Miguel Oliveira and Brad Binder take advantage of day at Jerez Circuit to test new setups for KTM and take an important step forward.

After taking their best results of the season so far with their first podiums of the year on Sunday, Miguel Oliveira and Brad Binder lengthened their stay at Jerez through Tuesday for an intense day of testing. A good day’s work was used to develop the KTM for the coming races. Their Red Bull KTM Ajo teammate, Karel Hanika, missed the day after returning home for surgery on his right hand.

At Jerez, Oliveira and Binder completed more than 60 laps on Tuesday. This track time served to make important and very positive improvements for the coming races. Although it was not the main objective of the day, both the Portuguese and South African riders were able to ride very fast, feel very comfortable on their bikes, enhance their feeling on the fast corners and confirm a big step forward taken with the setup of the KTM.
Satisfied with the weekend at Jerez and this day of testing, Binder and Oliviera will not ride their bikes again until Friday May 15th, when the fifth event of the year -the French Grand Prix- begins.

Meanwhile, Karel Hanika traveled to his home country on Sunday after suffering two big crashes at the Spanish Grand Prix, undergoing further medical examination. The Czech rider will be operated on tomorrow to treat a scaphoid problem in his right hand.

Miguel Oliveira,
“The test has been very positive. We’ve been trying different settings that have mainly given us more stability on the fast corners, which we liked a lot. It was a very rewarding day for us. We have also set very fast lap times, so I’m very happy with how everything went. After the preseason with such bad weather, it is nice to enjoy a day like today. We have drawn very good conclusions.”

Brad Binder,
“Today was a really, really good day for us. From early in the morning we went out willing to work hard, because KTM had brought us many settings to try. Most have been very positive! I have a feeling that we have improved the bike a lot today. My pace was very good, matching the pace in the race but riding alone. I’m very happy with how the day has gone and I’m sure all the work today will help us at Le Mans.”

Aki Ajo,
“Today was a very important day of testing for us because, as I have said many times, our bike is still under development as it is completely new for this year. As we saw at the Grand Prix, the bike is evolving race after race. Big thanks to KTM, who are always helping with our work with the bike. Today was really, really positive day. We’ve drawn good conclusions and our riders were able to set very quick lap times, riding faster than the pole position time from the weekend -although that was not the main objective of the day. This test gives us great confidence for the future.”