KTM may have fast-tracked the introduction of its carbon fibre frame into MotoGP but it is currently ‘not the priority’ for Aprilia, the only other manufacturer known to be track-testing the composite technology.
Wild-card star Dani Pedrosa came within 0.7s of his first MotoGP podium since 2017 at Misano as he put the new carbon fibre KTM chassis in the wheeltracks of reigning champion Francesco Bagnaia.
It wasn’t only KTM’s MotoGP riders that got to try a carbon fibre frame during Monday’s Misano test, with Aprilia also making their version of the composite frame available to Aleix Espargaro and Maverick Vinales.
HRC technical manager Takeo Yokoyama admits Jorge Lorenzo has been caught in a downward spiral since joining Honda in MotoGP this season. But he's also confident that 'good things will soon happen' for the triple MotoGP champion once he emerges on the other side.
As team boss Herve Poncharal had hinted, Tech3 received a notable update from KTM for the start of the Assen MotoGP weekend in the form of a carbon fibre swingarm for Miguel Oliveira.
Pol Espargaro gave KTM's new carbon-fibre swingarm a promising grand prix debut by featuring near the front on his way to the seventh fastest lap time (+0.495s) during Friday practice at the French MotoGP.
Cal Crutchlow fears his hopes of getting a carbon-fibre swingarm on his Honda RC213V have suffered a setback after factory test rider and wild-card Stefan Bradl was involved in a first lap pile-up at Brno on Sunday.
Ducati's carbon fibre chassis made an instant impact by winning its very first race, in the hands of Casey Stoner, on Monday night's 2009 Qatar MotoGP season opener.