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 configꦬurations 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 competitivenes💟s better than their humble lap times in Qatar?

Broadcaster and ex-rider Crafar insisted: “That is the million dollar q😼uestion!

“I have really believed in KTM because t꧋hey have brought so muc💛h.

The riders confirmed that it is better.

“When I say 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’.

“They have worked♈ on🐷 electronics, 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 all 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 seen what I expected, that KTM would g🐻et close 🔜to Ducati.

“Aprilia, on the 🍨one-off lap, was the onl༺y one close [to Ducati].

“Brad, in his defence, did aꦍ big long run. They he came in and put two soft🎉s on, just to have a go.

“He must have b🌺een tired, 🍃after two days, then did a long run.

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

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

“🍨I think everyone will agജree with that. Their team do.

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

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

They were ninth and 11th respectively on Tuesday.

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

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

The season begins in Qatar on March 8.