Moto2™ & Moto3™ 2016 upgrades tested in post-Misano test

Both classes stayed on for an extra day at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli to conduct a one-day test. In Moto2™, as well, new front and rear tyres, a new Kalex frame was present, as was a new Speed Up rider.

After announcing his departure from the Italtrans Racing team following the race, Finnish rider Mika Kallio got his first run out on with his new QMMF Team on the Speed Up chassis. His initial feeling was more positive, saying he had more feedback from the front-end of the bike, yet said he still needs more time to give a thorough assessment.

Another significant development was that Rookies Alex Marquez and Alex Rins were both charged with testing different variations of the 2016 Kalex frame. They both noted some positives, giving Kalex a further indication as to what direction to take for next year.

Part of testing the new chassis also involved trying a new Dunlop front tyre with a slightly rounder profile. Other riders trying this were AGR’s Jonas Folger and QMMF’s Julian Simon, with Simon in particular stating that it felt less stable during cornering – though also conceded that track conditions weren’t ideal to give a correct assessment.

Dunlop also brought a new Extra Hard rear slick for the riders to try, designed to give more grip and feedback than the model currently available, though with conditions not ideal, not many could give it the run out that they wanted to.

Technomag Racing Interwetten’s Dominique Aegerter was still feeling a bit sore from yesterday’s crash when he was taken out by Rins in the race, though still managed to run through a raft of geometry settings, giving his team a better idea of how to cope with various situations in the races still left on the calendar.

Reigning World Champion Tito Rabat spent the day assessing new Öhlins front and rear suspension, whilst the man looking to steal his crown, Ajo’s Johann Zarco, also assessed new components from his suspension supplier WP. Zarco however suffered a small crash in his second run, and decided to cut the day short.

Gresini’s Xavier Simeon solely focussed on set-up and trying to regain the confidence he has lost since the Sachsenring, as did yesterday’s podium sitter, Idemitsu Honda Team Asia’s Takaaki Nakagami. Alongside him in the box, Ratthapark Wilairot got a run out on Azlan Shah’s Kalex machine, though Shah was also able to use some track time to confirm set-up. Sam Lowes was one of the high profile names not to test today.

After a thrilling race on Sunday, the Moto3™ riders had no respite as they returned to the Misano track for a one-day test, with upgrades and settings being confirmed before the final five races of the year.

Championship leader Danny Kent worked on improving his ability to turn the bike with various geometry set-ups, after being penalized for running wide off track during the race. However higher humidity and very windy conditions made it tough for the Brit to judge progress.

The conditions caught out the majority of the field, with the likes of Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Brad Binder and Miguel Oliveira commenting that the first run of the day was merely to bed the surface in again after yesterday evening’s track invasion. Both riders focussed on improving the new chassis’ feel, and Binder in particular was relieved that his lack of engine power in the race had been resolved before even heading out on track.

The Mahindra riders in the Mapfre Aspar team were given a new clutch to try, as well as new gearbox parts, which got a glowing review from the likes of Francesco Bagnaia and Jorge Martin. Martin also tried a new front fork, whilst Bagnaia was given a new exhaust to try. The team was also working on some air intake solutions to help with overall power delivery.

Honda did not supply riders with any new parts, meaning that all riders could focus heavily on set-up, suspension and overall geometry of the bike. This was the case for the likes of SAXOPRINT RTG’s Alexis Masbou, Ongetta-Rivacold’s Niccolò Antonelli, with race winner Enea Bastianini benefitting from his teammate’s absence through injury, as he was able to do back-to-back runs with two bikes.

His compatriot Romano Fenati was the only rider to give a significant upgrade a try, as he gave a 2016 frame a run out on track. This chassis would however not be allowed to enter in the 2015 season, as the factory’s one allowed upgrade was already introduced before the Misano round.

Both classes will be back on track next at the Gran Premio Movistar de Aragon on 27th September.

More, from a press release issued by Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS Racing:

Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS conclude successful Misano test

Misano, Italy – 14 September 2015: Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS riders, Tito Rabat and Álex Márquez today completed a successful Moto2 development test at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli.

Rabat, who secured his eighth podium finish of the season with second place in yesterday’s Moto2 race, focussed on evaluating upgrades to both front and rear suspension on his Kalex Moto2 machine.

The reigning World Champion’s test was cut short by the onset of rain ahead of the final track session, but he declared himself satisfied with the progress made and with the improvements the upgrades brought.

For Márquez the focus today was on testing for Kalex, with the reigning Moto3 World Champion identifying a number of positives from an upgraded chassis, which was undergoing its first track test today.

The data collected will be fed back into Kalex’s on-going development program, as they work towards producing the 2016 version of what has been the dominant chassis in the Moto2 class in recent years.

Rabat and Márquez will return to action next week at the Grand Prix of Aragon, which gets underway with free practice for all three classes on Friday 25th September.

Tito Rabat: 37 Laps

“We had a lot to test today but, unfortunately, we had a little bit too much wind this morning and then we lost the last session to rain. Even so, we were able to try some different things with both the front and rear suspension, from which we learnt a lot. The rain meant we weren’t able to do the tyre testing we had planned, but the most important work was done. Now I am focussed on the next race at Aragon, which is just over a week away.”

Álex Márquez: 51 Laps

“The work we’ve done today is for next season rather than this one. We did a comparison between our existing chassis and a new one that Kalex brought to this test, in order to identify a clear direction for their development program ahead of the 2016 season. There are some positive points with the new chassis, but also some negative points, so it is good for me to have some input to the development. Next year we need to make another step and the work we’ve done here today is an important part of that process. Overall, a good test, despite the rain at the end.”

Naoya Kaneko: Chief Mechanic, Álex Márquez

“The main aim today was to evaluate the new chassis and compare it to the one that we are racing this season. We were able to draw some very clear conclusions from the comparison test, which will now pass on to Kalex so that our data and feedback can be incorporated into their development process, which we are confident will result in us receiving an even more competitive package for the 2016 season.”