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MotoGP 2019

  • The MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3 classes hold pre-season tests each year.

  • But there is an extra immediacy in MotoGP pre-season tests.

  • It’s especially crucial lately due to the limit on testing and development throughout the season.

There’s so much coverage not just for the regular MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3 season these days. But why is pre-season testing so important?

Why do teams pay so much attention to just four sessions over three months, although the race calendar covers 19 venues worldwide over eight months?

The main objective of the pre-season tests is to discover more about the new machinery and gain the all-important data. This term is oversimplified as there are countless number of regimes that the riders, teams, the component engineers, tyre engineers, so forth need to test for and gain the required feedback.

Rossi and Vinalez during the Sepang Winter Test 2019 – Photo credit MotoGP.com

The riders would put in a large number of laps on track while trying to figure out how the tyres and bike work and finding the optimal way of extracting the best performance (i.e. lap times) out of them. The team’s engineers meanwhile, need to figure out what suspension and electronic settings could unlock the bike and its components’ full potential. That data will be useful in the races to come as the teams have a basic idea of what the bike does.

Other suppliers such as helmet and racesuit makers for the riders, exhaust makers, motorcycle component makers, etc. are also keen for feedback to improve their products. This is when they can tailor a certain fit for the rider. That goes for footpeg suppliers, for instance, as well.

However, that still doesn’t explain the immediacy we see these days. That is due to the limits on testing mandated by the GP Commission.

Along with standardized technological specifications, the GP Commission limit the number of official testing events to curb the cost spent by the factory teams, besides giving less time for the bikes to “evolve” over the season.

Marc Marquez at SIC test – Photo credit MotoGP.com

At the conclusion of the fourth and final pre-season test at Qatar, teams without concessions must declare the engine they will use for the entire season. When the engines are produced, they will be crated and sealed by the Grand Prix Commission. Thus, the team will need to use that engine throughout the year.

Therefore, the team is screwed for the entire year if they picked the wrong engine.

The GP Commission made this decision to keep development in check and ensures that teams with more resources (read: money) could not keep upgrading their bikes as the season progresses.

The progress we see these days come from elsewhere such as suspension tuning, electronic strategy, tyres, bike’s suitability to certain tracks and of course, rider skill.

By the way, what does it mean by “teams without concessions”? Under the rule book, teams or manufacturers who have not attained the number of podiums in dry races are given more leeway i.e. concessions to develop their motorcycles throughout the season.

Aleix Espargaro on the Aprilia RS-GP at the Sepang Winter Test 2019 – Photo credit MotoGP.com

This arrangement encourages new teams to join the MotoGP class. Indeed, manufacturers such as Ducati and Suzuki benefitted from this to challenge the Big Two of Honda and Yamaha. They are not without concessions.

On the other hand, Aprilia and KTM are allowed more concessions in terms of fuel limits during the race, more engines per season, more testing and development, and wildcard riders. This will help to fast-track their MotoGP programs to join the upper ranks.

Miguel Oliveira on the KTM RC16 at the Sepang Winter Test 2019 – Photo credit MotoGP.com

Without this rule, the bigger manufacturers will keep staying in front, while the smaller teams or newcomers find themselves languishing at the back of the field.

Andrea Dovizioso sharing a light moment with his crew chief during the Sepang Winter Test 2019 – Photo credit MotoGP.com

All images are originally published in MotoGP.com. Please click on this link to view the full gallery.

  • Para penunggang Ducati telah membolot empat tempat teratas pada hari terakhir Ujian Pra Musim MotoGP 2019 Sepang.
  • Empat penunggang Ducati berkenaan adalah antara enam penunggang yang telah memecahkan rekod catatan masa ujian sebelum ini.
  • Ducati, Yamaha, dan Suzuki telah menguji reraup baharu mereka sewaktu ujian ini.

(more…)

  • Ducati-mounted riders claimed the top four fastest laps on the final day of the MotoGP 2019 Sepang Pre-Season Test.

  • The four Ducati riders were among six who broke the previous test record.

  • Ducati, Yamaha and Suzuki tested new fairings during the test.

Ducati mounted riders staged a demolition of the pre-season test record on the final day of the MotoGP 2019 Sepang Pre-season Test.

