KTM MotoGP team manager Mike Leitner says he is ‘happy’ with the progress made with the Austrian marque’s RC16 machine so far this season, and that more is to come.
The team, who run Pol Espargaro and Johann Zarco as their race riders, have enjoyed a strong 2019 so far after a generally disappointing ’18 campaign, where they struggled to build on their promising end to ’17.
Espargaro was able to score the firm’s first premier class podium at the Valencia finale last year, but this came in mixed condition’s and wasn’t an entirely fair representation of the RC16's real form.
The Spaniard has flown the flag for KTM this year- scoring the team’s best ever dry result with sixth at Le Mans- as new team-mate Zarco has struggled for speed since switching from the Yamaha he rode in his rookie year, with which he notched up a trio of rostrum results.
Zarco currently stands just 17th in the rider’s championship with 16 points, seven positions and 40 points in arrears of Espargaro.
KTM also made a big-name signing in ex-factory Honda ace Dani Pedrosa heading into ’19 as test and development rider, the 31-time MotoGP winner making his debut in pre-season testing before missing most of the year through injury, before returning at the post-Barcelona GP test in June.
Despite Zarco’s issues, Leitner is satisfied with the steps made by his squad so far, and reckons that more progress can be made before the season is over.
“On Johann’s side of the garage at the moment they are still struggling to adapt to our package, we’ve tried to help him in all aspects and give him a better direction," said Leitner.
"We’ve learned a lot on this side, and then of course he got tenth at Barcelona which was a strong effort.”
“In general we are happy with the progress on our project during the first half of the season, we have been able to score six top ten positions, with the sixth in Le Mans a big highlight for us.
“We know clearly the points where we have to improve the bike, and everyone in the company is working hard to bring ideas to the table and during the summer break we have got an extensive test programme with Dani (Pedrosa).
“We are working on things regarding the engine and chassis side, and we also have an aerodynamic update in the pipeline so we’ll continue on this road to make the bike more competitive."
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