marc and then chased him. But it was too late, maybe only by two laps. And besides, Marc pushed hard at the finish and opened a lead of more than four seconds. So Maverick had no slipstream again... You practically have to be stuck in the exhaust of the guy in front of you to avoid tire pressure issues. Marc did that with brother Alex in Thailand," says Poncharal.
"As a team we have to stand together now and show strength. Normally, in such a dramatic situation, the team has to cheer the rider up. When Maverick sensed a penalty was looming, the whole team was devastated – including me," added Poncharal. "We were on our knees. But Maverick came into the pits and said, 'Let's celebrate, let's take a celebratory photo. We finished second. I don't care about the trophy; I can pass it on to Pecco.’ His attitude was fantastic. Maverick had already suffered setbacks in Texas, when he finished pointless in the sprint and only scored two points on Sunday. But Maverick's attitude has surprised me several times this year. I've never seen a rider who, after failure, looks so positively towards the next Grand Prix and doesn't let it get him down. All I can say is: Chapeaux!”
How is a MotoGP rider informed about his tire pressure during races? Poncharal explains: “The message is automatically sent to the dashboard because there are sensors on the bike that monitor tire pressure. As soon as you get close to the limit, a warning lights up on the dashboard in the cockpit. That's why Marc dropped behind his brother for many laps in Buriram. And that's why Maverick opened the door for Marc. But unfortunately, that happened too late…”
