Revolutionizing MotoGP: Pol Espargaro and Dani Pedrosa’s Quest for the Future of Racing

Pol Espargaro: "Finding a new method to halt the bike is essential"

"The challenge confronting every maker is braking. It's essential to find, perhaps, a novel approach to halt the bike."

KTM's test and wild-card competitor, Pol Espargaro, has shared details about the prototype RC16 that he and Dani Pedrosa have been working on for the 2024 season.

Espargaro participated in his most recent one-off race during the San Marino MotoGP event, after which he passed the prototype bike over to KTM competitors Brad Binder and Pedro Acosta for the test session on Monday.

Before that event, Espargaro mentioned that it had been quite a while since he last rode the latest 2024 motorcycles, indicating that he and Pedrosa are focusing on advancements beyond the immediate future.

"Espargaro mentioned, 'In our collaboration with Dani, the approaches we take diverge from those of the racing team.'"

"It doesn't make much sense to use wild-cards with the current bikes. We need to explore and identify different issues to improve."

Espargaro explained, "The motorcycle I'm competing on isn't entirely indicative of what's to come. It's simply a model with various configurations, aerodynamics, and engine settings."

"Ultimately, the decision rests with them. It's crucial they take a moment on Monday to verify once more that the efforts of our testing team meet their approval and expectations."

Following the trial run of the prototype on Monday, Binder commented:

"The personality of the motorcycle has significantly changed. Everything feels much more serene and incredibly relaxed. It's a strange sensation, as if it's barely moving, yet when you check the lap times, it's actually making good progress!"

The prototype developed by Espargaro and Pedrosa stands out not just for its unique visual design, particularly because of its innovative aerodynamic swingarm, but also for its distinctive sound, which suggests changes may have been made to the sequence in which the cylinders fire.

Espargaro deflected, "You mentioned engine specifications. That wasn't my claim!" He clarified, "It encompasses a complete set of modifications."

Espargaro, who achieved podium finishes with Yamaha, Honda, and KTM throughout his career, pinpointed 'stopping' as a particular focus area.

"In the midst of the competition, he mentioned that a common issue plaguing every producer primarily involves the halting."

"The front tire becomes extremely hot and the pressure increases when following behind other motorcycles, necessitating a unique approach to slowing down the bike.

"Our team is actively engaged in various projects, including electronics and aerodynamics, which you might have noticed, along with significant efforts on engine development, where we are making commendable progress."

Espargaro pointed out that acceleration is a crucial aspect, noting that there is no single prototype for 2025, but rather various new components being tested. Some of these components might be integrated into the 2024 race motorcycles during the last few races.

"Monday holds significance as it's a day for the team to experiment with various aspects on their current motorcycles," he explained.

Acosta, set to team up with Binder at the factory KTM squad next season, consistently showed speed during Monday's test, securing the fourth spot just behind a trio of Ducatis.

The present rider from Tech3, after testing out three various motorcycles, has affirmed his ongoing quest for enhancements to the 2024 model.

"We experimented with various aerodynamic elements and electronic setups. The reason is, it's irrelevant how quickly I can ride the new [2025] motorcycle if I'm required to conclude the season using the current model," he explained.

"Indeed, we experimented with numerous strategies for the upcoming season, yet we also implemented several measures that could be beneficial for the current season."

Following two top-three finishes in the first three races, Acosta didn't achieve another podium position until the twelfth race at Aragon, marking his return to top form on a race day.

Espargaro believes it's impractical to anticipate a newcomer battling for the win in every MotoGP race given the current state of the competition.

"Pedro really excelled at Aragon," Espargaro noted. "He faced some challenges, but that's typical for a newcomer. It's all part of the learning process. In today's competitive landscape, you can't anticipate a newcomer to immediately dominate the field."

Previously, competition was limited as only four motorcycles were contenders for the win. However, currently, you might find yourself competing against any of the eight Ducatis, in addition to numerous other bikes that have become competitive.

"I believe it's tougher at present compared to before. In my view, the challenges he faces now are more formidable than those he encountered previously.

"Therefore, it's unrealistic to anticipate him consistently triumphing and contending for the win in each race, especially considering, unfortunately, our motorcycle currently doesn't match up to the performance of Ducati. We hope this changes moving forward."

"It's remarkable what he's accomplishing with our bicycle."

Acosta and Binder are gearing up for this weekend's subsequent Misano race, with only nine points dividing them as they vie for fifth position and the highest-ranked non-Ducati rider in the global championship standings.

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