Source: Supplied.

Red Bull KTM’s Pol Espargaro is satisfied with the speed he and the RC16 are already displaying in the lead-up to the Austrian factory’s full-time MotoGP assault, following this week’s Phillip Island test.

Espargaro posted a flying lap of 1m29.857s on day three for 17th overall, making use of another new frame and updated electronics to lap within 1.308s of overall pace-setter Maverick Viñales in what was KTM’s first appearance in Australia.

“We’ve improved the pace quite a lot and that’s where you earn the points,” he recalled. “Being on the bike is much better and the lap times are quite close to the first guys. We were really close many times and I’m very happy about that. The team is working hard and I think we’re putting it all together. The engineers know what to do and how to do it and they will do something great for Qatar, so I am very happy.”

Teammate Bradley Smith was also satisfied at the conclusion of three days, posting a quickest time of 1m29.978s for 19th on combined times. The team’s official launch will take place next Monday at the new KTM Motorsport Building in Munderfing, Austria.