The three days spent at Qatar for the last test gallop before an inaugural Grand Prix of the MotoGP season planned on the same Losail track revealed some surprises. Some expected protagonists thus missed this nocturnal meeting. For example Red ou Márquez, but also Suzuki. What to worry about for Iannone and Rins? However, we swear no.
At Suzuki, we undoubtedly hoped for much better than a Qatari record marked by a marked absence in the top 10. Iannone points thirteenth without ever having been able to claim a time below 1'55 while the beginner Kidneys is fifteenth in the same cumulative ranking. Both regret a lack of sensation with the front tire. An evil also identified in the Doctor, MM93 or even Petrucci.
But appearances would be deceiving for supporters of the GSX-RR. In the official speech, the remedy for the ills dragged on during the three evenings was found in the last quarter of an hour. Too short to materialize this discovery with a good time. But the feelings had, they swear, returned.
The technical man Ken Kawauchi explains on speedweek : " Iannone did not perform well during the first two days, nor even during the start of the last. He had trouble driving fast. But we eventually figured out where the problem was. But unfortunately, we didn't have enough time left to perform with the new settings. He was therefore unable to show what he would have been capable of with it. The most important thing remains: we know which direction to take and that's why I'm optimistic for the first race which will take place in two weeks ».
Suzuki is therefore to be ranked among the outsiders of choice for the first race of the season at Losail. Joe the Maniac confirms this: “ towards the end, we had a flash of genius and we suddenly identified the problem. I went out and from the start I was able to do a little 1'55 which had never been possible for me to do during the two previous days. We continue to have movement in turn 6 but I can brake much better and I have much more confidence. We know how to work now ».
At Kidneys, we were in unison: “ we worked hard on the bike during these three days and we took a decisive step on the last one. It's not a question of time on a lap but of pace in the race. And we were able to shoot much faster in this configuration ". See you in two weeks. For a surprise?
A day at the office with @ andreaiannone29 #Qatartest @MotoGP #suzuking #todaysoffice #Motorsport pic.twitter.com/pVo8unmEdS
- Team Suzuki Ecstar (@suzukimotogp) March 12, 2017
Cumulative times Test Qatar:
1. Maverick Vinales, Yamaha, 1:54,330
2. Andrea Dovizioso, Ducati, 1:54,401
3. Dani Pedrosa, Honda, 1:54,469
4. Jorge Lorenzo, Ducati, 1:54,519
5. Alvaro Bautista, Ducati, 1:54,714
6. Valentino Rossi, Yamaha, 1:54,732
7. Scott Redding, Ducati, 1:54,750
8. Jonas Folger, Yamaha, 1:54,807
9. Cal Crutchlow, Honda, 1:54,821
10. Johann Zarco, Yamaha, 1:54,900
11. Marc Márquez, Honda, 1:54, 990
12. Aleix Espargaró, Aprilia, 1:55,121
13. Andrea Iannone, Suzuki, 1:55,284
14. Karel Abraham, Ducati, 1:55,333
15. Alex Rins, Suzuki, 1:55,362
16. Jack Miller, Honda, 1:55,455
17. Loris Baz, Ducati, 1:55,539
18. Danilo Petrucci, Ducati, 1:55,556
19. Sam Lowes, Aprilia, 1:56,167
20. Tito Rabat, Honda, 1:56,294
21. Bradley Smith, KTM, 1:56,351
22. Pol Espargaro, KTM, 1:56,471
23. Mika Kallio, KTM, 1:57,632
