Italian MotoGP rider Enea Bastianini has explained his decision not to use KTM’s “leg wing” aerodynamic devices during the 2026 Thai Grand Prix weekend at Buriram. These seat‑mounted winglets attracted attention when they appeared on some RC16 bikes earlier in the season and avoided being banned before 2026, remaining legal for now.
Bastianini, riding for Tech3, said the extra rear downforce created by the devices did not work well for him on the Thai circuit. He explained that the added aero made the bike feel lower in its transfer and reduced the feedback from the rear under braking, something he prefers to have in order to feel confident on corner entry and through heavy braking zones. For Bastianini, this made the wings more of a hindrance than a help at Buriram, so he opted to leave them off his RC16.
Source: Motorsport.com
While Bastianini went without the leg wings, KTM factory riders including Pedro Acosta and Brad Binder chose to run them on their bikes, highlighting how individual riding styles and track characteristics can influence setup decisions.
Bastianini’s approach at Thailand showed once again that even within the same team and machinery, riders can make very different technical choices based on personal comfort and performance needs.
