Maverick Viñales made headlines with a surprising performance at the Qatar GP, initially securing a second-place finish before a penalty dropped him to 14th position. This unexpected outcome has seen the Red Bull Tech3 rider become a significant point of reference for other KTM competitors, according to team owner Hervé Poncharal.
Poncharal shared his insights, revealing that despite the diversity in riding styles among KTM racers, Viñales’ ride in Losail captured attention. “After two winter tests and the first Grand Prix, the number of technical options has already been reduced. But the four riders have very different riding styles. So the engineers have to listen to all the riders’ opinions,” Poncharal explained. Before Qatar, Pedro Acosta was nearly the leader at KTM, admired for his technique and insights.
Viñales’ impressive showing in Doha shifted dynamics within the team. Poncharal noted, “Maverick’s performance in Doha made his presence more widely recognized. Pedro reacted very positively to Maverick’s performance, and all the KTM riders carefully studied Maverick’s data, setup, and parts selection.” This collaborative effort highlights Viñales’ growing influence.
The Tech3 boss emphasized the importance of teamwork and dismissed claims of issues related to the KTM RC16’s power delivery. He pointed to Viñales’ Qatar race as proof of KTM’s prowess. “KTM was fast in Texas too. Unfortunately, there we weren’t able to convert performance into results and points. In Doha, we were competitive and finished second. But the tyre pressure rules deprived us of points,” Poncharal remarked, demonstrating optimism for future racing events.
Looking ahead, the team aims to maintain their positive momentum across forthcoming races in locations like Jerez, Le Mans, and Silverstone. Viñales’ emergence as a key figure among KTM riders promises to drive strategic enhancements and improved performances in upcoming contests.
