New tyre pace the key to KTM’s 2023 MotoGP success - Pedrosa

KTM MotoGP test rider Dani Pedrosa has identified that pace on new tyres - particularly in qualifying - is the key to his factory’s success in 2023.

The fastest man never to win the big title believes that speed on the soft tyre is where Ducati has made its biggest improvement and where KTM must put its focus.

“There are two points that stand out. If we look back on the last two years, qualifying has often been a weak point for us,” said Pedrosa.

“Because you could see that it was easier for the Ducati riders to go a second faster with the new, soft tyres. As a result, they placed all eight Ducati very far ahead on the grid. It’s more difficult for the remaining teams to be up front on the grid.

“The KTM was easy to control and manage with used tyres. But with new tyres we couldn’t make any big time improvements. This weak point prevented us from reaching the front starting positions.

“You know: there are problems with the front tyres when you follow an opponent in the slipstream. Then the tyre pressure rises to crazy heights - and you lose grip.”