MotoGP ShakeDown Sepang J1: 2019, here we go… in the heatwave!

Today in Sepang we attended the real start of the 2019 MotoGP classes with the main objective of calling for those present and checking the equipment.

In its own way, the weather was good since, quite exceptionally, the sky was completely clear and not a drop of rain came to disrupt this first day of a ShakeDown reserved for test pilots as well as pilots holding the manufacturers benefiting from the Concessions, namely KTM and Aprilia.

Consequently, it was noted a track temperature rising up to 60°, which partly explains why certain manufacturers preferred to provide a minimum service, while waiting for tomorrow. For the others, the heat was so high that it was sometimes necessary to create vents to evacuate the calories from the electronics under the false tanks...

At Yamaha , which is basically the manufacturer that rents the Malaysian track for this ShakeDown before subletting it to others, we only warmed up the M1s of Katsuyuki Nakasuga and Jonas Folger (recently injured in the collarbone) to check that they will be ready tomorrow. Conversely, the Iwata structure dedicated to the R1 of the Suzuka 8 Hours was much more active, perhaps put under pressure by the return of the HRC to the flagship event of world endurance in the eyes of the Japanese. …

At KTM, in the absence of Dani Pedrosa still injured in the collarbone, Mika Kallio (who seems to have abandoned his number 36 to Joan Mir to adopt the 66) was responsible for running all the Austrian motorcycles of the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing and Red Bull KTM Tech3 teams, while waiting for Pol Espargaro, Johann Zarco, Hafizh Syahrin and Miguel Oliveira take the helm from the 2nd day.

However, we were able to note a new aerodynamic assembly on an official motorcycle, made up, roughly speaking, of the top of the "classic" fairing with its small side supports, to which we added the fins inspired by those of the Yamaha. Until now, these had only appeared with a less angular upper fairing and without support. With this version shown by GPone, we therefore combine the aerodynamic downforce on the front axle.

At Aprilia, Bradley Smith took to the track an all-carbon RS-GP that has now reached the minimum weight of 157 kilos. With the arrival of Massimo Rivola at the top of the Noale structure, Romano Albesiano has been able to devote himself to technique during this winter, and many solutions must be tested over the coming days.

At Suzuki, Ducati and Honda, the motorcycles of Sylvain Guintoli, Michele Pirro and Stefan Bradl wore their racing colors, and these 3 riders each completed several runs to begin or continue the debugging work. With Bradley Smith, they were the most active in this area, Sylvain Guintoli being the last on the track.

Of course, while waiting for the official riders for the official IRTA test which will take place from February 6 to 8, no transponder was mounted on the motorcycles, and the objective was more to clock kilometers than to attempt any time.

The rest tomorrow at the same times (3:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.)…

Photo credits (and our thanks): Peter McLaren /Crash.net