KTM MotoGP 2021 Launch Gallery: Red Bull vs Tech3

By David Emmett | Sat, 13/02/2021 - 15:26


Never change a winning formula. Red Bull KTM 2021 is virtually indistinguishable from Red Bull KTM 2020


Funnily enough, the Tech3 satellite colors look more like they should be the factory livery


Biggest change? Brad Binder's number is yellow, rather than white. And Miguel Oliveira doubles Pol Espargaro's 44 to 88


Advantage of signing a rider from your junior satellite team? You can do the factory photoshoot at the end of the previous season


Miguel Oliveira looks ahead to 2021


*insert vrooming noises*


Brad Binder shows Miguel Oliveira where the factory "Go Faster" button is located. Oliveira is not sure he needs it, after winning two races


That new number for Binder


Electronic throttle, Brembo brakes


KTM are the only manufacturer to use WP suspension in the premier class. So far...


Carbon swingarm was a big deal for KTM when it was introduced in 2019. Made tuning stiffness much easier


Ubiquitous Akrapovic on the RC16


KTM's mustache wings


The part of the bike you want your rivals to see as frequently as possible


No funky thumb/scooter brake caliper here. One hydraulic line means foot operated rear brake


The steel frame remains


The office: kill switch and neutral lever on the right, engine brake/mapping/TC switches on the left


Launch photos artfully designed to display sponsor logos rather than bike parts. Pankl build engine internals for KTM


Clutch, brake adjuster, but not rear brake lever


Serrations on the fairing edge to reduce drag from the edges


Tech3's new boy, Danilo Petrucci, back in a factory-supported satellite squad


Snake by Akrapovic


Back for another shot. Iker Lecuona had his ups and downs in 2020. Hoping for ups in 2021


The hot seat

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KTM
MotoGP
KTM
Brad Binder
Danilo Petrucci
Iker Lecuona
Miguel Oliveira

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Comments

I guess we should just be grateful their title sponsors weren't brands like Estrella Galicia or Sky etc! Still, they look great, 3 European brands vs 3 Japanese, fascinating..

Wow! Beautiful...I have a serious orange crush. Luckiest man on the grid from last year to this: DP9 going from the ugly bus to a bike of Italianate beauty with a real chance to win. I'm seeing KTM and Suzuki fighting for top spot (unless Marc is back then they are fighting for second).

The old site was great!

TRIUMPH

Not happy - why have this area so big on the left here? Then the comment area stacked so thin on the right? It was so much better before. NOT HAPPY. And DISCORD?! Not sticking around.

Motoshrink

1 year 11 months ago

Permalink

Orange! Petrucci's bike is the loveliest out there. Wishing we got to see Aqua do something similar, but instead we get the black blergh. It isn't the unchanged livery on the Factory Yamaha or a red #20 we have been waiting to see...it is the chassis and drivetrain back to doing the business. Bets? Yes, it does. How about Quartararo? Vinales? Care to call it? I can't. Franky looks good, but it is the latest bike that keep pulling awareness back. Then the rest follows. With sufficient bike that stays in the mix at bogey tracks and on varied grip levels, the Yamaha squad has all shown they can win. The factory has forced them to override it. Plus, motors were popping. 

Waiting now to see the Monster Suzuki! Watch out for a really eager and in form Rins early in the season. 

It is regretful that we aren't getting the new Bstone front to match the rear. But, advantage Suzuki. Disadvantage Honda and Ducati. Perhaps that can remain fun for the Cup. Can Suzuki set up this bike to throw weight transfer into softs for Q? Get more out of full wick engines and light fuel loads? Betting they take a step now, it is a reasonable single goal. They can think of it as a different bike. Fresh sheet of paper on base set up. 

Allllmost there!

I'll call it: FQ bigly over MV...I don't rate Mav, he just doesn't have the last 1%. Fabio after an off-season with a sports psychologist will come roaring back. Franky will out-point both of them, tho. He has, as they say in baseball, plus make-up, mentally as strong as anyone. Vale, alas...

I believe Rins learned from falling off too often and watching his teammate's consistency last year and is done with the unforced errors. I look at him as favorite this year. I really think he is a little faster than Mir. The Champ will be right in the mix, too.

