Digest five stats and facts about the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team as the 75th (and longest ever) MotoGP season is now straining the circuit radar traps.
By Adam Wheeler
March to November, 18 countries, 21 rounds, 42 starts (thanks to the brand new ‘Sprints’ concept that represents the biggest shift in the near eight-decade history of the motorcycle Grand Prix world championship) six brands, 22 riders, 11 teams. Around 360 kmph top speed. MotoGP 2023 has started to click through the gears.
The series was watched by almost 2.5 million spectators at the circuits in 2022. That number is expected to rise with the extra dates and the amplified schedule. There will also be more interaction between the riders and the fans at the tracks thanks to schemes like public presentations, a parade lap and other initiatives.
After four seasons with four KTM RC16s on the grid, the orange has been sliced with GASGAS red for 2023 but Red Bull KTM Factory Racing boasts a sterling rider line-up with Brad Binder (27 years old) set for his fourth term with the team and in the class, and Jack Miller (28) prepped for the first campaign of a two-year deal with the squad.
Here are five stats, facts and trivia about the #33 and #43 that maybe you didn't know...
– Grand Prix podium bounty: could Brad or Jack reach the ‘half ton’ in 2023? Brad needs to pick up ten trophies to rise from 40 career podium finishes to 50 in all classes and Jack needs 18 more Prosecco bottles to make the grade. We’re talking about the Sunday ‘Grand Prix’ though, Sprints don’t count!
– On the subject of podiums; Jack is already the fourth-best Australian rider of all-time in the world championship. He’ll have to register another 20 top three results to overtake Wayne Gardner in 3rd. Brad meanwhile is closer to ‘top dog’ ranking. If he can walk the rostrum 7 times, then he’ll supersede Kork Ballington as the most prolific South African in Grand Prix.
– Brad might be the KTM stalwart of the team (2023 is his ninth year in Red Bull KTM colors and he has only raced the KTM RC16 in MotoGP), but Jack’s eight seasons of MotoGP experience mean he stands on the threshold of an interesting landmark. If he can seize a triumph in 2023 (and before rival Maverick Viñales) then he will be the first rider ever to taste victory with three different brands.
– Both riders previously excelled with the Red Bull KTM Ajo team in Moto3™. Miller came close to the 2014 title with six wins and ten podiums on the KTM RC4. Binder was 2016 world champion thanks to 7 wins and 14 rostrum runs. Unlike Brad, Jack misses a result of any sort in Moto2™ having taken the unusual route of vaulting directly from Moto3 to MotoGP for 2015.
– On the current 22-rider grid, 13 have won a MotoGP Grand Prix and the Red Bull KTM duo are part of that group. Miller earned his spurs in the Dutch rain during his second season in 2016. Brad was a rookie in 2020 when he achieved KTM’s milestone in the Czech Republic.
P.s.: what will Brad and Jack find with 'MotoGP' sprints?
OK, so MotoGP already looks very different in 2023. Red Bull KTM now have just two practice sessions on Friday to set-up the KTM RC16 according to the track, grip and the climate. They then dash into the usual Qualifying Q1 and Q2 format on Saturday morning to decide the positions for the ‘two’ grids. Every Saturday afternoon, at 15.00 local time, MotoGP is holding a ‘Sprint’ (not a sprint ‘race’) that will last exactly half the distance of the Sunday Grand Prix event. The podium takes place on the start straight and world championship points are awarded from 1st (12) to 9th (1) positions. From a maximum of 777 possible GP points, the Sprints count for 32% of that total, so Saturdays will be important!
Sprints will not be counted as ‘Grand Prix wins’. In fact, they will exist in their own stats column, much like the qualification award of previous seasons. Sunday is still the main show. This hasn’t stopped Brad from storming to 1st place in Argentina for the second ever Sprint showdown! Jack has also shone in the events that have been both exciting and intense.
Sofa talk with Red Bull KTM’s Brad Binder and Jack Miller