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Post by truenorth on Sept 10, 2023 8:24:23 GMT -8
It's a huge day for Honda and Yamaha in particular as we get set for a fascinating post-GP Monday Test in Misano
There are three days of Grand Prix action that awaits at the Gran Premio Red Bull di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini, but on Monday post-GP, a vital one-day Official MotoGP™ Test takes place at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli.
The Misano Test is always an important date to mark on the calendar. Tests are always intriguing, but the Misano Test has a different flavour to it than other in-season tests. Why? Because on Monday, we’ll potentially be seeing some of the full-time riders begin testing their 2024 prototypes - or at least to some degree.
A huge day for Honda and Yamaha
It’s no secret that both the Japanese factories are struggling to keep pace with their European counterparts - Aprilia, Ducati and KTM - in 2023. It’s also no secret that the Misano Test provides an opportunity for Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™), Marc Marquez, his Repsol Honda teammate Joan Mir and Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) to see what their respective factories have been working on for the past few months - and what direction their heading in. Hearing what the likes of Quartararo and Marc Marquez have to say after their Misano Test outings will be at the top of a lot of people's agendas.
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Post by truenorth on Sept 11, 2023 6:32:21 GMT -8
Mat Oxley What's that bloke in the green shirt doing in the Yamaha garage? It's former Ferrari F1 engine designer Luca Marmorini, who's designed the 2024 M1 engine & worked with Aprilia on its 90-degree RS-GP V4. Will the new M1 feature variable-valve timing like Suzuki's GSX-RR? Not a clue, but it'll need something very clever to bridge the gap to the V4s.
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Post by truenorth on Sept 11, 2023 6:47:21 GMT -8
Mat Oxley Here, on the other hand, is Jack Miller testing KTM's new carbon-fibre frame for the first time. This also features plastic cover. How to spot the difference? carbon tube section is squarer, steel frame tube is more rounded.
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Post by truenorth on Sept 11, 2023 6:51:38 GMT -8
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Post by truenorth on Sept 11, 2023 6:55:03 GMT -8
Peter McLaren An Aprilia being prepared for Oliveira.
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Post by truenorth on Sept 11, 2023 6:58:46 GMT -8
Peter McLaren Marc Marquez moves up to 4th place, (actually 6th on live timing 9am) 0.407s from fastest man Jorge Martin... But he was riding the current Honda, not the 2024 prototype.
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Post by truenorth on Sept 11, 2023 7:01:52 GMT -8
2023 Misano MotoGP Test Times 4pm: Alex Marquez Fastest Halfway Through Afternoon Session By David Emmett | Mon, 11/09/2023 - 14:23 Results:
Pos No. Rider Bike Time Diff Prev 1 73 Alex Marquez Ducati 1'31.337 2 89 Jorge Martin Ducati 1'31.473 0.136 0.136 3 5 Johann Zarco Ducati 1'31.532 0.195 0.059 4 12 Maverick Viñales Aprilia 1'31.618 0.281 0.086 5 10 Luca Marini Ducati 1'31.635 0.298 0.017 6 37 Augusto Fernandez KTM 1'31.686 0.349 0.051 7 33 Brad Binder KTM 1'31.731 0.394 0.045 8 20 Fabio Quartararo Yamaha 1'31.734 0.397 0.003 9 36 Joan Mir Honda 1'31.803 0.466 0.069 10 41 Aleix Espargaro Aprilia 1'31.834 0.497 0.031 11 88 Miguel Oliveira Aprilia 1'31.982 0.645 0.148 12 25 Raul Fernandez Aprilia 1'31.996 0.659 0.014 13 93 Marc Marquez Honda 1'32.100 0.763 0.104 14 21 Franco Morbidelli Yamaha 1'32.115 0.778 0.015 15 43 Jack Miller KTM 1'32.183 0.846 0.068 16 30 Takaaki Nakagami Honda 1'32.749 1.412 0.566 Not classified Honda 44 Pol Espargaro KTM 49 Fabio Di Giannantonio Ducati 72 Marco Bezzecchi Ducati
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Post by truenorth on Sept 11, 2023 7:03:17 GMT -8
Simon Crafar Fabio just finished his first run on the new 'Marmorini /Yamaha' engine (with old/Misano race chassis and aero). Consistent 1:31.7. New chassis and new aero is in the garage but yet to be tested.
