MOTOGP: Cold weather thwarts latest KTM test

KTM's latest test as it prepares for its 2017 MotoGP entry was marred by cold weather.

The Austrian manufacturer spent two days at Brno on Wednesday and Thursday, but the first day with a top temperature of 44.F was essentially a write-off. When it could run its RC16 on Thursday, for the first time since a test at Valencia in early March, MotoGP's control electronics were a major focus.

"As we have not yet arrived at the sunny side of test conditions, we still have a lot of things on our test program," technical director Sebastian Risse said. "This means we must listen all the more closely to what our riders demand, and set priorities.

"We are currently paying very close attention to the electronics and the feeling for the tires. What we need for the fine-tuning is now really ideal circuit conditions to be able to find out what will make us more constant, and above all, faster."

Test riders Mika Kallio and Randy de Puniet completed the running, with the program to continue with another private test next week at Misano.

"[Wednesday] aside, we can be satisfied with the progress we achieved," Kallio said. "We adjusted our programme again for the second day and tried a few things in terms of ergonomics, as well as more work on the engine and the mapping.

"Unfortunately, with only a constant 10 degrees air temperature it was too cold for good grip, but we have a clear plan for the next test and we know what we have to do to improve."

KTM has already signed current Tech3 Yamaha rider Bradley Smith as one of its 2017 racers, with a decision still to be made on its second recruit.

Originally on Autosport.com