---
title: "KTM bag first points in just its third race"
canonical: "https://readmotorsport.com/2017/04/10/ktm-bag-first-points-just-third-race/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Lewis Duncan"
section: "MotoGP News"
published: "2017-04-10T15:48:13Z"
modified: "2017-04-10T15:48:44Z"
---

# KTM bag first points in just its third race

In just its third race as a MotoGP factory entrant, KTM leave Termas de Rio Hondo with three points after both Bradley Smith and Pol Espargaro finished inside the top 15 on their RC16s.

The Austrian manufacturer endured a tough start to its racing life in MotoGP. Mika Kallio failed to finish on their debut in Valencia last year, whilst both Espargaro and Smith struggled with an aggressive bike in Qatar to finish outside of the points.

![Mirco Lazzari gp/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readmotorsport.com/readmotorsport/2017/04/657423558.jpg)

Still struggling for traction and top speed as a result of their aggressive ‘screamer’ engine in Argentina, Sunday’s 25-lap grand prix looked set to be another tough slog for KTM.

However, a good start from Espargaro in 18th allowed him to run with Avintia’s Hector Barbera and Marc VDS’ Tito Rabat for the spots in the lower reaches of the top 15.

The Spaniard tried his best, but the RC16’s engine let him down and he unable to mount the challenge on the two ahead he felt was possible. He trailed Barbera across the line by three tenths of a second in 14th.

![Mirco Lazzari gp/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readmotorsport.com/readmotorsport/2017/04/657423590.jpg)

“What is the most important for the guys and the whole team is that this is the first time in history that KTM has taken points in MotoGP,” he said.

“We must be happy. But on the other side, I think we had the opportunity to do a little more. We are missing some speed in the straight to overtake the two guys I was fighting with, Barbera and Rabat. It was a shame because I felt faster and we were faster today.”

Smith was more upbeat about his performance. The British rider admits he struggled to lap in the 1m41s bracket throughout the entire weekend, but he was able to lap consistently in the 1m41s during the race.

Like team-mate Espargaro, Smith was able to keep pace with Barbera and Rabat, though couldn’t quite overhaul the sister KTM to challenge the two Spaniard’s ahead. Nonetheless, he took the chequered flag just three tenths behind his team-mate in 15th.

![Mirco Lazzari gp/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readmotorsport.com/readmotorsport/2017/04/665904886.jpg)

“We made a good step forward from Qatar, because there we weren’t able to fight with the group ahead of us,” said Smith.

“Here we could both stay with Barbera and Tito for most of the race, so we improved by another three to four seconds. I was really pleased with my race.

“All weekend I was struggling to do 1m41s, but then in the race they were all mid to low 1m41s, so I was happy with that.”

Both KTM riders finished just over 43 seconds from the win, which puts the Austrian marque on a par with what Aprilia were able to achieve with their first prototype machine at this race last year.