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Post by truenorth on Sept 11, 2023 13:07:20 GMT -8
From a Deckchair on the Iceberg New Aero on Bradl's 'black' bike. HEAVILY influenced by Aprilia (current HRC = KTM clone). Fwd & down 2-element airfoil = + L/D. Followed Noale in drastically reducing fairing cross section directly aft of new airfoil. Secondary wings on side = gone.
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Post by truenorth on Sept 11, 2023 13:14:28 GMT -8
David Emmett What should you read into the times at the Misano test? Nothing. The times are "fake" according to Fabio Quartararo. There is so much grip from the Michelin rubber on a track that already has loads of grip that it's impossible to tell whether parts are working or it's the track. In the early days of the KTM MotoGP project, they would go to test after the Moto2 bikes had tested, so the track had no grip left. That way they could figure out how to find grip at low grip tracks.
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Post by truenorth on Sept 11, 2023 13:15:43 GMT -8
Marc Màrquez has spent the morning on a 2024-spec RC213V… And he’s just confirmed he’ll make a decision about his future around India/Japan.
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Post by truenorth on Sept 11, 2023 13:19:45 GMT -8
SofaRacer Misano Test, Latest :
Honda - Choosing Chassis and Swingarms
Yamaha - Choosing Engines and Aero
Ducati - Choosing Special Liveries
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Post by truenorth on Sept 11, 2023 13:21:33 GMT -8
Simon Patterson Fabio Quartararo’s five-lap average top speed in Q1 (less slipstream effect) was 295.8kph
Fabio Quartararo’s five-lap average top speed in today’s test (on Yamaha’s new, faster, better engine) was… 295.8kph
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Post by truenorth on Sept 11, 2023 14:07:56 GMT -8
2023 Misano MotoGP Test Times Afternoon Session: Marini Ends Afternoon Session As Fastest By David Emmett | Mon, 11/09/2023 - 16:29 Afternoon session results:
Pos No. Rider Bike Time Diff Prev 1 10 Luca Marini Ducati 1'30.602 2 12 Maverick Viñales Aprilia 1'30.836 0.234 0.234 3 33 Brad Binder KTM 1'31.154 0.552 0.318 4 89 Jorge Martin Ducati 1'31.168 0.566 0.014 5 43 Jack Miller KTM 1'31.175 0.573 0.007 6 20 Fabio Quartararo Yamaha 1'31.177 0.575 0.002 7 88 Miguel Oliveira Aprilia 1'31.232 0.630 0.055 8 21 Franco Morbidelli Yamaha 1'31.301 0.699 0.069 9 73 Alex Marquez Ducati 1'31.337 0.735 0.036 10 25 Raul Fernandez Aprilia 1'31.362 0.760 0.025 11 41 Aleix Espargaro Aprilia 1'31.381 0.779 0.019 12 30 Takaaki Nakagami Honda 1'31.434 0.832 0.053 13 5 Johann Zarco Ducati 1'31.532 0.930 0.098 14 93 Marc Marquez Honda 1'31.575 0.973 0.043 15 37 Augusto Fernandez KTM 1'31.686 1.084 0.111 16 36 Joan Mir Honda 1'31.687 1.085 0.001 Not classified 6 Stefan Brad Honda 44 Pol Espargaro KTM 49 Fabio Di Giannantonio Ducati 72 Marco Bezzecchi Ducati
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Post by Pistola on Sept 11, 2023 17:17:28 GMT -8
Marc Màrquez has spent the morning on a 2024-spec RC213V… And he’s just confirmed he’ll make a decision about his future around India/Japan. Honda's not capable of closing the gap so quickly so it's all about Marquez creating clickbait.
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Post by truenorth on Sept 12, 2023 6:32:11 GMT -8
Whatever he says or doesn't say becomes clickbait. Apparently the new bike is a little bit better. We're a bit late in the game for miracle introductions.
