P98
Interview
KTM'S TECHNICAL DIRECTOR OF MOTOGP SEBASTIAN RISSE
material. It is about stiffness numbers.
It's about where you put the stiffness.
Then on the stiffness numbers, first you
need to identify what you want, and on the
other hand, how you achieve it. We have
quite good knowledge in how to transfer
our target to a frame that does it in terms of
numbers. We have very good experience
on the steel frame to produce the [stiff-
ness] numbers.
But to define the target is the biggest
piece of the puzzle. It depends on the
problem, depends on the limit the rider
is facing. You will have to find solutions.
You must translate these problems into
these numbers. We are quite quick to do
that. But of course, you need the time
to test it. You need also the time to learn
something.
How is this frame different to a
production steel frame like on the
1290 Super Duke R?
It consists of [steel] tubes. We get the
tubes from suppliers, and even some
production bikes have similar tubes in
some points. But the way we build up
the structure is quite different. On a race
bike, normally you have quite a low front
engine mounting point to have some
lateral flex. On most of the production
bikes, you don't see that except in su-
persport, superbike-style. Then you have
two engine mounts in the back, which
are also quite different to most produc-
Portuguese
star Miguel
Oliveira has been
impressive in
his rookie year
on the satellite
Tech3 KTM. He's
been retained
for 2020.
