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

Jack Miller and Brad Binder t꧃ested a bold aero design and various ౠset-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 coജmpetitiveness better than their humble lap times in Qatar?

Broadcaster and ex-rider ꧑Crafar insisted: “That is♕ the million dollar question!

“I have 🧸really be꧃lieved in KTM because they have brought so much.

The riders confirmed that it is better.

“When I sꩲay so much, a 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 quicker to the ▨rev limit’.

“T🐎hey have worked on electronics𒆙, exhausts, the aero is confirmed as better.

“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 alꦍl of this.

“I’ll be honest, I’m a little 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 se𒐪en what I expected, that KTM would get cl💎ose to Ducati.

“Aprilia, on 🀅the one-off lap, was the only one close [to Ducati].

“Brad, in his defence, did a big l🍎ong run. They he came in and put two softs on, just to have a go.

“He must have been tired, after t🅰wo days, then did a long run.

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

“Both꧋ KTM riders are ‘racer♐s’ - they dig something deeper out, at a race event.

“I think ev🅷eཧryone will agree with that. Their team do.

“There’s a good chance of seeing it. B🅺ut I’m a little nervous for them, that we haven’t 🌊seen it on paper yet.”

Binder was fourth-fastest on Monday, with Miller 14🎉th.

They were ninth and 11th respectively on Tuesday.

KTM will run Miller and Binder as their factory duo, and hav🅺e Pedro Acosta and🍬 Augusto Fernandez in their Tech3 GASGAS project.

The manufacturer alsඣo has the strong testing♍ duo of Pol Espargaro and Dani Pedrosa in reserve.

The season begins in Qatar on March 8.