Optimism around KTM has been quelled by Simon 🀅Crafar’s concerns over their preseason.

Jack Miller and ꧟Brad Binder tested a ༺bold aero design and various set-up configurations over the two-day Qatar test.

KTM had been🌺 tipped by many to be Ducati’s closest challengers when the 2024 MotoGP season begins.

But is 🐼their competitiv🐼eness better than their humble lap times in Qatar?

Broadcaster and ex-rider Crafar insisted: “That𝓡 is the million dollar question!

“I h🐠ave really believed in KTM because they have brought so much.

The riders confirmed that it is better.

“When I say so much, a๊ couple of specs of engines.

“I asked Brad about the new engine. He said: ‘It’s great, I can’t feel anything different, it just gets qui🐼cker to the rev limit’.

“They have worked on electronics, exhausts, the aero is confirmedꦉ as be🥂tter.

“But I still haven’t seen what I was expecting.

“I was expecting, like last year, 🌟when it all came together, to see the results of all of this.

“I’ll be honest, I’m a littl💛e bit nervous for them that it hasn’t turned up yet.

“It is the last minute. I really don’t know…

“I don’t think we’ve seen what I expected, that KTM would get clꦜose to Ducati.

“Aprilia, on the one🐟-off lap, wa🌄s the only one close [to Ducati].

“Brad, in his defenꦉce, did a big long run. They he came in and put tw👍o softs on, just to have a go.

“He must have be😼en tired, after two days, the🎃n did a long run.

“What I’m saying is that there’s a chance still that we༺ will see what I’m talking about at the first race. What I am expecting, like last year.

“Both KTM riders are ‘racer꧒s’ - they dig 🌜something deeper out, at a race event.

“I think everyone will agree withꩵ that. Their tea𝓰m do.

“There’s a good chance of seeing it. But I❀’m a little nervous for t🍷hem, that we haven’t seen it on paper yet.”

Binder was fourth-fa🌺stest on Monday, wit♏h Miller 14th.

They were ninth and 11th respectively on Tuesday.

KTM will run Miller and Binder as their factory duo, and have Pedro Acosta and Augustౠo Fernandez in their Tech3 GASGAS project.

The manufacturer also h🅷as the strong testing duo of Pol Espargaro and Dani Pedrosa in reserve.

The season begins in Qatar on March 8.