According to the generally well-documented site Motoracing, Ducati brings a prepared version of its engine to Mugello every year, and this would be the case again this year.
The problem is that this announcement, although very nice, seems quite strange…
First of all, everyone remembers that any engine development is prohibited during the season. This concerns the engine block itself and therefore refers the only possibility of improving the propellant to the external elements which are the intake, the exhaust and the electronics. However, starting from an engine as accomplished as that of the GP17 or any other MotoGP, we find it difficult to see how an intake, an exhaust, or even electronics, could provide enough additional horsepower for this to translate in a meaningful way. noticeable on top speed. What's more, why wait for Mugello, and only Mugello?
In fact, the article in question explains that the “Tuscan superevolution” is a mixture of high technology, electronics and aerodynamics. The technology being fixed for the year, just like the aerodynamics with the exception of the two developments that could be approved (which Ducati has not yet done to date), there would therefore only be magic electronics left to provide the necessary horses.
On this subject, it is enough to compare the roughly equivalent top speeds of the official and satellite Yamahas, the latter having however a notably lower maximum rev, to understand that one would seriously have to rely on the magical side of electronics to be able to boost the Ducatis during their national Grand Prix.
So certainly, Andrea Iannone achieved the highest top speed in MotoGP last year at Mugello, with 354,9 km/h in the race. But let's not forget that the Italian circuit has the longest straight of the season (1141 m) after Austin, and follows a parabolic downhill...
This year, without the fins, it is likely that this speed will be exceeded. Without this necessarily being a “Tuscan superevolution”!
