KTM is not having the best MotoGP season, as reliability issues have plagued the Austrian manufacturer. There were several retirements, mostly at mid-field finishes, and only Pedro Acosta, soon to be wearing Ducati red, finished anywhere close to the leaders. But the team’s bikes have been facing continuous problems, due to which the results have been disappointing.
As you would expect, KTM has done everything it can to turn its fortunes around under the rules and regulations set by MotoGP and other teams, but to no avail. So now it wants to see what’s inside a motorcycle’s engine, which will almost break those rules. That is, unless other teams agree to allow them to do so, which would not be unheard of.
There’s just one problem: KTM’s rivals, all but one team, say, “Get lost. You don’t get to see what’s inside.”
The issue is related to engine freeze regulations, which prevent the manufacturer from disassembling the engine and, potentially, changing the configuration of the engine. The idea behind this is that an OEM can change something in the middle of a season and see a lasting competitive advantage after having multiple race results data reporting said change.
According to our brothers and sisters motorsport“MotoGP manufacturers above Category D concessions – of which KTM is one – must seal their engines before the first race of the season, providing a uniform unit under the technical direction of IRTA so that there is always a reference engine with which to compare parts. Once an engine has been sealed, it cannot be opened and destroyed without the authorization of all members of the MSMA – in other words the manufacturers.”
But KTM team boss Pit Bearer argues it is a safety issue, pointing to a few incidents that led to DNFs and unsafe conditions.
“We know this risk is still there in some parts… there is a problem, and we have to solve it.” bearer told sky italia, Who also pointed to the accident between Acosta and Gresini’s Alex Marquez, which was caused by Acosta’s KTM losing power mid-ride without warning. But according to Bearer, most of the paddock is against KTM given what’s wrong with the engine, as the only team that has signed with them to open it is Aprilia.
“I want to thank Aprilia’s Fabiano Sterlachini and Massimo Rivola who are helping us. The situation is not easy, there is something wrong inside our engine,” said Bierer. However, the rest have refused to allow KTM to do so, and are unlikely to consider KTM’s request further. So it’s more likely that KTM’s engine problems will continue, as the rules are clear. All engines have been sealed.
