Repsol KTM Team riders are still in the process of getting the hang out of their new bikes. At the second day of the practice, it is apparent that the drivers are trying hard to unravel the secrets of the KTM that they will be riding this season.

Riding a new racing bike takes a lot of commitment and hard work. Though, they won’t be bothered by the nerf bars and fenders just like in cars, still they have to establish connection. So far, how are they coping with their new bikes?

Julián Simón has this to say: "Today we carried on the work related to the front end. We still have some difficulties when taking curves, and so that is why I worked on the front end set up, but I am still not as comfortable as I would like to be. We did some work with a new more open steering that we had leftover to try from yesterday, it is a bit more like the one I had on the previous Honda.”

“With this change we saw straight away that I could set the same times as yesterday and so we began to try new things on other parts of the bike, with new geometries, different springs on the front and back, but in the end this was taking us backwards, in the end though it allowed us to get some things clear at the end of the day and get a good base," he added.

"Today we were able to do more laps and get used to the bike better. I am having problems getting used to the chassis on the KTM, as I am having problems with stability which makes it difficult when I try to take a curve. But well, we are getting used to it and we carried on trying different set ups on the chassis. The important thing now is to get a good pace on both the curves as well as when braking, and bit by bit we will get better," said Esteve Rabat.

"This morning went better than yesterday but better than in the afternoon. We began with yesterday’s set up and that was when I set my fastest time, a 49.7. After that we used a shorter handlebar and other things that did not work out for me, because when we changed the handlebar we also changed the set up on the suspension and the whole bike was not so good. I was not very comfortable so at the end of the day I got the longer handlebar put back on,” narrated Marc Marquez.

Marquez added: “But the wind got up in the afternoon and at one point a gust made me fall. I was unhurt but it was too late, by then the track was very cold and I did not get back on the bike. But well things have gone quite well in spite of everything and I am pleased.”

[credit: Paddock Talk]