Michele Pirro closed his second day of the MotoGP Shakedown with the second fastest time. After the presentation of the Ducati factory team liveries, the test rider took to the track again on his Ducati in black colors. Or rather on his Ducatis: in fact, the test rider from the Borgo Panigale factory has a GP21 and a GP22 in his box, in order to compare them and prepare the best possible base for Jack Miller and Pecco Bagnaia. Maximum focus on the new evolution of the V4 engine after two years of regulatory freeze. The GP22 will be an evolution of the 2021 version, with some improvements in all areas, but without big changes.
Ducati has been working hard for its 2022 season, with the desmodromic engine gaining power, as announced by Gigi Dall'Igna, while retaining the driving pleasure of their old engine, but the Bologna engineers also worked on corner entries, but also aerodynamics.
The Ducati GP22 is starting to take shape and it is quite different from the GP21 while remaining largely the same. In summary, the engineers at the Borgo Panigale factory have made numerous developments, but this year, no revolution in sight!
So, new exhausts are tested, a new aerodynamic package, a new engine, a new front Holeshot Device, some other small adjustments such as the exhaust vents on the side fairing and even a new swingarm.
Above, we see the Ducati GP21 in the new Gresini Racing colors. This machine is exactly the same as the one driven by Pecco Bagnaia, who took second place in the World Championship last season. It is not for nothing that this year, the Italian brand is the big favorite, given the demonstration made at the end of 2021.
The 2021 version of the prototype made by Ducati was very impressive. As close to a title as it has been in a long time, this bike was a demon on almost every track last season. There no longer seem to be any tracks where the Ducati doesn't work at all, as was the case in the past.
A powerful engine, great braking stability and excellent front-end feeling were the strong points of last year, but this machine also had weak points, such as the lack of grip on some tracks, like at Barcelona.
Michele Pirro tested a new swingarm and at first glance it is very difficult to tell what has changed, but closer inspection shows us that the shape of the curve on the lower edge has evolved slightly.
“We are not focusing on just one point, we are trying to improve certain aspects including engine management. It was important to come here in warm temperatures. Last year we had some difficulties on some tracks like in Barcelona, this year we don't want any surprises on circuits where the grip is lower. You have to look at the details and the competition which is fierce,” comments Michele Pirro.
At the DID sticker, the profile of the curve on the bottom is softer and it has more material in the area where the shock linkage is located.
Looking at the same area, the bottom edge of the GP21's swingarm is not as curved in this area. Significant forces pass through the swinging arm: during a race, it absorbs lateral, vertical and torsional forces which can all have major consequences not only on the pilot's feeling, but also on the grip of the rear and on the wear of the rear tire.
True to its reputation, Ducati has found even more power with its 2022 engine, so managing that power and being able to use it on a race lasting 40 minutes is something easier said than done.
Another important point is that one of the biggest keys to being at the front of the peloton is to use the Michelin rear tire correctly. It's quite an art to be able to use all the grip it allows without overdoing it so as not to suffer at the end of the race.
At Sepang, Ducati reused this long exhaust – nicknamed Didjeridoo by Jack Miller – which did not go unnoticed during the Jerez tests, and which reminds us of the one that Yamaha tested in 2020 in Misano. Honda also tested this solution in 2017.
Here, Borgo Panigale engineers have changed the length of the lower exhaust, which allows gases to be evacuated from the cylinders at the front of the V4. The exhausts impact the pressure waves, and modifying the length and/or diameter of the tubes in certain areas generates impacts on these pressure waves and their forces. Ducati doesn't really need more power and top speed, so it's likely that this exhaust will allow them to find torque lower in the rev range and make Ducati's power more usable in corners. The rear tire will greatly appreciate the evacuation of the hot air a little further behind the motorcycle.
We often see the teams working on the exhausts, but they rarely change the length that much. We know that Ducati uses the upper exhaust, which exhausts gases from the rear cylinders, to help improve braking performance by opening and closing the valve which can also be seen here, operated by that black box above of the upper exhaust. With more back pressure, engine braking is increased. This upper exhaust has also changed, it is slightly short-circuited and has a larger diameter tip than that fitted to the GP21.
It seems that this exhaust has been validated by the technical teams, because Michele Pirro equipped his 2 prototypes with it: the GP21 and the GP22!
Ducati has also optimized an area that is close to its heart: aerodynamics. The two sets of fins are different and the overall shape of the front fairings and side panels has changed.
The lower set of fins has a nice gradual curve at the bottom where they attach to the fairing. On the 2021 version, this progressive curve was more of a right angle where they reconnected to the side fairing.
It would appear that Ducati has found a way to create a small amount of additional downforce by changing the lean angles, hence the gradual curve. Indeed, this aerodynamic package had been tested in Jerez and Pecco Bagnaia felt better entering corners with it.
Yesterday, at the end of the day, Michele Pirro returned to the aerodynamic package and the 2021 air intake, undoubtedly to refine his comparisons between the developments. It's always worth double-checking new parts, making sure they're better than old parts before committing them for a full season.
There are still a few days of testing left before the 2022 season starts, there is no doubt that the manufacturers have not yet revealed everything to us!
Photos: Dorna Sports
