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bike's characteristics suited the In modern MotoGP, teams often pushing its limits was evident,
individual rider. provide different levels of particularly in Qatar, where he had
technology to riders based on their shown strong pace despite the
Meanwhile, Maverick Viñales, who
had joined KTM for the 2023 status within the team or their challenges faced by the team.
season, was performing admirably, experience. Factory riders, However, the relationship between a
showcasing impressive pace and a especially those with significant factory rider like Viñales and the
confident attitude throughout the experience or high-profile contracts, development team is complex. It is
weekend. His efforts did not go tend to receive more favorable common for factory riders to receive
unnoticed, and his comments specifications of the bike. Satellite specific upgrades or parts ahead of
following the race about KTM's riders, on the other hand, might not other riders, which can help them
progress and development made have access to the latest upgrades perform better. This might involve
headlines. But what caught the until they have proven themselves or unique setups, special engine
attention of many was the until the upgrades are tested by configurations, or exclusive
underlying friction between factory riders first. aerodynamic developments. These
Bastianini's comments and the This hierarchical system can create advantages, while legal under the
performance of his Ducati versus friction within teams and lead to rules, can create an uneven playing
Viñales' KTM. accusations of unequal treatment. field, especially when the benefits
Bastianini's remark could be seen as are not equally available to other
2. Understanding Bastianini's
a subtle criticism of the technical and riders within the team or across the
Comments
political landscape that exists within grid.
Bastianini's comment, “Viñales uses MotoGP, where the distribution of For Bastianini, who had moved from
a different KTM than us, which we technology is often not as simple as Gresini to Ducati's factory team, his
don't have the right to use,” can be all riders getting the same frustrations could stem from the fact
seen as both a reflection of the equipment. The disparity in that while Ducati's performance as a
frustration felt by riders who are resources can be an ongoing point of whole was strong, the technical
constantly fighting for every contention, as it affects a rider's details of the setup and the lack of
advantage and a comment about the performance and ultimately their access to certain updates or
nature of the technical development championship prospects. components might have played a
within MotoGP.
3. KTM's Development significant role in his struggles
K T M , a r e l a t i v e l y n e w e r Strategy and Viñales' Role during the Qatar race. The
manufacturer in the premier class of perception that Viñales was
motorcycle racing, has rapidly To understand why Bastianini might receiving a different—or perhaps
progressed since its debut in be frustrated, it is necessary to delve superior—spec of KTM could have
M o t o G P . T h e A u s t r i a n deeper into KTM's approach to added to the frustration, leading him
manufacturer, led by technical development and the role of to make his now-famous remark.
director Mike Leitner and working Maverick Viñales within the team. 4. The Role of Team Politics in
closely with riders such as Brad Viñales, who made the switch from
Binder and now Viñales, has made Yamaha to KTM at the end of 2022, MotoGP
significant strides in refining the was widely regarded as one of the MotoGP is as much about politics as
characteristics of its RC16 bike. most talented riders in the paddock. it is about racing. While technical
However, one of the core challenges However, his time with Yamaha had development is at the heart of
that KTM faces is balancing the been marred by inconsistency and success, the relationships between
development of a competitive bike internal team conflicts, which led to teams, riders, and manufacturers can
while ensuring that all of its riders his departure. have a significant impact on the
have access to the same technology. For KTM, acquiring a rider like performance of any given rider. For
Viñales was a massive coup. Not riders like Bastianini, who have
Bastianini's comment points to the
fact that Viñales, a key rider for only did it bring in a rider with transitioned from satellite teams to
KTM, may have access to a different significant potential, but it also factory squads, the challenge is not
specification of the RC16 than other provided KTM with the opportunity only mastering the machine but also
riders on the team or even on other t o a c c e l e r a t e t h e i r b i k e ' s navigating the internal politics and
satellite teams. This can refer to development by drawing on Viñales' hierarchies that exist within the
several different factors, including extensive experience. In the early team.
the level of tuning available, access stages of the 2023 season, it became In many ways, Bastianini's
to the most advanced aerodynamics, clear that Viñales was able to extract comments reflect the ongoing
or specific engine components that a level of performance from the struggle for equality in MotoGP. As
provide a performance edge. RC16 that had not been seen before. a rider, the performance of your bike
His skill in adapting to the bike and
is often dictated by factors beyond
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LHR Motorcycle Magazine Issue 123 May 2025
