The official test day for MotoGP riders and teams took place at the Jerez circuit on the Monday immediately after the Spanish Grand Prix, and was an opportunity for the teams to try out some new components. The protagonists found a different temperature from that of the race, especially in the morning, and worked on the settings and, as usual, some new features. Little overview!
Marc Marquez was spotted on track with an aerodynamic package different from the one approved for 2022, but not that new: in fact, this is the package used by the HRC teams last season. It's interesting because of all the Honda riders, Marc Marquez did by far the most laps with this aerodynamic package during the end-of-season test at Jerez late last year, appearing to be the rider who was the most uncertain about this area.
This aerodynamic package provides a little less downforce. The Cervera driver could seek to modify the feeling with the front axle and thus adapt it to his driving.
But that's not all, since he also tested a completely new aerodynamic package, very similar to that tested on the initial version of the Honda 2022, which entered the track at Misano last year, although this version seems to be beefed up a bit with a lot more surface area.
For comparison, here is the standard aerodynamic package that Honda has approved for 2022.
And here is the latest evolution that Marc Marquez tested this Monday in Jerez.
Honda test rider Stefan Bradl had a wildcard this weekend and he used a new set of exhausts on his Honda, which the Honda riders did not try during the Jerez test day. They have remained faithful to the standard exhausts of the 213 RC2022V.
On Stefan Bradl's bike, during the weekend race, the new upper exhaust is slightly longer than the current version. In addition, the tip is surrounded by an openwork ring on the outer surface, not just at the end like the classic version.
The lower exhaust has also been reworked, but it is a much more subtle modification: between the 2 versions, only the "lip" on the exhaust tip has been modified.
Looking just above the lower exhaust, you can see the upper exhaust pipes extending upwards. Their shape on the new version is slightly different from that of the standard version. From this we can say that it is not just the exhaust tips that have been changed, but the entire exhaust is new along its entire length.
KTM has revealed a radically different set of exhausts. Like Ducati, which unveiled a much longer lower exhaust late last year, or Yamaha during the 2020 season, KTM made a similar change at Jerez this Monday. On the Ducati, the long exhaust provided a little more power but it was more difficult to dose, and it was against this that the Ducati riders finally decided to oppose because it made the GP22 a little too difficult to manage .
But for KTM, it might not be power they're looking for, but rather a more usable power zone. Their rear grip issues are no secret, so it could be that KTM is looking to try and find a solution in this area. Brad Binder commented that he didn't feel a huge difference, but he liked the sound of these exhausts!
We will have to wait for the next day of testing, on the Barcelona circuit, to see if KTM keeps this idea or brings another version of their exhaust system.
Thanks to her good results, Enea Bastianini was able to test upgrades to the GP22 on her Ducati. The Bologna factory thus installed the front part of the fairing, including the air intake and the 2022 aerodynamic package. The Italian driver seemed satisfied, saying that if he had to choose one to continue the season, he would choose the 2022 version rather than the 2021 fairing to which he is accustomed.
Davide Tardozzi, Team Manager of the Ducati Corse team, clarified that Enea Bastianini deserved to test these developments, and that Ducati was already planning to deploy an evolution of the aerodynamic package for its factory riders mid-season.
At KTM, and more precisely at Tech3 Racing, Remy Gardner was able to try the 2022 swingarm, which the factory riders have already had since the start of the season.
While waiting for a new fairing which will arrive at Mugello, Yamaha had prepared a new front mudguard and a new swingarm that the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP team rider was able to try, as well as the larger Brembo discs and some tuning updates that he was unable to try during the Grand Prix weekend.
Also, on the swingarm, the area that has changed is the curvature of the cut out section, where the chain passes through the swingarm itself.
The standard swingarm actually has a slightly different shape, with a larger cutout area and a further rearward setback compared to the new version.
Joan Mir continued to use the different swingarms on her Suzuki, of which here is the latest development.
Alex Rins did not want to use it. The difference is the horizontal weld which is above the hole where the linkage passes. On the latest version, the soldering is present, but not on the old one. The objective is to work on its rigidity.
Photos: Dorna Sports
