KTM riders say top speed advantage has disappeared in MotoGP

Pedro Acosta has observed over the opening three rounds of the 2026 MotoGP season that KTM has lost some of its top speed relative to its rivals.

With manufacturers having agreed to an engine freeze ahead of the new technical regulations, no work could be carried out on power units over the winter to increase outright performance.

However, development was still possible in other areas, including the air intake, electronics, ride-height devices and aerodynamics, all of which also influence top speed on the straights.

In Thailand, the fastest KTM of Enea Bastianini reached a top speed of 342.8km/h. Aprilia riders Jorge Martin and Marco Bezzecchi both hit 345.0km/h, while the Ducati was able to clock 341.7km/h in the hands of reigning champion Marc Marquez.

In Brazil, Ducati topped the speed charts at 348.3km/h with Marquez. The fastest Aprilia, once again Bezzecchi, reached 346.1km/h, while KTM’s best effort, from Acosta, was 342.8km/h.

At Austin, Aprilia again set the benchmark, with Bezzecchi recording 353.9km/h. Ducati was able to touch 352.7km/h with Fabio di Giannantonio, while KTM again trailed the opposition, with Acosta only reaching 349.2km/h.

As these figures were recorded in different sessions, they are only directly comparable to a certain extent, particularly due to the influence of slipstreaming, but a clear trend can still be identified.

Stronger in corners, weaker on straights

The RC16 appears to have made gains in cornering performance, but this has come at the expense of straightline speed.

Acosta summarised KTM’s current situation as follows: “At the moment, [top] speed is not our strongest point, like it was in the past. The bike is working quite better in the corners than last year.

“But it looks like one of our strongest points, which was the speed in the straights, is gone.

“The manufacturers worked a lot because you see that Ducati is still on top and then Aprilia made a crazy step.”

KTM has improved its behaviour in corners and tyre management over race distance, but appears to have sacrificed some top speed in return.

Brad Binder echoed that assessment: “We made some changes in the aero package completely just to make the bike turn a bit better.

“It turns better, stops better, corners better in general. The balance is better, but somehow we must have added drag for sure. 

Brad Binder, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing

Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images

“The top end is definitely a little bit more tricky than in previous seasons. It’s not disgusting by any means, but it’s definitely a little bit down.

“We’re always used to making up time in the straight, so that was always one of our strongest points. 

“So to lose that just makes it a little bit more tricky in the rest, where you need to really try and line up your moves a bit better.”

That weakness was clearly visible in Acosta’s battle with Marquez in the Thailand sprint, where the Ducati rider was consistently able to repass the KTM on the straights. On the long run to Turn 3, Acosta had little opportunity to launch an attack on the reigning champion.

 Has KTM regressed – or have rivals moved ahead?

The question remains whether KTM has genuinely lost top speed, or if its rivals have simply made greater gains.

“I’m not sure,” said Tech3 rider Maverick Vinales. “But it feels like it was easier to overtake people easier on the straight last year. Maybe the others improved. I’m not sure. This I don’t know.”

“It can be [down to aero changes]. We try to get more cornering and also more stopping to be more precise. 

Maverick Vinales, Red Bull KTM Tech 3

Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images

“We know that we lost some top speed compared to last year. But we try to gain cornering and braking. It’s always a balance.”

 KTM has nevertheless started the 2026 season strongly, led by Acosta. He won the sprint race in Buriram and finished on the podium in both the Thai and United States grands prix.

After three race weekends, the Mattighofen-based manufacturer sits third in the constructors’ standings, just four points behind Ducati.

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– The Motorsport.com Team

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