KTM TECH: CLOSING THE GAP

Big changes at KTM look set to transform the factory’s MotoGP fortunes in 2020

KTM contests its fourth season of MotoGP in 2020, which is 42 seasons fewer than Yamaha in the premier class. See the problem? The Austrian factory have a huge amount of catching up to do, but they’ve got stronger each year and their top rider believes they will further close the gap to Honda, Yamaha and Ducati in 2020.

KTM have a new spec 90-degree V4 engine with revised combustion character and firing intervals, which not only makes the RC16 go better, with more tyre-friendly delivery, but also helps the bike stop better, thanks to improved behaviour on the overrun. This makes the bike easier to ride, and therefore faster, in several ways.

But the biggest change to the RC16 is its chassis. When KTM entered MotoGP in 2017 they insisted they’d do things their own way, using a steel trellis frame, instead of the aluminium-beam concept used by their rivals. Most decisions in MotoGP are made for engineering reasons, but some are made for marketing reasons. This was the latter, because KTM’s road bikes and offroad bikes use steel trellis frames. Finally, however, engineering triumphed over marketing. The 2020 RC16 uses a steel beam frame, fabricated from large-section oval tubing, instead of multiple, angled smaller tubes. The new frame is better in every way: it’s lighter, offers better braking stability and its longer main sections allow lateral flex through the corners to improve grip and turning.

Last year KTM wanted MotoGP aero banned, but that’s not going to happen, so now they’re trying as hard as anyone to gain an advantage from funky-shaped fairings. The shark-tooth trailing edge of the RC16’s upper fairing comes from aviation, to promote so-called vortexshredding.

VORTEXSHREDDING

The aviation-inspired shark-tooth trailing edge of the RC16’s upper fairing promotes vortexshredding, which reduces turbulence between the faster-moving air outside the fairing and the slowermoving air inside to reduce drag.

REDUCING RAD DRAG

MotoGP engines make a lot of heat, so they need big radiators, but rads cause drag. KTM have tested a fairing with extreme cutback which promotes ‘outwash’ to reduce air going through the rad. Most likely for use at cooler races.

CARBON SWINGARM

Espargaró is a big fan of KTM’s carbon swingarm, introduced last May because it gives him a much sharper feeling: when the rear slides it breaks more aggressively but this allows him to be more precise.

TYRE DATA

Like all MotoGP factories KTM spend a lot of money gathering tyre data which they then use to try matching the engine’s torque curve with the rear tyre profile, so they can deliver max torque to the tyre at all lean angles.

FIZZY BUDGET

MotoGP factories spend millions searching for a tenth of a second gain, so don’t underestimate the role of KTM sponsor Red Bull (annual profits of £620 million) in the non-stop flow of new engine and chassis parts for the RC16.