Ducati has a top test team, with Casey Stoner and Michele Pirro, doing enormous development work. This is not the case for Japanese manufacturers, whose test teams are much smaller, with significantly slower drivers, and who mainly only race in Japan.
Announced during the Australian GP, the new testing limitation did not in any way delight those responsible at Ducati, already grappling with serious problems on the circuit. It was, in a way, the straw that broke the camel's back for them. Before discussing the reactions of the various officials, here is a reminder of the new restrictions:
« MotoGP Test Restrictions – effective in 2018
“The layout of the Official Tests remains unchanged with: two days of Test after Valencia, three days at each of the three Tests carried out at the start of the season outside Europe and one day of Post-GP Test on Monday.
“Teams are also limited to five days of private testing with the regular drivers. After the driving ban period, only three days of testing are permitted before the events and the other tests must take place on circuits already visited.
“No testing can take place on the route hosting the next event during the 14 days preceding. No regular driver may be requested for testing during the summer break, namely between Monday July 16 and Thursday August 2 in 2018.
“Manufacturers will be able to designate three circuits on which their test team can drive at any time, except in the 14 days preceding the event on a circuit. They will also be able to test during the three days preceding the first Official Test organized after the winter break. These teams will also be able to participate in all Official Tests.
« MotoGP Test Restrictions – effective in 2019
The regulations will be the same as in 2018 with a few changes however:
The number of days for Official Tests outside Europe will be reduced from 3 to 2.
The teams will still have five days of private testing with their starting drivers. However, at least two of these days must take place between the last event on the calendar and November 30. The other remaining days can be 'put down' at any time, except in the 14 days preceding the Grand Prix on a circuit. »
THE REACTIONS
Now let's move on to the reactions. For Gigi Dall'Igna, General Manager of Ducati Corse, “ We are irritated, to say the least. This settlement is directed against Ducati. It wouldn't have hurt anyone to discuss its application for 2019. The timing is not reasonable ". Gigi had a very bad time last year with the ban on fins.
To Paul Ciabatti, Sports director, " the regulations were changed a month before the start of the new season. We have already planned the tests, the management of the motorcycles and the reservations of the circuits. Petrucci is due to start on the 2018 bike at Jerez at the end of November with Pirro, after Dovizioso and Lorenzo did so at Valencia.
“They accuse us of having an advantage for the preparation of races, while the tests should be used for development, but in the regulations there is no specification of this kind.
“No manufacturer has a team like ours, with testers like Pirro and Stoner. Working better than others seems to be a reproach. They even tried to take Michele from us, but we extended his contract until 2020."
Obviously, other manufacturers do not agree. So Massimo Meregalli, Yamaha team manager, sums up the opinion of the Japanese teams quite well: “ I could agree with Ducati on the calendar, but we are in favor of the limitation. Testing is becoming more and more a preparation for the race, and for us there were only 2 circuits. »
To Davide Brivio (Suzuki), “ We Japanese teams only have Motegi. Three tracks are enough for Ducati's demands ". That Livio Suppo, Racing Consultant (Honda) completes with “ I think a good compromise was found, the anomaly was trying everywhere ».
Even at Aprilia the Racing Manager Romano Albesiano agrees : " I understand the disappointment of Ducati, who exploited the opportunity and are the most affected by the change, but now the tests were mainly devoted to race preparation (editor’s note: and not the development of machines). And reducing to 3 circuits does not seem dramatic. »
Photo © Ducati
Source: corsedimoto.com
