Last weekend, in Germany, on the Sachsenring track, Fabio Quartararo gave us a recital, triumphing in front of Johann Zarco. It was the first racing weekend after the official test day in Barcelona, which was essential to prepare for the second part of the season but also to guide development for the 2023 season. But many developments were approved and already adopted by pilots, particularly from an aerodynamic point of view.
Over the weekend, Alex Marquez used one of the aero packages he had the opportunity to test during the recent official test in Barcelona.
It's very similar to the one they used last season with just a few small adjustments: these wings provide slightly less downforce than the 2022 ones, which all the other Honda riders used this weekend. This now means Alex Marquez has used his wildcard, with drivers allowed just one aerodynamic upgrade during the season. Also, in 2022, he will only be able to use this package or return to the one he used until now.
We also saw Alex Marquez ride one of the chassis that Takaaki Nakagami has been using since the start of the season, having tried it at the Catalan Test and it seems there is something he likes, as he 'reused in Germany. It's interesting because there are currently four different chassis options from Honda, but the Japanese driver was the only one to use this one until Germany. Maybe in the next events we will see Pol Espargaro or Stefan Bradl using it too.
Suzuki also tried the various aerodynamic options that the technical teams had brought to the Catalan test. Although Alex Rins did not start the race, due to his still sore wrist, he rode with this new aerodynamic package throughout the weekend. It's the first of two new aero packages Suzuki riders have at their disposal, and with Alex Rins trying this one out on a race weekend, it means he's forced to use it as an evolution aerodynamic for the season.
His teammate Joan Mir adopted the second evolution. On this one, the upper fins are the same as the classic fins, but the side fins are now arranged lower. Joan Mir used it pretty much all weekend in Germany, and as he said, it helped him a lot, giving him back a feeling he had lost with the GSX-RR.
However, his Sunday did not go as planned as he made a late tire change, choosing hard compound instead of medium, and he struggled to get it working before crashing in the first rounds.
At the Mattighofen factory, there were also aerodynamic developments on the track. Miguel Oliveira reverted to his initial 2022 fairing in Germany, this is the one seen in the photo above, where the upper fin set is slightly different and this configuration features the lower side fins.
The Portuguese driver did not comment on his wish to go back regarding this aerodynamic development.
Whatever the reasons, he was not the only one to return to the old aerodynamic package, since within the Tech3 team it was also the choice made by Raul Fernandez, who placed 12th, his best result in the premier category so far.
You can see the aerodynamic difference between the RC16s of Raul Fernandez and his teammate Remy Gardner, behind him in the photo, who chose to continue with the new aero package.
Last weekend in Germany, Maverick Viñales used the revolutionary new fairings on its Aprilia, which debuted during the official test day in Barcelona. This fairing is used for ground effect, to create a bit of downforce on the corner at high speeds and allow the tire to be constrained on the corner to generate more grip.
Maverick Viñales seems to appreciate this aerodynamic contribution, it is undoubtedly one of the reasons why the Aprilia rider was very competitive this weekend, despite abandoning due to a technical problem. With more pressure applied to the tires at high lean angles, this perhaps gives it a little more confidence in the early laps when the tires aren't quite up to temperature yet.
On Maverick Viñales' Aprilia, another notable detail concerns the adjustable footrest position, which the rider has been evolving for some time. In this photo, they are as far back as possible, and at the highest position.
This photo was taken in Mugello. Here too, its footrests mounted as high as possible but, unlike the previous image, as far forward as possible. It may be another small change that gave Maverick Viñales a click to get the comfort and confidence he needs with the Aprilia
Photos: Dorna Sports
