Even if the news (mainly transfers) has mobilized our resources in recent weeks, it is high time to take a technical update on the small details that appeared during these last Grands Prix.
The engines being frozen in MotoGP for the 3 main manufacturers, Honda, Yamaha and Ducati, the development is mainly carried out on the distribution of masses, the rigidity of the chassis and the electronics. This last area being obviously totally invisible to the photographers' lenses, there remain the first 2 which, sometimes, are detectable from the outside...
Honda
The Tokyo firm has made a new chassis available to its official drivers but it does not present any notable visual difference, like the new fairing tested during the post-Barcelona test.
Throughout the sessions, Marc Márquez continues to alternate between aluminum swingarm and carbon swingarm (several models) and, undoubtedly less important, a saddle with a rounded design and a saddle with a bill-hook design (See here).
The Spanish driver has a very particular driving style, with in particular intensive use of the rear brake (as a reminder, he uses it up to 80% of the time in a race. See here), it is the only one to have a ventilated rear disc. It even managed to heat up, his bike was occasionally equipped with a cooling scoop for the rear caliper.
yamaha
In recent races the Yamahas have been doing better and, apart from a slight progress in electronics, Valentino Rossi himself said this was due to the use of solutions already used in the past. Should we understand “2016 chassis” or simply use the “Big Mama” swingarms (See here)?
Anyway, surprised by GPone, we tested a partially extended tank cover on the Italian's machine, slightly modifying the weight distribution. However, it seems to have since been abandoned.
The Doctor also now uses a perforated rear mudguard to try to cool the rear tire a little…
As for Maverick Vinales, Yamaha has fitted a clutch sensor to its M1 intended to study the Spanish rider's behavior in this area. After analysis, advice will undoubtedly be given to him in order to better succeed in his departures...
For the blues, we continue to monitor the temperature of the front tire using three sensors integrated into the mudguard.
On the Tech3 side, we know that there is no technical development and the Japanese engineers are content to mount torque sensors on the gearbox output pinion during the test sessions, all, always in the purpose of collecting data in order to refine electronic programming.
Ducati
Incredible but true, the most effective modification of the year consists of a piece of plastic intended to modify the shape of the tank cover and a piece of foam on the saddle to allow Jorge Lorenzo to tire less!
And when we see the result, we say to ourselves that it wasn't worth waiting 6 Grands Prix before testing this simple modification...
However, the Italian manufacturer's research and development department is not limited to this element, and modifications to the frame have recently appeared, first on Danilo Petrucci's machine (hidden by aluminum sheets), then on the two official GP 18s.
These (a bit like the Suzuki) consist of carbon reinforcements superimposed on the aluminum. Several tests seem to be underway and the pieces of carbon are not necessarily identical on the machines of Jorge Lorenzo and Andrea Dovizioso.
The front of the GP 18 frames seems to hollow out more and more from the steering column, all hidden by a carbon plate...
Suzuki
The tests carried out with a carbon skin added to the aluminum frame seem to have been successful and the 2 pilots are now using this technique (See here).
They also have a new engine bringing better top speed since the Dutch Grand Prix.
