On the first day of tests in Catalonia, we saw things going much better for some than during the meeting last weekend. First, there were far fewer crashes and then the Yamahas regained their splendor. But it's Marc Márquez who achieved the best time, without tasting the gravel traps and getting out of his Honda with a big smile. The consequence of new parts? No. Rather the effect of the return of the symmetrical tire at Michelin.
The asymmetric compound, from the only manufacturer of MotoGP, is an accepted culture. But it is not unanimous and even arouses annoyance among certain pilots. We will remember words of Jack Miller on this subject. During the last, and overheated, Grand Prix of Catalonia, there were real concerns about the performance of the tires. They held on, but the pilots suffered a lot.
Here we are now still in Montmélo, but for tests. And Michelin brought symmetrical tires. An approach that hastened to highlight Marc Marquez who also took the opportunity to send a message to the bibendum… “ The symmetrical tire only has one rubber compound and I love it. It is the H, the hard compound, which is the best. I felt very comfortable on the bike and with the front of the bike again. I did my best time with this tire which is more stable. I found a smile again on this circuit. I hope we continue like this and with this tire ».
An analysis that sounds like a claim and, in case that isn’t clear enough, the reigning World Champion insists: “ I believe that the asymmetric compound, which is a mixture of rubber on both sides of the tire, is only valid on certain circuits: Sachsenring, Phillip Island, Red Bull Ring and Valencia. On all other tracks, and in particular this one heated to 53°, having a single compound offers more stability ».
Marc Márquez got the message across. After Catalonia, he is third in the championship, 23 points behind leader Viñales who suffered martyrdom during this seventh round of the MotoGP calendar. The Dutch Grand Prix is in two weeks.
#CatalanTest MotoGP: Chronos J.1
| 1 | 93 | Marc Marquez | Honda RC213V | 1:44.071 | ||
| 2 | 25 | Maverick Vinales | Yamaha M1 | 1:44.437 | 0.366 | 0.366 |
| 3 | 94 | Jonas Folger | Yamaha M1 | 1:44.972 | 0.901 | 0.535 |
| 4 | 26 | Dani Pedrosa | Honda RC213V | 1:45.003 | 0.932 | 0.031 |
| 5 | 41 | Alex Espargaro | Aprilia RS-GP | 1:45.046 | 0.975 | 0.043 |
| 6 | 35 | Cal Crutchlow | Honda RC213V | 1:45.296 | 1.225 | 0.250 |
| 7 | 5 | Johann zarco | Yamaha M1 | 1:45.452 | 1.381 | 0.156 |
| 8 | 45 | Scott Redding | Ducati GP16 | 1:45.565 | 1.494 | 0.113 |
| 9 | 53 | Tito Rabat | Honda RC213V | 1:45.582 | 1.511 | 0.017 |
| 10 | 46 | Valentino Rossi | Yamaha M1 | 1:45.635 | 1.564 | 0.053 |
| 11 | 9 | Danilo Petrucci | Ducati GP17 | 1:45.863 | 1.792 | 0.228 |
| 12 | 43 | Jack Miller | Honda RC213V | 1:45.897 | 1.826 | 0.034 |
| 13 | 44 | Espargaro Pol | KTM RC16 | 1:46.107 | 2.036 | 0.210 |
| 14 | 29 | Andrea Iannone | Suzuki GSX-RR | 1:46.130 | 2.059 | 0.023 |
| 15 | 22 | Sam Lowes | Aprilia RS-GP | 1:46.389 | 2.318 | 0.259 |
| 16 | 36 | Mika Kallio | KTM RC16 | 1:46.405 | 2.334 | 0.016 |
| 17 | 42 | alex rins | Suzuki GSX-RR | 1:46.490 | 2.419 | 0.085 |
| 18 | 50 | Sylvain Guintoli | Suzuki GSX-RR | 1:47.055 | 2.984 | 0.565 |
