KTM having lost its concessionary advantages, it will be necessary to wait for the winter tests of February 2021 to see Danilo Petrucci at the handlebars of the KTM RC16.
In any case, the engine is on, because a wind tunnel test is planned for it this winter, in order to refine its aerodynamics. Not useless for the Italian, whose size has already caused them some top speed problems in the past.
These concerns were particularly lacking in 2020, adding to others concerning the brakes, tires and turning of the Desmosedici GP20. Final result: a 12th place in the championship and a season only saved by his victory at Le Mans, during a race disputed on a wet track.
Petrucci hainished in sixth position with 3 podiums, including a fantastic success at Mugello GP at the 2020 season, far from the results of his year in 2019.
“I never had a very good feeling. I only felt it was my bike in Barcelona, where we suffered a lot in the straight, then at Le Mans where I was competitive in dry and wet conditions. But the main problem was braking all season.” Petrucci said.
“We suffered with the grip and never had a good bike. I’m not happy because I never really had a good feeling except in two races. But I always gave my maximum. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn’t.” Petrucci added.
Petrucci did not shine but will have another chance to do so in 2021, for his tenth MotoGP campaign. After having gone through the Ioda Racing project, the Pramac Racing team and the official Ducati team, he will soon join the French structure Tech3 KTM Factory Racing.
Moving from the Ducati factory team to the KTM satellite team might initially have looked like a step backwards but it is ultimately not. First, KTM supplies Tech3 with the same equipment as its factory team.
But also because the performance of the riders equipped with a KTM RC16, whether it is Brad Binder, Miguel Oliveira or Pol Espargaro, proved that the motorcycle is now capable of doing great things.
