First of all, it should be noted that as we begin this series of articles, we do not know what we will find (or not) at the end of the hours spent analyzing our photos!
So you are, in a way, experiencing at the same time as us this search for new elements on MotoGP observed during the post-GP tests in Valencia…
At Yamaha, we know that a new cycle part has appeared, partly during post-Brno tests for the chassis, then subsequently for the swingarm. It was first praised by Valentino Rossi who wanted to use it from the Grand Prix at Silverstone, which he did, then relegated to oblivion, or, more precisely recovered by Jorge Lorenzo and Pol Espargaro.
What does it consist of?
As always, we are working on the different rigidities of the cycle part (longitudinal, axial and torsional) by providing new elements and testing them.
At Yamaha, after a long period during which we made the chassis more flexible, it seems that this year we have followed the opposite path.
After observing the swing arm, let's focus on the framework.
After the post-GP tests in Brno, Valentino Rossi was delighted with it, and used it at Silverstone: “Comme à Brno, j’ai un bon feeling au freinage et en entrée de virage. J’aime également le comportement de la moto sur les bosses, et même sur les bosses au freinage. Pour tourner, c’est ok. Ce n’est pas énorme, ce sont juste de petites modifications, mais ce que ça améliore, c’est le train avant.”
Is this chassis more flexible?
“Hey, hey… (laughs) I don’t know (laughs)”
In fact, given the only visible difference, we can on the contrary think that the front part of the frame is a little stiffer, since the visible welds at the top of the spars indicate that a reinforcing plate was welded there.
Let's take a look at the photos taken in Valencia where we can see that, as for the swinging arm, Valentino Rossi finally abandoned this new version of the frame to return to the first, unlike Jorge Lorenzo and Pol Espargaro.
To be continued…
