KTM TARGETS STARTING IMPROVEMENTS AFTER HOLSHOT DEVICE BAN

KTM is working to recover its advantage off the starting grid after the ban on front holeshot devices, team manager Aki Ajo says. The RC16 had been among MotoGP’s strongest launchers, but the change introduced at Assen appears to have left the team losing ground to rivals.

Ajo cautioned against attributing the shift to a single cause. “For sure the [holeshot ban] rule change is also affecting in some way,” he said at Mandalika, while noting that “everyone is improving all the time in this category.” He added: “It's really difficult to say one reason, but for sure [starts are] the area where we need to really focus and work to try to get our strong point back.”

The concern comes as KTM has made progress extracting time-attack grip from the soft rear tyre, gains that have been partly offset by weaker starts. Pedro Acosta’s qualifying results this season range from pole at Catalunya to 10th on the grid at both Mugello and Sachsenring.

Acosta, who won at the Red Bull Ring, heads into the Australian Grand Prix fifth in the championship, one point behind Trackhouse Aprilia’s Ai Ogura. The front-device ban has therefore become a particular focus as KTM seeks to strengthen its race-day position.

Rear holeshot and ride-height devices remain permitted through the end of this season. They are also due to be prohibited from 2027, when MotoGP moves to 850cc machinery and Pirelli tyres.