Suzuki test seamless gearbox at Sepang
The Suzuki MotoGP squad completed a successful private test session at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia yesterday, where Maverick Viñales and the test team debuted Suzuki’s new seamless gearbox on the GSX-RR.
Viñales was supported in the two-day test by Takuya Tsuda and Nobuatsu Aoki, who ran many laps to supply Suzuki’s R&D department in Japan with useful information and data before the winter break.
Unfortunately, Aleix Espargaró couldn’t join in because of the injury he suffered recently while training that caused him a flexion fracture to a vertebrae and required a two-to-three-week lay-off.
New items tested by Viñales, Tsuda and Aoki were the new Michelin tyres and unified software, which will be introduced from 2016 to all MotoGP teams, but also the long-awaited seamless gearbox that equipped both the test machine and Viñales’ Factory GSX-RR. Together with many improvements in set-up configuration and electronics, the three riders carried out intensive work and left the test very satisfied with the progress.
Viñales reported that he had very good feeling with the evolution of his GSX-RR and gave positive feedback about the new seamless gearbox, along with the new electronics. All areas are still to be explored and developed further in Japan over the winter.
Davide Brivio – Team Manager: “These have been two very intense days but the outcome of the test is positive. We had few things to test, among which we managed to test the new seamless gearbox and I am happy that Maverick had a first positive impression. We also had the chance to compare some chassis parts and gathered important information for the winter development. We also started to work with the 2016 unified software – the test team already started with it in Valencia a couple of weeks ago – and we also gave it to Maverick. On this area we still have much work to do but the start was positive. For us this test has been very important to give the directions to work-on in the winter that we were called to do. We also tested new tyres for Michelin and found some good improvements to be worked on further in the future.
“In February we will be testing here again for the first IRTA test and we will try to finalise then even further improvements, especially in electronics. Unfortunately, Aleix could not join us so he will have a chance to test those items in February, hopefully after further improvements. We also had the support of our test riders Tsuda and Aoki who ran many laps to further investigate the new software and fine-tune the seamless gearbox.”
Maverick Viñales: “These two days have been very intense; we tested many many things and I’m happy because I could try the 2016 electronics. The first touch was positive and it left me with the feeling that it has a great potential, but we still have so many things to work on and there’s room to improve. I’m also happy I could test the new seamless, we were expecting it and my impression is very positive. The track was not really clean which meant I couldn’t push really hard, but for our team the testing was good. Now we have plenty of information to work on during the winter and get ready for the next test in February. To go for the winter break with such a good feeling is positive and it gives me great hopes for the further improvements. Now I can take a little rest and then start training again to be ready for the next tests in February.”
