After starting with the KTM RC16: Suddenly aha for Vinales / MotoGP

After starting with the KTM RC16: Suddenly aha for Vinales / MotoGP


During the tests at the end of the MotoGP season in Barcelona,​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ances at the end of the MotoGP season tests were used for their new employers. One of them: Maverick Vinales, who switches from Aprilia to Tech3 KTM.

The 2024 season was up and down for Maverick Vinales. During the race weekend at the Circuit Of The Americas in Texas, he dominated his Aprilia RS-GP, taking victory in both the race and the Grand Prix. But as a result, the Spaniard became even more unlucky, as he had to accept the defeat of his teammate Aleix Espargaro. It was at this point that he decided to leave the Noales factory team and return to the manufacturer that had already won the Moto3 World Championship: KTM.

He ended up with the Tech3 satellite team, which competed this season under the name GASGAS. But the French also enjoy factory support from Austria and in 2025 they will have one of the two most experienced drivers in MotoGP with Vinales and new teammate Enea Bastianini.

On Tuesday, at the final test of the season in Barcelona, ​​​​the Catalan was able to drive his next year’s machine for the first time. It wasn’t about trying new parts for next season: “I started the day without any expectations and we still haven’t tried much. I took the bike with Pedro Acosta’s setup, got on and left.”

The test unit was intended to help Vinales switch from Aprilia to the RC16: “I have to get used to my old bike. At the moment I don’t see any problem, but I haven’t explored the limits of the motorcycle yet. The way I can accelerate out of corners suits my driving style well. What I still have problems with is driving in fast corners.”

Further development of the motorcycle came later for the former Moto3 world champion: “I have to first reach the limit to understand what the bike still lacks to make it better. I spoke with Dani Pedrosa and Pol Espargaro to learn how to handle the bike. That was an experience important.”

Two big differences between his old and new work tool: engine power and starting device.

“What’s better than an Aprilia? High speed!” said Maverick. The Spaniard was fastest on the track at 354 km/h. He also had the most opportunities at the start of the season. In his former employer Aprilia, the start was the weakest : “I did three tests and now I understand why we at Aprilia always lost a lot of positions at the start!”

The fact that “Top Gun”, which previously only competed in MotoGP for the factory teams (Suzuki, Yamaha, Aprilia), has now ended up in a satellite team is not a loss: “The cooperation and mechanics are well known. We can create a strong group.” Tech3 also enjoys the full support of the Mattighofen factory. At the end of the day of testing, the 29-year-old finished 12th, four places ahead of his new team-mate Enea Bastianini, who hails from the Ducati factory team.

Results of the MotoGP test in Barcelona (November 19):

1. Alex Márquez (E), Ducati, 1:38,803 minutes
2. Fabio Quartararo (F), Yamaha, +0.396 sec
3. Francesco Bagnaia (I), Ducati, +0.595
4. Marc Márquez (E), Ducati, +0.651
5. Raúl Fernandez (E), Aprilia, +0,668
6. Brad Binder (ZA), KTM, +0.705
7. Franco Morbidelli (I), Ducati, +0.762
8. Alex Rins (E), Yamaha, +0,765
9. Pedro Acosta (L), KTM, +0.768
10. Johann Zarco (F), Honda, +0.813
11. Jorge Martín (E), Aprilia, +1,056
12. Maverick Viñales (E), KTM, +1.084
13. Marco Bezzecchi (I), Aprilia, +1.192
14. Aleix Espargaró (E), Honda, +1,204
15. Joan Mir (E), Honda, +1,267
16. Enea Bastianini (I), KTM, +1,279
17. Miguel Oliveira (P), Yamaha, +1,335
18. Luca Marini (I), Honda, +1.429
19. Michele Pirro (I), Ducati, +1.683
20. Fermin Aldeguer (E), Ducati, +1,761
21. Ai Ogura (J), Aprilia, +2,143
22. Jack Miller (AUS), Yamaha, +2,222
23. Somkiat Chantra (TH), Honda, +2,492
24. Lorenzo Savadori (I), Aprilia, +8,793

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