After the fireworks explosion on Sunday and the awards ceremony during the official gala evening, the 2017 season kicked off this Monday in Valencia.
A few years ago, the official test started on Monday, but it was difficult for the riders and teams to put everything together overnight and to get to know their new structure and new bike in such a short time. .
While waiting for the motorcycles to be prepared for their return to the track, Suzuki, like its counterparts Ducati and Honda, held a press conference to take stock of the past season and give the objectives for the next one, in addition to what expect tomorrow.
As for Yamaha, Aprilia or KTM, there was no press conference, but we have already been able to see the new Yamaha YZR-M1 or the new colors of Johann Zarco who will ride on Bradley Smith's M1.
Nakamoto leaves HRC (15 p.m.)
The Honda conference is by far the one that leaked the least information about next year. Shuhei Nakamoto, vice president of HRC, will retire next April. He will be replaced by a trio of directors, including Shinichi Kokubu, responsible for the technical development of Japanese machines.
During the private test following the San Marino Grand Prix, Honda secretly used what could be the new 2017 version with a new engine. Kokubu-san only announced that the new RC213V is the result of several observations. More precisely, the noise is similar to that of Ducatis. Honda would therefore abandon the “screamer” for a big-bang timing engine producing more torque for greater ease of use. Thus, Honda would offer an engine no longer focused on power, but on progressiveness.
No new GSX-RR for the moment (15:45 p.m.)
Davide Brivio held the Suzuki company conference in the middle of the afternoon, “It’s not the end of the year yet, but it’s already 2017,” confides Brivio. “I’m pretty pleased with what we’ve achieved this year. We really took a step forward in Brno with Maverick's victory. We usually suffer in the wet. We achieved the objective of fighting regularly for the podium and the victory. »
Suzuki was one of the manufacturers having the possibility of using 9 engines during the season and, above all, being able to make updates. Thus, the GSX-RR evolved throughout the season. For Suzuki it will be a matter of making some changes, particularly to the electronics, in order to use the power of the engine. A chassis update will be offered during the next private test at Sepang.
For 2017, Brivio will count on the experience of Andrea Iannone to win races. Expectations are lower for Alex Rins who will need to grow. For Brivio, and in this area, “The Suzuki project starts from scratch”. He hopes to find in Rins what he was able to accomplish with Viñales.
Regarding this, he thinks Rins is the right choice, “He is a talented and young driver. We will have to be more creative to give him a chance. I think our team will be balanced. » And about not choosing Zarco, “We have spoken at length with Zarco and given the tests he carried out last June, we know he will be very fast. We had to make a choice and we have a new challenge to face. »
Ducati is not giving up its wings yet (16:30 p.m.)
For this test, Ducati will use the new edition of its machine, the GP17. During 2017, fins will be banned on the track, but Gigi Dall'Igna confides that “To evaluate and compare the new version of the bike, Jorge Lorenzo and Andrea Dovizioso will use the wings. » This will allow engineers to compare the data collected by the two versions on a similar track. Dall'Igna explains the Borgo Panigale firm will work during the winter on the aerodynamics of the GP17 and on how to compensate for the loss of the wings.
For 2017, Gigi Dall'Igna specifies that development will focus on being able to turn the bike mid-corner, “These are not at all the same problems that we suffered from on the previous D16s. But he [Lorenzo] will have to adapt to the bike, but for that we will have to offer him a bike capable of meeting his expectations. »
Regarding the power of the machine, some rumors see the arrival of an even more powerful machine and on this point Dall'Igna is confident, “I'm not worried, I know the Ducati will suit Jorge,” he said smiling.
Asked about the poor performance of the Ducati satellite team, the Pramac team, against other satellite teams like LCR or Marc VDS, the Italian replied, “It’s not a poor performance. Where the other [factories] have progressed, the satellite team has remained at the same level. This is something we will work on next year. » As a first response, Ducati will offer a factory GP17 to Danilo Petrucci. Please note that Petrucci will not participate in the test in Valencia for family reasons. He will be replaced by Michele Pirro who will play the role of replacement and developer driver.
