After a quick but unlucky start to the season at Phillip Island, Loris returned to his Ten Kate team Yamaha for two days of testing at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Our Savoyard already knew this track very well having ridden there in MotoGP on Yamaha Forward and Ducati Avintia, but it was a discovery for everyone in the Superbike World Championship.
You were in the top three with Scott Redding et Johnny Rea from the first day, how did it go your Barcelona tests ?
" Pretty good. It was important to race there because we know that, even in a Grand Prix, it is a circuit which is very complicated for tire wear due to the high heat. Kawasaki had already ridden there. It had been five months since I had ridden, I had ridden an enduro bike once or twice, but that was it. »
“But in my first run, after three laps, I already felt good. It felt like I had been riding the week before! It was pretty cool. We were able to start working straight away, from eleven o'clock during the hot weather, to understand the races that we are going to have this year, mainly in Spain and Portugal in August and September. It was important to find solutions for tire wear. »
“We then did some lap times. This was not the most important thing at that time because we had to try the whole range of tires available. We did well, so it was a good first day of testing, having understood a lot about tire wear. »
You only gained a tenth between the first and second day. Was this a deliberate choice?
“Deliberately?” Yes and no, because the strategy to set a time – and this is what most drivers do – was to put on the soft tires (the SCX and the qualifying tires) early in the morning at nine o'clock, like we do in Sepang. The fresh track then has much more grip. »
“We didn't put them on in the morning because we needed to work on the bike the second day, to understand things. With the heat, I did two consecutive simulations at noon and 14 p.m. to see if all the tires held up for the duration of the race. »
“I put the soft tires back on at the end of the day and gained a tenth. In fact I fell 40 minutes from the end in Turn 1 and after the mechanics rebuilt the bike, I started again with 15 minutes to go. I put the tires back on to regain confidence immediately after the fall and I gained a tenth with the bike which was – not twisted – but which had just fallen. »
“The hunt for the time was done – as we saw – in the morning, I finished second or third in the afternoon, which was pretty good. We knew that if we didn't switch to soft tires in the morning, we risked finishing a little further down in the standings, but that was intentional because we didn't have enough qualifying tires and SCX to set times. in the morning, race simulations and longer runs afterwards, then in the evening to set times. So it was intentional. »
What is the exact role of the Pirelli SCX (Special Compound X)?
“It’s a soft tire that we have available for all races. It is often used in the first run of the Superpole, then for the sprint race on Sunday. It changes a little in rubber and texture from one circuit to another. »
“But tire wear is so enormous in Barcelona and there are big differences in time between the first laps of a race and the last, we really wanted to try all the tires over all their durations. It has happened in the past that when it is very hot the SCX lasts for a full round, so we had to do a lot of long runs. »
“So that didn’t allow us to do everything we wanted. I think I did 210 laps over the two days, so that was enough. (laugh). »
Between the bike you raced at Phillip Island and the new one, with 2020 specifications, that you had at Barcelona, what are the main differences?
“The main difference is the cable-free electronic throttle, which takes a bit of getting used to. The feeling is really different when touching the handle, but I quickly got used to it. »
“The engine works better, we are drivers and we always want more horsepower! After the first run with the new bike, I told them it was better but more was needed. It's an engine that runs better, has a few more horsepower. Our weak point was horsepower at the top, top speed, so it was cool to try that. And anyway when you discover a new motorcycle, as a rider you are always super happy. So it was nice. »
Most of the races will take place mainly in Spain, but also in Portugal and Italy where it should be very hot this summer. Will this be an advantage for the Yamaha R1 in Pirelli?
“I don’t know, it will also depend on the circuits. In Barcelona, Rea's pace was truly impressive. For the rest, we were all pretty tight. Tire wear played a big role. There was actually only Johnny in Barcelona who was above everyone else. But Kawasaki had already done a test session there. We will have to see in Jerez where normally the Yamaha works very well. I think we have a good chance, like in Portimão, and also in Aragón despite the long straight. It's a season that can suit the Yamaha which has a very smooth engine. »
“This engine also needs to be used at maximum angle, a lot on torque. But, sometimes, it is not recommended with tire wear and it is better to get the bike up early to accelerate more in line. It's a question of adjustments, of compromises to be found. This is why these Barcelona tests were important in order to properly prepare for all the races that will take place. »
The four major French races – the Grand Prix, the Superbike, the 24 Hours and the Bol – were saved. Do the organizers and the FFM deserve a big thank you from the fans?
“Yes, I think so, and so do the organizers of the World Championships. Frankly, we have to take our hats off to Dorna for having managed to save these championships with quite a few races. There are people who complain because almost all the races take place in Spain, but we must already be happy that there are races. It doesn't change much when you watch the races on TV, whether they are in Spain or elsewhere. »
“It’s great that there are the four major French races, even if some will be behind closed doors. We will be able to follow them with interest. »
Combined results of the 2 days:
| 1 | 1 | Jonathan Rhea | Kawasaki | 1'41.910 | 1'40.450 |
| 2 | 45 | Scott Redding | Ducati | 1'41.727 | 1'40.606 |
| 3 | 66 | Tom Sykes | BMW | 1'42.455 | 1'40.956 |
| 4 | 22 | alex lowes | Kawasaki | 1'42.318 | 1'41.137 |
| 5 | 54 | Toprak Razgatlioglu | Yamaha | 1'42.771 | 1'41.218 |
| 6 | 50 | Eugene Laverty | BMW | 1'42.832 | 1'41.494 |
| 7 | 60 | Michael van der Mark | Yamaha | 1'42.975 | 1'41.679 |
| 8 | 76 | Loris Baz | Yamaha | 1'41.980 | 1'41.881 |
| 9 | 7 | Chaz Davies | Ducati | 1'42.641 |
1'41.903 |
| 10 | 36 | Leander Market | Ducati | 1'42.997 |
1'42.024 |
| 11 | 31 | Garrett gerloff | Yamaha | 1'43.119 | 1'42.121 |
| 12 | 91 | Leon Haslam | Honda | 1'42.996 |
1'42.126 |
| 13 | 11 | Sandra Cortese | Kawasaki | 1'42.573 |
1'42.187 |
| 14 | 19 | Alvaro Bautista | Honda | 1'42.320 | 1'43.261 |
| 15 | 64 | Federico Caricasulo | Yamaha | 1'43.535 | 1'42.333 |
| 16 | 77 | Maximilian Scheib | Kawasaki | 1'43.568 |
1'42.436 |
| 17 | 20 | Sylvain Barrier | Ducati | 1'44.430 | 1'44.323 |
Photos © Yamaha