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Post by truenorth on Sept 12, 2023 14:02:50 GMT -8
Misano Test: novelties & narratives from pitlane on Monday Marini tops the timesheets ahead of Viñales as Honda and Yamaha steal the limelight After what could prove a pivotal Grand Prix at Misano in terms of the title fight, MotoGP™ got back on track on Monday for what could prove a pivotal test too. Topping the timesheets was Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) on his 47th lap of 49 in the afternoon session, deposing Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) as the two duelled it out for top honours. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was third quickest with a late leap up the order. The key stories were less focused on the timesheets, however, as plenty of novelties broke cover on a crucial day of track action for Honda and Yamaha. Mooney VR46, Prima Pramac & Gresini Not every rider was out on Monday, and pitlane was noticeably missing reigning Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) as he sat it out, his teammate Enea Bastianini who is sidelined due to injury, and test rider Michele Pirro after his crash as a wildcard yesterday. Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) and Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) didn't take to the track either. In terms of novelties, there wasn't too much on show across the Ducati stables. Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) had both bikes with the bigger side fairings instead of the downwash duct setup he's used the last few races, but there was nothing new in terms of the classic Ducati, innovation-driven novelties with the Ducati Lenovo Squad not on track either. Aprilia & CryptoData RNF At Aprilia, there was a new chassis. Aleix Espargaro said it wasn't better or worse, just different: it felt softer and handled the bumps better, which is something that affects the Noale factory at some venues. Viñales even said on Thursday in the pre-Misano press conference that he'd never realised the track had bumps until he arrived at Aprilia. There was arguably another headline-stealer, however: Miguel Oliveira had a 2023 Aprilia in his CryptoData RNF MotoGP™ Team box, alongside his usual 2022 machine. His review? A step forward in every way. Red Bull KTM & GASGAS Tech3 At Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, Jack Miller had one of the chassis that wildcard and test rider Dani Pedrosa used over the weekend, rumoured to be fully carbon fibre. Pedrosa didn't join the test. Binder had a black chassis, but it looked similar to his standard 2023 chassis. Miller also had a run out on that. At GASGAS Tech3 Factory Racing, there seemingly wasn't much to report, but the duo put in the laps to gain some more data. Pol Espargaro also crashed, rider ok. He didn't go out in the afternoon but rookie teammate Augusto Fernandez continued putting in the laps. Monster Energy Yamaha In the morning, one of Fabio Quartararo's machines had the bigger aero for a couple of runs, before it was then switched back. But then another aero package broke cover: a combination of the first iteration of the 2023 aero plus additions previously tried by Franco Morbidelli at the Portimao Test. Morbidelli was also trying his current aero and the original 2023 aero throughout the day, as well as a new larger air box/fuel tank covering. The Italian also tried the double exhaust, already seen previously, again at Misano, and a new chassis that didn't gain a good review from the number 21. However, there was also a fifth bike in the Yamaha box, likely the bike that contained a new engine. The reports? Team manager Massimo Meregalli was positive, but when Quartararo debriefed, he said he'd expected more. Repsol Honda & LCR Honda Castrol There was a lot of talk about Honda ahead of the test, and much of it may now likely continue. Repsol Honda teammates Marc Marquez and Joan Mir both had one of the bikes that HRC test rider and wildcard Stefan Bradl used during the Grand Prix weekend with the new chassis, new tail unit and new exhausts. Mir did a short run on the "new" bike before work continued in the garage, only heading back out on it much later in the day. Marc Marquez, meanwhile, did a few runs on the machine, and made more than the odd headline in his debrief. Bradl had a machine with the new chassis, new tail unit and new exhausts, and LCR Honda Castrol's Takaaki Nakagami also tried it. The general consensus for those trying it for the first time? Different, but not necessarily better at this stage. Now it's on to India as the clock keeps ticking down to see what will happen next in the rumour mill! The Top 10: 1. Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) – 1:30.602 2. Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) - +0.234 3. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) - +0.552 4. Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) - +0.566 5. Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) - +0.573 6. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) - +0.575 7. Miguel Oliveira (CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP Team) - +0.630 8. Franco Morbidelli (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) - +0.699 9. Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) - +0.735 10. Raul Fernández (CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP Team) - +0.760
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Post by truenorth on Sept 12, 2023 14:11:08 GMT -8
