Moto3: KTM blitz Honda rivals
While Moto2 times were modest, everyone in Jerez was amazed at the speed of Moto3. The junior class was under the previous lap record in the first session of the week. And Jose Antonio Rueda’s best of 1m 42.276s was an incredible 1.7s quicker than the class had previously lapped the Andalusian venue.
It wasn’t just the young Spaniard tearing the records to shreds here. He enjoyed back-up from fellow KTM charges David Alonso, Ivan Ortola and Ryusei Yamanaka, all getting to grips with KTM’s new Moto3 machine. The ’24 bike is a step forward in all areas, and leaves its Honda rivals trailing out of low gear corners.
Interestingly, the new machine has veered away from the aura of KTM’s previous Moto3 machines. “You can’t grab on the brake like before,” said BOE Motorsport’s Joel Kelso. “You have to be smooth and carry more speed into the corner.”
Leopard Racing Technical Director Christian Lundberg believes one second of the improvement in Moto3 has come from the new Pirelli tyres, while the other second has come courtesy of the new KTM.
At Jerez, Honda’s ten riders were having a tough time keeping up, with rookie Luca Lunetta the best of them in eighth place, 1.29s off. Honda have kept the chassis of their bike the same, but brought a new fairing and engine, with greater top end.
So far the engine is lacking in torque and the firm are in a rush, as the Moto3 bikes will be homologated in Qatar, with a development freeze applied for two years.
“The new bike arriving slightly late from Honda has complicated things,” said Michael Laverty. “We’re going into a new engine freeze so there’s still a lot of work going on from Honda to lockdown which parts they’ll be homologating. It’s a pressure cooker situation as we’re just one week away!
“KTM are ahead of the curve. They had their new bike on track last summer, we’re a bit behind.”