Austrian manufacturer KTM’s Moto2 experience was not bringing happiness, as Kalex was preparing to consolidate its position as the dominant factory by clocking up a century of wins. Chief rivals KTM are struggling to regain momentum after a slow start to their third season in the class.

Should one of the German marque’s 17 (out of 32) riders win tomorrow, it would be a 100th victory.

With 99 races so far out of 161, Kalex’s winning average is a hair short of 61.5 percent. This is in spite of missing the first 17 Moto2 races in 2010. Kalex entered the series in 2011, winning the first of eight rider titles at the first attempt with Stefan Bradl.

KTM joined Moto2 in 2017; and in 2018 challenged strongly for the title, with Miguel Oliveira finishing just nine points adrift of Kalex-mounted Pecco Bagnaia. Oliveira and Red Bull KTM team-mate Brad Binder took six wins between them.

However, the 2019 iteration of the steel-tube-framed bike for the new 765cc Triumph three-cylinder motor has been disappointing, with riders complaining of poor feel and grip issues, which continued at Jerez in spite of chassis updates at the last two races.

Brad Binder qualified only tenth; while the plight of substitute rider Mattia Pasini was also indicative. At CotA Pasini rode as substitute on a Flexbox HP40 Kalex, qualified seventh and finished fourth. Switching to a KTM at Jerez as substitute for the injured Jake Dixon, he qualified only 24th.

By Michael Scott

Photos GnG