Ducati have had plenty time to get their turning issues fixed, yet they never do. It's the wheelbase, it's the aero making the front heavy, it's the front tire, it's the rear tire...Hey Ducati, you can change the chassis, Honda did and they didn't get kicked out of Motogp club. Or you can continue to blame EVERY RIDER YOU'VE EVER HAD...sheesh, Red, c'mon.

I will add: do not forget about Alex Marquez...I was floored by his second half last season. Kid is going to be there or thereabouts and maybe Nakagami, too. Of course, everyone is going for second if 93 shows up ready to go.

All the KTMs will be podium ready too. Even young Iker, who will come good imo. Gonna be another fantastic year, probably closer than ever and a Suzuki repeat will prove that it wasn't just Davide's presence but his spirit that animated the little Hamamatsu concern that could. And did. YMMV

The old site was great!

TRIUMPH

Not happy - why have this area so big on the left here? Then the comment area stacked so thin on the right? It was so much better before. NOT HAPPY. And DISCORD?! Not sticking around.

Motoshrink

1 year 11 months ago

Permalink

Thanks Brian! Of course you and I largely agree, and disagree in the best of ways (how is that Tech Spec shirt fitting you mate?). 

Excited about the Yamaha consideration, just a moment. I don't think Iker is on rise. Tough opinion to hear, but he looks (along w Savadori) like our backmarker at risk of getting replaced. 

Re Ducati, they have a revolution bike for 2022, AND a front tire coming towards their bike balance. They have been slowly evolving their chassis the correct direction for many years. It isn't easy and needs to have some continuity and retain DNA and basic building blocks. I see it coming... slowly. And not more than slight for this season. Notice that the tone, narrative and dynamic has entirely and deliberately changed at Red just now re riders and the organization. There won't be a public power struggle any more. It was not helpful. Renewal and youth is the 2021 complexion. Expect the other half of this equation, Pirro's bike (on 2022 fronts) to take a big handling step. Jack is doing the business. Bagnaia sees himself as the development step need. Zarco on the 2019 was ON, and exceedingly hungry. A heap of fast kids on Ducs is chasing seats in their draft. 

Suzuki, agreed that they are fine w/o Davide. And that Rins is fast, has more to come, and arrives this season fit and focused. He has been a bit faster than Mir in the past. But I see that as gone. Mir just drafted past Rins. Mir has been on a steeper improvement trajectory than Rins, and it doesn't appear to have crested. Both benefit from the healthy competition. I have Rins as taking a step forward from last year just as you say, but have him on Mir's tail. Suzuki is going to have a much tougher time this year, Honda and Yamaha have their heads out of their arses. KTM is still striding forward. How many of us are tipping Brad Binder to take a big step forward right now? The writing is on the wall.

At Yamaha, going to agree with you looking backwards from here at Maverick. He hasn't quite put it all together. Wildly inconsistent. When he struggles it is visible from the nosebleed seats. He loses his cool he fidgets and fiddles. Over seasoning and spicing the dish. However, he also has ingredients there, right now, to do the next step. The bike. It is arriving. He has the talent. 

Again, the 2020 vs 2019 bike at Yamaha is a defining factor re their riders' recent performance. Morbidelli is GREAT, and shows himself a new front pack rider. But the 2020 bike was crap. Quartararo didn't NEED a psychologist re a deficit of his. Rather he did well to process his struggle with that bike w a shrink in order to let go of any internalizing of it being about him. He and the Yamaha are back in good relation after a bad issue that was not his. He knows it, part and parcel. I don't have Morbidelli making a step forward this year, but do for both Factory riders. Easy safe crystal baller, that.

Yamaha needs FAMILY THERAPY. So do Ducati and Honda. Really! Not the riders. Suzuki and KTM don't. Give me a call folks. It is a specialty. There won't be any blaming, defensiveness or denial. Attachment to something from long ago, nope. One hand slapping the other? Notice it. Acknowledge what this is really about in shared honesty and willingness. See our strengths, bring them to benefit the area of concern that is seen as it is, harmonize and optimize. I will need a chair w wheels, no table in the middle of our circle, and a whiteboard. Pro bono minus expenses. It would be a joyful brief challenge. Don't like it? Blame the odd Scottish guy and dig back in to what you were doing.

:)