The Godfather of MotoGP™ Nick Harris pays tribute to the late, great Mike Trimby Mike would have hated all the fuss. The true Godfather of the MotoGP™ family who shied away from any personal praise or acknowledgement. The former racer who changed the very future of Grand Prix motorcycle racing because he cared so much. Mike and his wife Irene adopted the MotoGP™ family to save lives and provide riders and teams with well-being and respect from Circuits, Promotors, and those in authority. I hope Mike looked down on the amazing show at Misano over the weekend with a smile on his face. All those principles he set out to achieve when he first stepped foot into the Grand Prix paddock 41 years ago had been achieved. When Mike arrived in 1982 Grand Prix racing was in a mess. The racing was fantastic and the riders brilliant, but the remainder was in chaos. Some people peering through rose-tinted spectacles will tell you different but just wipe the surface to clear those lenses. The riders asked Mike to represent them in their fight for safety, proper and liveable facilities, deserved prize and travel money and perhaps most important at the time, respect which was blatantly lacking in so many areas. In 1986 he founded the International Road Racing Teams Association. With Mike at the helm, they fought tooth and nail for the rider’s welfare and rights. The tide started to turn. Teams and riders had a voice at the table and in 1992 the foundations fought for, and achieved by Mike, played such a massive part in the transformation of the sport. Mike and IRTA were the cement that bound together the FIM, MSMA and Dorna Sports to form the alliance that changed the face of Grand Prix racing, to where it is today. Mike was a man of passion, principles, and belief. Once his mind was made up you needed one hell of an argument to change it. Of course, not everybody agreed to the changes, but he always had the rider's and teams’ well-being at heart. He never let them down. It's difficult to imagine a MotoGP™ paddock without Mike. Up those metal steps to the IRTA office. Turn left and there was Irene and the likes of Tony and Rick from his loyal staff. Cup of tea if you want one but you must make it yourself because we are so busy, the usual greeting from the boys. Irene would always find you a couple of passes if you were desperate. Turn right into Mike’s office. English news and sports always on the screen behind his desk. There was always plenty to discuss and recollect before MotoGP™ ever got mentioned. Mike loved The Who, the great sixties rock band, and so concert venues were checked. The exploits of his football team Bristol City were mulled over. So many times, in the boardroom next door, we’d sat amidst the debris of empty pizza boxes and beer bottles after watching another England football defeat in World Cup and European Championship games. We would laugh remembering the exploits of Steve Parrish and others in those unforgettable trips to the Macau Grand Prix, which Mike organised followed by a week in Thailand with Mike and Irene. We first met at Daytona Beach in Florida in the seventies. Mike organised the trips for the 200 miler for hundreds of British fans. It was a fabulous week of fun, sun, and plenty more plus, of course, motorcycle racing. Later, Mike was a journalist's dream. He never gave away a secret, but he would give just that hint you may be on the right track when encouragement was needed. When Mike passed away on Friday, we all lost a true friend. For me, and I think many others, the MotoGP™ paddock without him will be a very sad place.
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Post by truenorth on Sept 12, 2023 14:13:21 GMT -8
Home hero Kadai Yaseen Ahmed set for GP of India wildcard The 26-year-old Indian rider will race in front of his home fans at the Buddh International Circuit in the Moto3™ class Set to take place on 22-24 September at Buddh International Circuit, the Indian Grand Prix comes as a milestone event for the country’s motorsport fans who are eagerly waiting for the arrival of their MotoGP™ heroes. This historic moment will be made even more special for Indian fans in that they will be able to support local rider Kadai Yaseen Ahamed. Ahamed will compete alongside Malaysian Shahril Danial Syahmi as a wildcard for the PETRONAS MIE Racing Vision Track Racing team in the Moto3™ category. The duo will be riding the Honda NSF250R. PETRONAS and MIE Racing are once again proud to be able to bring two young athletes to the world stage, part of an effort to promote and publicise the values of motorsport such as dedication, passion and the continual pursuit of excellence, both human and technological. 21-year-old Shahril Danial Syahmi from Parit Buntar, Perak, Malaysia will be competing in the Moto3™ World Championship for the second time, following his debut in the category earlier this year during the Liqui Moly Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland. The Malaysian raced for the MTHelmets - MSI Team as a replacement for compatriot Syarifuddin Azman, who sustained an injury at Mugello. Having competed in the Asia Talent Cup and Asia Road Racing Championship in recent years, in 2023 Danial is on track in both the FIM JuniorGP World Championship and the Red Bull Rookies Cup. 26-year-old K.Y. Ahamed from Chennai, India was crowned 2020 Indian National Champion in the Pro-Stock 400 class. Ahamed also has experience in other championships such as the Thailand Superbike 400 series and the Asia Cup Japan. 2023 sees the Indian compete in the Asia Road Racing Championship aboard the TVS Racing Team’s TVS RR310 OMC. Midori Moriwaki: “I’m proud to collaborate with PETRONAS on another project designed to support young athletes, and to be able to do so on what is a very special occasion, as MotoGP makes its debut in India. This will be a real challenge, but it is one that we are ready to take on with passion and enthusiasm because it perfectly embodies the values that MIE Racing holds and bases its activities on.” PETRONAS Senior General Manager of Group Strategic Relations and Communications, Datin Anita Azrina Abdul Aziz: "This collaboration with Midori is yet another platform for PETRONAS to contribute towards the development of the next generation of Malaysian talents in the two-wheels segment. This is also an opportunity for us to commercially elevate the PETRONAS brand in India as well as push the advancement of our fluid technology in motorsports, particularly within the FIM Grand Prix World Championship arena.”
