Moto2 & Moto3 2016 upgrades tested in post-Misano test
Mika Kallio gets run on QMMF bike after replacing Anthony West
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.
We mentioned the departure and thus unemployment of regular QMMF rider Anthony West in our post Misano MotoGP wash-up. Expanding on that, we include below is a statement from QMMF about the dismissal of West from the team.
QMMF Team – “Anthony West saved a world championship point with 15th place, but the small success did not outweigh the disappointment of both the Australian rider and his team with the results achieved in this season so far. West scored one unforgettable victory in the wet race of Assen 2014 and a total of three podiums in his first three years with QMMF Racing. But similar results and the desired top ten finishes remained out of reach in 2015. As a consequence, the management of QMMF Racing Team and the 34-year-old Australian decided to discontinue their long-running working relationship after the Misano Grand Prix and to go different ways. All members of QMMF Racing Team want to thank Anthony West for the moments of glory they achieved together and wish him all the best for the future.”
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.
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.”
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.
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.”
The man looking to steal Rabat’s 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.
Xavier Simeon – “Today we tried different solutions on the bike in an attempt to regain the confidence that has been lacking in the race weekend, finding some improvements. Thanks to the work done today, we hope to arrive at Aragon with the same feeling I had today. A good day, despite the rain which slowed down a little bit our work”.
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.
Pecco Bagnaia – 1’43.7 – “It has been a positive test for us, even though the track wasn’t in the best shape this morning. Even so we set a fast and consistent pace and tested the gearbox that we will have available to us next season. It works really well, it is reliable and it changes gear perfectly. Mahindra have done a great job. We have improved the set-up of the bike so that I can brake even harder and when I open the gas the bike doesn’t want to run wide, so we have done a great job. We are happy we have had the chance to try new things and the conclusions are positive. Mahindra is working in the right direction.”
Jorge Martín – 1’43.5 – “At the start of the day the track was pretty dirty due to the rain last night but between the two sessions the track was cleaner and we were able to get some good laps in. The wind made life a little tricky but we still gathered some interesting data. We tried some gearbox updates and continued working on the set-up, finding a better feeling with the bike. We also tried a different exhaust, which we were not totally convinced by. We lost a little time because we had to change the engine but we leave Misano feeling happy that we have made improvements to the bike since the race yesterday.”
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.
Enea Bastianini – “After the good feelings of yesterday, today it was nice to get back on my bike: I immediately felt at ease and we also tested some new solutions that were positive and that will undoubtedly be useful for the future. Too bad that the rain has not allowed us to complete our working program; however I’m happy, it’s been a useful day on the track”.
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.
