Doubts and red for KTM

Apart from the faithful Brad Binder present in the Austrian team since Moto3 in 2015, KTM welcomes many changes in 2023 including the sister brand GASGAS.

This season GASGAS will make its debut in the premier category within Hervé Poncharal's Tech3 structure. Reigning Moto2 World Champion Augusto Fernández will team up with former KTM and Tech3 rider Pol Espargaró. A mix of youth and experience, this line-up will have everything to learn and we will instead have to turn to the duo Red Bull KTM Factory Racing for the chances of victories.

Life in red at GASGAS

The transfer of Jack Miller from Ducati to KTM was one of the highlights of the off-season. The Australian returns to the Austrian factory for the first time since the 2014 season which saw them win the Moto3 world title with 6 victories. The Townsville native has stood on the top step of the podium three times in the last two seasons. In addition to his experience, the number 43 certainly brought to KTM very valuable information on the machines of his former employer Ducati.

Subscribed to the catwalks since its debut 3 years ago in MotoGP, Brad Binder can be a regular candidate for victory if his machine allows him to do so.

Brad Binder carries KTM's hopes © Michelin

The only downside to this great project is that the four days of pre-season testing were particularly disappointing for KTM and GASGAS. During the last tests at Portimao, Brad Binder, Jack Miller, Pol Espargaró and Augusto Fernández sought more to adapt the bike according to their needs than to tease the clock.

Only Brad Binder made it into the top 10 on the final day, showing satisfaction after resetting all his settings to try new directions. Jack Miller, still discovering his new mount, could be delighted to finish less than half a second behind his teammate

What reason to be optimistic about the start of the 2023 season? Only one certainty, there remains a lot of work to achieve victory in the opening in Portimao.

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