Team KR admits secret KTM test.

Proton Team KR had planned to debut the KTM engine after this weekend's Portuguese Grand Prix - but it has now been revealed that 20 'secret' laps were completed last weekend at Brno.

The Banbury based team lapped the Czech circuit with Nobuatsu Aoki riding a special hybrid machine, made up of a modified Proton KR chassis fitted with the KTM V4 engine (instead of the usual KR V5).

The V4 engine was built for the Austrian factory's own planned MotoGP project, which they later cancelled, but engine development was continued. Until the secret 'shakedown' test, held last Saturday at Brno, running had been limited to the test bench and dynamometer.

"We wanted to blow out any cobwebs and see if there were any problems - to check that it shifted gear, didn't overheat and so on," explained team manager Chuck Aksland. "There were a few little problems, but first impressions were good."

The main aim was to get the bike ready for the Estoril tests, he continued, which were a joint project between KTM and Proton Team KR.

"The aim is to assess the potential of the engine, which is of interest to KTM and ourselves," said Aksland. "But at this stage there's no policy on any future with the engine. It could be an option ... but we just don't know yet."

"The first ride with the KTM engine was very interesting, and I am looking forward to testing it after the race," added Aoki.

Aoki will be Team KR's only rider at Estoril following the news that team-mate Kurtis Roberts has been ruled out by injury (see separate story).