KTM 2020 : PURE LUCK OR PURE DOMINATION?

GEOMOTORSPORT.ID - March, 8^th 2020, the day where we should eagerly enjoy the 72nd F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship curtain-raiser at Losail International Circuit, Doha, Qatar. Alas! In response to the outbreak of COVID-19 pan-damn-mic, the first MotoGP race of the season are forced to be cancelled while Moto2 and Moto3 are allowed to follow the scheduled events. Better late than never, after four months the wait is finally over as the season will begin on the 19^th of July with the Spanish Grand Prix at the Circuito de Jerez. In this new season of MotoGP during the era of New Normal, there is something that is breathtaking and should be highlighted – the rise of KTM.

In this season, two KTM teams, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing and Red Bull KTM Tech3 are showing their domination in the premier class by winning for the first and second time thanks to the outstanding performance by Brad Binder and Miguel Oliveira at Czech GP and Styrian GP respectively therefore giving KTM their first taste of victory as a constructor. In addition, during last week Styrian GP, Pol Espargaró of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing winning his first pole position and his fastest lap in MotoGP hence showing that both of the KTM teams may show their full potential to challenge for the title race in both of the rider and constructors’ championship. The question is can they keep their momentum to be a strong team next season and prove critics that they are not simply a one season wonder?

In the meantime, how could we forget that the defending World Constructors’ champion Repsol Honda is having a downfall as they struggle without their talisman, Marc Márquez who is the last season defending World Rider Championship. The Spaniard has been Repsol Honda’s go-to-man since jumping up to the premier class, winning six World Championships in seven years and winning 56 races! Phew, what a big shoe to fill in! He is replaced by German Honda test rider, Stefan Bradl from the Czech GP onwards while the “El Toro de Cervera” recovered from injuries sustained in his opening round crash. Unfortunately, Stefan Bradl and Marc’s brother and the reigning Moto2 World Champion,  Álex Márquez certainly had a tough time to keep up their momentum from their previous seasons. In fact, HRC is currently on their worst run without a premier class rostrum for the first time in 38 years! Obviously, in light of the“disaster” going on within Honda Repsol, it will pave the way to make the title race wide open and of course the other team will be obliged to challenge for the championship.

Ultimately, do KTM dominance this season have something to do with the downfall of Honda Repsol? Or is it actually their year? Are they only a one hit wonder and most importantly, can they repeat their outstanding performance in the next remaining races of the season to show that KTM actually a force to be reckoned with and teams that on the run to be one of the most successful constructors in MotoGP history. (geomotorsport.id/Aiman)