MotoGP tests at Misano J1: Ducati refines its secret tool

Ducati rented the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli for three days, to run Michele Pirro in MotoGP and all its Superbike teams. Suzuki joined him in MotoGP with Sylvain Guintoli, but especially KTM (with Tech 3) and Aprilia, because the latter two manufacturers have until June 29 – next Monday – to submit the final drawings of the motorcycle and all its components, then to respect the development freeze until at the end of 2021.

Michele Pirro was testing a new aerodynamic element on his front wheel (see photo above), perhaps intended to improve brake disc cooling on this hot day on the Adriatic coast. The main aerodynamic elements had to be submitted to the technical manager of the Grands Prix, as did the engine for example. But if the design of the fairing will remain the same until the end of 2021, on the other hand small elements can be added or modified.

Honda, Yamaha, Ducati and Suzuki have already submitted their plans to the technical manager of the GPs since the Qatar race in early March. It is therefore essential for KTM and Aprilia to thoroughly test their various parts on which they are still hesitant, because in a week it will be too late.

KTM started on May 27 and 28 at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg with Pol Espargaro and Dani Pedrosa. Aprilia followed at Misano on June 10 and 11 with Bradley Smith and Lorenzo Savadori.

“It’s time for rock’n’roll!” » exulted Aleix Espargaró, leader of the Aprilia team. “II love spending time at home with the kids or riding my bike, but it quickly gets a little boring. »

“I like the new calendar. It becomes very emotional, very romantic. We're going to spend a lot of time with the same people, living in the paddock, and I can't wait. » Aleix would have preferred to race the Italian Grand Prix at Mugello, but in the end, what matters to him is that his team can have a home race: “It’s important for Aprilia. I am happy for myself with the two races in Aragón and I also like Jerez. »

At Aprilia, most of the day was devoted to the choice to be made between the two versions of the engine, in order to launch final production as quickly as possible. There is less than a month left before the first Grand Prix, which will take place from July 15 to 19 in Jerez. In this sense, the breakdown suffered by Bradley Smith on the straight this morning was perhaps an indication, although the Aprilia team spoke of a simple burn-in incident.

According to Massimo Rivola, who runs Aprilia Racing, “We know it's not the best track for us, while KTM took second place here in qualifying and has certainly ridden more than us recently. »

“Bradley gave very good feedback from a physical point of view, he did 75 laps which is not a few. Today, for the first time, he was able to ride with his teammate and being able to stay close to him immediately motivated him. It's important because we need him to take that mental step forward from tester to official driver, and he's doing it. »

Participants in the Misano tests:

Ducati test team: Michele Pirro

Red Bull KTM: Pol Espargaro, Brad Binder

Red Bull KTM Tech3: Miguel Oliveira, Iker Lecuona

Aprilia: Aleix Espargaro, Bradley Smith, Lorenzo Savadori

Suzuki Ecstar Test team: Sylvain Guintoli

At Ducati, Michele Pirro developed communication with his team using a microphone (here in his left hand) and audio headsets for his technicians:

The four KTMs as well as Sylvain Guintoli on the only Suzuki present kept the two Italian manufacturers company on the track. It was Pol Espargaró's KTM which was credited with the best time at the end of the day, although most of the times remained confidential because it was a private session.

At the end of the afternoon, the official Ducati Superbikes made a few laps to check the bikes before their tests on Wednesday and Thursday:

Results of the first day:

Pol Espargaró (KTM) 1'33.0

Aleix Espargaró (Aprilia) 1'33.9

Bradley Smith (Aprilia) 1'34.0

Reference times:

Test record: 1'31.629 by Jorge Lorenzo on Ducati in 2018

Lap record: 1'32.678 by Andrea Dovizioso on Ducati in 2018

Below, interview with Massimo Rivola (Director of Aprilia Racing) by Sky Sport (in Italian):

Giovanni Zamagni of Moto.it from the Misano circuit (in Italian):

Photos © Motogp.com / Dorna, Ducati Corse