The Swiss manufacturer Suter, for whom Didier works, designed and manufactured the Moto2 used by Dominique Aegerter and Stefano Manzi for the MV Agusta Idealavoro Forward team. Suter produced the entire chassis (frame, swingarm and tank) in collaboration with MV-Agusta. As with all Moto2s, the engine and electronics are original from Triumph and Magneti Marelli, while the suspensions come from Öhlins, the exhaust from SC Project and the forged magnesium rims from OZ.
On its debut in November at Jerez, the MV finished 14th with Manzi, then at the opening GP in Qatar Aegerter finished 18th and Manzi 20th.
Didier, what do you think of the start of the career of the MV Agusta Moto2, which was largely made by Suter?
“I think it’s not good enough because we know the track record of Dominique Aegerter and we know he is capable of doing better. The results of the bike are therefore not good depending on the rider's references. At the moment, they are below potential. But as we are not directly involved in the operation part on the circuits, it is difficult for us to judge. »
The top speed of the MV is not extraordinary with almost – 8 km/h for example in Qatar. What is the reason ?
“By analyzing the partials, we see that it is not in the winding section that she loses the most time. In Qatar the straight line is long – more than a kilometer – and any weakness at this point is prohibitive. Even for the pilot's morale, it is a big handicap. We saw it in MotoGP: if you don't have the bike that allows you to follow the aspi, you lose.
“The deficit in top speed in Moto2 never comes from the engines, any more now than before with the Hondas. The motors are made very professionally, with a fairly low tolerance. Between the best and the worst, the difference does not justify the difference of 8 km/h.
“So it comes from the aerodynamics, that is to say the fairing, but also from the position of the pilot. With a helmet that is a little too high, you can easily lose 2 km/h. Knee protectors that stick out easily cost 1 km/h. As much with the feet, with the position of the rider, with the length of the saddle which prevents the rider from positioning himself correctly…
“All the top teams go into the wind tunnel and adjust the rider on the bike. But it may not respect the position thus defined when driving on a circuit. To err is human, and it happens frequently. Sometimes we get an ideal package in the wind tunnel, but on the track the driver may not have the same good position. If we are lucky enough and have the budget to be able to go back to the wind tunnel, we need to refine all that. So obviously the teams that have more resources are favored.”
The use of the new Triumph engine and electronics Did Magneti Marelli force us to redesign the entire cycle part?
“Yes, because the architecture of the engine is completely different from the previous 4-cylinder Honda inline, so the layout and mountings are different. Suter engineers calibrated the engine and wheels in relation to the center of gravity on the computer. But it is out of the question to modify an old frame intended for the Honda engine, if you want to be efficient. »
The start of the KTM season in Moto2 in Qatar was not extraordinary for the officials (Brad Binder 12th and Jorge Martin 15th), nor for the privateers (the 5 who finished were between 21st and 26th and last place). It was surprising for this manufacturer who finished 2nd in the Championship last year with Miguel Oliveira. Do you see the reason?
“It may have something to do with the previous topic. You have to put the engine in the right place in the chassis in relation to the wheels. So everything needs to be reviewed, including mass balancing. It’s not a matter of centimeters, but of millimeters. With the new engine, we had less time to design a new machine, and in my opinion at KTM they must be quite concerned about MotoGP. On the other hand, they have the means to rectify, modify, go through the wind tunnel, rebuild frames as much as they want.
“The advantage and disadvantage they have is that they make their own suspensions (WP is owned by KTM). They are the only ones using this suspension, so it's a little less easy. Öhlins opposite is still quite a reference.”
Fabio Quartararo, but also Joan Mir, had an impressive start to the season in MotoGP, while they shone less in Moto2 last year. Why, do you think?
“In Moto2, everything comes down to details. We are not far from a brand cut. Every detail is important, which can be technical, but also human. You have to have the right team, the chief mechanic who gets along well with the driver. There may be things left unsaid, or the flow may not flow as well, and that can make a huge difference in Moto2. Five tenths in this category are sometimes ten places!
“Moto3 is very good training, and then a rider may not have exceptional results in Moto2 due to the aforementioned small details.
“MotoGP is another world. The pilot arrives and is completely taken over by a whole bunch of people. There are a lot of personnel in a MotoGP team. Compared to Moto2, there are many more parameters on which it is possible to act. It may thus be possible to compensate for a small problem by making most of the machine work well. In Moto2, no, it's not possible. If we leave a small problem unresolved, it’s crippling.
“I know Didier Lambert well who was the track engineer for Joan mir in Moto3 at Leopard. He told me " this one, there is no need to worry about his future ". That said it all. Didier has been with Aprilia on the circuits for more than twenty years and he knows what he is talking about. But even without my friend's words, I saw like many people that Mir is rubbish.
« Quarterly gave us a hard time for two or three years, but it wasn't just his fault. There were apprentice managers who wanted to cut their teeth, but due to bad luck they fell victim to it. Fabio is full of talent. His start to the season was a surprise, you have to be honest. What he has done in MotoGP since he has been there is astonishing. But we've known he's good for a long time. And even very good! »
Video: The presentation of the MV Moto2
Photos © Forward Racing
