Honda has a long history of making garbage GP bikes and finding the right rider to make it a winner. The V5 was the exception which was arguably one of of not the greatest GP bike of all time. They look for HP at the exclusion of all else and expect the rider to adapt. Their plan works most of the time when they have a Doohan, Rossi or Marquez but you see what happens when they don’t.
Even given his experience, I think it's still entirely possible he does NOT know what to do. Think of Toprak's situation as an example. He's as much said that he was struggling to put together a solution, as he's still not fully sure of what the problem is. I don't think anybody would say that Toprak doesn't know how to adapt. The guy has incredible feeling on a motorcycle.
Not to be contrarian but if Toprak does not know, like Mir does not know, Toprak isn't crashing like Mir. To me, this is the adaptability piece. Even if you don't know how to get over issue A at some point a smart engineer will likely say, "dude, you keep crashing your brains out because you're fixated on over riding issue A; however, why don't we have you ride in a way that optimizes attribute B or keeps you off the ground by mitigating issue A in this way." I'm grossly over simplifying but Mir is such an extraordinary outlier that I have to believe that what he's doing is exceptional to every one else on the grid and, more specifically, everyone else on a Honda; to wit, Diogo is not crashing like Mir.
Beast confirmed at Trackhouse over the next two years. If it’s as smooth as it is now he will do well.
He kinda slept on his opportunity at the factory Ducati team. Hopefully he won't look this gift horse in the mouth.
The recent recommendation for VW to sell Ducati (or Lambo which includes Ducati) made me also wonder what assurances are riders getting regarding KTM's future in MotoGP. Am I just traumatized from their recent debacle and I should believe the statements about Bajaj supporting the project? It seems like if I was a rider or rider manager and KTM wanted to offer a contract, I'd be very apprehensive about how much they can/will investy in their MotoGP program in the future.
He pretty much lost the whole of his first season there after the crash in the opening round. It took him a long time to get up to speed after that.
Did you guys see that analysis they did at Assen where they overlaid 4 different bikes through the same section? The Aprilia just turned inside of the other bikes and then BOOKED out of the corner.
That was '23. He came in 4th in the championship in '24. Maybe saying he slept on it is unfair. Hoping he does better at Aprilia in '27. I brought this up before when I doubted KTM continuing in MotoGP but then they got Steiner to buy Tech3 and that muddied the waters. However, to your point, let's look at who is left and who is coming into KTM for '27. Pedro - out Binder - most likely out Enea - out Maverick - mostly likely out Technically, KTM has 4 open seats for '27. Maybe I missed an announcement of a signing or speculation, but that seems odd. Not even Yamaha is in that scenario. Seems fishy.
KTM Factory is already essentially confirmed with Alex Marquez and Fabio Di Giannantonio. Tech3 is looking like Senna Agius and (either) Binder or Marini. I think getting Steiner to take over Tech3 is great for the sport and provides a nice exit for Poncheral. I think it may have given KTM a slight bump in legitimacy, but Tech3 is also an independent sattelite team that could always change to another manufacturer. Granted, Tech3 did already confirm continuing with KTM, but I feel like they're at less of a disadvantage if KTM leaves MotoGP because they can always switch to another manufacturer fairly swiftly. I think I read that part of the rules changes that're coming (or have come already?) is tat no manufacturer can have more than 4 or 6 bikes on the grid. I forget which number it is.
I don't know that they've formally announced, but word was that it was Alex Marquez, Di Giannantonio on the factory team, Binder back to Tech3, and some Moto2 kid for the last seat.
You guys are right. I spaced on the the AM / Digi speculation. Disregard my message. Doesn't everyone spell it Digital Antonio?
That was my point, he was on a two year contract and the first year was a wash because of that accident. He was always going to lose that ride due to that, whether it was to Martin or as it turned out Marquez.
Patiently waiting for the same people who bashed KTM's financial issues to start on Ducati....the hypocrisy is real