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Post by truenorth on Sept 12, 2023 14:16:06 GMT -8
Acosta to MotoGP™ edges closer as Red Bull KTM Ajo sign Öncü & Vietti The Turk and Italian will form Aki Ajo’s Moto2™ team next season as Acosta gets set for MotoGP™ promotion Red Bull KTM Ajo have announced that Celestino Vietti (Fantic Racing) and their current Moto3™ star, Deniz Öncü, will form their Moto2™ World Championship team in 2024. Öncü, 20 years old and a former Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup race winner, celebrated his first Grand Prix victories with the team and the KTM RC4 in Moto3™ this year. The fast, aggressive Turk has already notched 11 podium finishes in the division and 2023 has been his third campaign of World Championship education. He is currently fourth in the Moto3™ series and part of the close chase for the title. Öncü’s ability, physicality, attitude and burgeoning experience means he is eager to take his career to the next level. Vietti already has six GP wins from both the Moto3™ and Moto2™ categories and has been learning the intricacies of Moto2™ in 2021, 2022 and 2023. Last year his three triumphs marked a clear capacity to set the pace in the Championship and he has again risen to the top of the podium during 2023 to date. Vietti has been part of Valentino Rossi’s VR46 Academy effort and now joins the KTM scheme to achieve the next goals of his career. The news also means that Pedro Acosta’s much-anticipated move up to MotoGP™ is edging ever closer. However, where the current Moto2™ World Championship leader will be racing is something yet to be announced by KTM, as the debate as to who will be at GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 in 2024 rumbles on. Deniz Öncü: “I'm very happy to be moving up to Moto2 with Red Bull KTM Ajo. The main goal this season is to improve in Moto3 and get good results to fight for the title. We are doing really well together and have victories in Germany and Austria so far. I just want to thank Aki, KTM and Red Bull for their confidence in me and for this opportunity. Thanks also to my manager, Kenan Sofuoğlu, for always supporting me.” Celestino Vietti: “I’m super-excited. It’s a great opportunity for me so I am very happy about the news. I have to say thanks to KTM and Aki Ajo for believing in me. Also, thanks to VR46 Riders Academy Management, as without them none of this would be possible. We still have a way to go before the end of this season, so I have to finish this one the best way with my current team. They helped me to achieve many great results this year. It will also enable me to have the confidence to start the new season well. Thank you so much and see you in 2024.” Aki Ajo, Team Principal: “The last few years in Moto2 have been very successful for us and of course we have enjoyed working with all these different riders. This year with Pedro and Albert [Arenas] has been very intense and enjoyable; both have improved a lot, we have achieved many podiums and we are even top of the standings. Next year we have a new line-up: Deniz Öncü and Celestino Vietti. “I have to say that we are excited to have a great mix of experience in this class and young talent with Deniz, who we already know. I think this kind of combination is a really good chance for us to be very successful in Moto2 next year. Celestino has shown in the last seasons that he is one of the top riders in the class. Of course, we are very happy to have him on our team alongside Deniz, who is one of the fastest riders in Moto3. The combination will be great, and we are excited about it.”
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