RiderTua.com – When KTM Technical Manager Sebastian Risse was asked, how is the development of the KTM RC16 in terms of engine or drive source? “There is no doubt that the development of performance has been absolutely brutal. The important point is the influence of aerodynamic developments. That has changed a lot. The presence of the aero package has encouraged an increase in performance. It is all about performance on the track,” answered Risse.
Risse continued, “To take advantage of the aerodynamic benefits, we need more power. If we manage to generate more downforce, then we also need more power to convert it into speed. This is also a specialty of the class. In Moto3, it works differently. It’s just a matter of minimizing all air resistance.”
Sebastian Risse: KTM RC16 Performance Development is Absolutely Brutal
Not only since the summer of 2023, when Brad Binder set the MotoGP top speed record with 366.1 km/h, the competence of the KTM RC16 bike has been in doubt. The factory rider from South Africa was unable to be overtaken by anyone in the season-opening race at Lusail, Qatar.
What are the exact figures for the current performance of the RC16? Sebastian Risse answered, “As far as we are concerned the key engine data is concerned, we are at 300 hp. There is less going on in terms of torque. The overall difference will be less here. This is mainly due to the average cylinder pressure that can be produced . The question is, at what speed is that power and how far can we extend the level of performance. The task is to give the rider maximum performance between switching points. Peak values alone are useless.”
The characteristic of the new RC16 is that they have reduced torque in the lower range compared to before.. How is the speed in practice? Risse answered, “This is the ‘big band’. At the bottom, in very slow corners, the speed drops to 7000 rpm. The switching point is now between 18,000 and 20,000 rpm. This is of course also a question of philosophy. Top speed produces performance, but friction and efficiency losses are also greater, especially in terms of fuel consumption. Fuel consumption is a big issue. It is directly related to performance.”
“We have to look at it in detail. Basically yes, but the situation we face will really determine the difference. During practice, we can develop a set-up in location which will then help us in qualifying. However, we may not be able to use this variant during the race “The biggest factor in fuel consumption in a race is slipstream. We can save or lose a lot here. And then the situation determines the performance,” he continued.
With such great performance, what about reliability? “Of course this is a very important point. Since all the parts are designed specifically for this purpose, their durability is much better than series development. But we still have to do a lot of verification work. This happens during durability tests and continuous tests on the test bench machine,” Risse said.
Apart from performance, how important is smoothness on a racing bike? The KTM technical manager explained, “We are studying it intensively. We try to give the riders a good feeling, they have to feel comfortable. This is part of good riding ability and one of our goals. But we also have to say that riders often deal with it in a very different way.”
“Dani Pedrosa is a good example. He is very sensitive and always does everything he can to make sure the bike suits him. Mika (Kallio) is completely different. We can assign any character to that. Letting him develop a bike for Dani is not a good idea good,” added Risse.
Seberapa besar KTM memvariasikan performanya pada balapan akhir pekan? Apakah ada juga waktu istirahat untuk mesin?. Risse menjawab bahwa mereka memiliki opsi untuk mengubah performa. Tapi kenyataannya di balapan akhir pekan semuanya harus baik-baik saja setiap saat dan di setiap sesi. Mereka selalu membutuhkan banyak performa. Oleh karena itu, tidak ada perbedaan besar dalam hal power, kata Risse.
How does Risse rate Portimao as a track in terms of engine power? “Last year was difficult for us here. Thanks to Alex Marquez who was very strong on the straights, stronger than all the other Ducati riders (note: Binder slipped from 4th to 6th towards the end of the race). Basically, it wasn’t “a track where the engine decides everything. It’s quite comparable to Qatar, but a little slower. We know that we have a strong engine and I assume that we can achieve it,” answered Risse.
RC16 with 300 HP but without aero components. Will it work on a straight line? “We tried it some time ago in Sepang. This bike can be ridden in terms of driving stability, but it is also much slower on a straight track. Because its performance will not work without aero assistance,” concluded Sebastian Risse.