New Mission Winnows Ducati rider, Danilo Petrucci used the combination of new soft tyres from Michelin to destroy the “unofficial” lap record. He becomes the fastest bike ever to lap the Sepang International Circuit with an amazing time of 1m 58.239s. His time is nearly 0.6s faster than the 1m 58.830s record set by Jorge Lorenzo last year.

The factory Ducati team debuted a new fairing with 3 spoilers on each side today. Petrucci had crashed while testing it but recovered his composure.

Petrucci’s feat was among Ducati’s domination with four riders leading the timesheets. New Pramac Ducati rider Francesco Bagnaia recorded the second fastest time of 1m 58.302s while his teammate Jack Miller recorded 1m 58.366s to finish third fastest.

Jack Miller at SIC test – Photo credit MotoGP.com

In fourth was veteran factory Ducati rider Andrea Dovizioso with a time of 1m 58.538s.

The next fastest brand was a factory Yamaha, which Maverick Vinalez took to fifth with a time of 1m 58.644s. Vinalez was the fastest man yesterday with 1m 58.897s yesterday but saw himself being relegated down the order today despite improving on his time. Yamaha were also testing a new fairing today.

Cal Crutchlow also improved from his previous best time of 1m 59.566s to record 1m 58.780s but found himself just sixth quickest!

A total of six riders dipped under the old 1m 58.830s mark. No one believed motorcycles could circulate the SIC track under 2m 0s just two years ago.

Cal Crutchlow at SIC Winter Test 2019 – Photo credit MotoGP.com

Aleix Espargaro of the Factory Aprilia Gresini team did well to put the RS-GP in seventh. Franco Morbidelli also did well to finish eight quickest on the Petronas Yamaha SRT bike. Takaaki Nakagami concluded the test ninth fastest, while Valentino Rossi found himself way back in tenth with a time of 1m 59.148s.

The opening day’s fastest man, Marc Marquez languished in eleventh as he suddenly realized that his shoulder was causing him problems.

Marc Marquez at Sepang Winter Test 2019 – Photo credit MotoGP.com

But perhaps the biggest surprise was finding Alex Rins of Suzuki Ecstar in eleventh after great showings on the first and second days of testing. Suzuki was elated yesterday as Rins recorded the second fastest time on worn tyres yesterday. Being fast on used tyres means the bike could finish in a strong position in a real race.

The KTM riders are still struggling on Day 3 and ended up in the last four among regular MotoGP riders. Fastest rider Johann Zarco finished seventeenth quickest ahead of Pol Espargaro, Miguel Oliveira and Hafizh Syahrin.

Franco Morbidelli at Sepang Winter Test 2019 – Photo credit MotoGP.com

The next and last pre-season test will take place at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar from 23rdFebruary, before the 2019 season kicks off on 10thMarch.

  • Penunggang bagi pasukan Monster Yamaha, Maverick Viñales, merupakan penunggang terpantas pada Hari ke-2 Ujian Pra Musim MotoGP 2019 Sepang.
  • Dia berjaya mencatat masa 1 minit 58.897 saat, 0.067 saat di belakang rekod masa terpantas Ujian Pra Musim.
  • Marc Marquez jatuh ke tangga ke-lapan setelah tampil terpantas pada hari pertama.

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  • Monster Yamaha rider Maverick Vinalez was the fastest rider on Day 2 of the MotoGP 2019 Sepang Winter Test.

  • His blistering time of 1m 58.897s was just 0.067s behind the fastest Winter Test record.

  • Marc Marquez was relegated to 8thafter being fastest on Day 1.

The MotoGP 2019 Pre-Season test kicked off at the Sepang International Circuit yesterday. The action continues today with Maverick Vinalez of Monster Energy Yamaha factory teaming claiming the fastest time.

Repsol Honda rider and defending world champion Marc Marquez secured the fastest time on the first day, allaying fears of his recovering shoulder. He put in only 29 before stopping to allow his shoulder to rest, leaving his time of 1m 59.621s on the board for the night.

Marc Marquez at SIC test – Photo credit MotoGP.com

But how things can change in less than 24 hours in MotoGP.

Valentino Rossi (Monster Yamaha) started out the day fastest before being toppled by Andrea Dovizioso (Mission Winnows Ducati) and Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda).

Valentino Rossi at SIC test – Photo credit MotoGP.com

Alex Rins (Suzuki Ecstar) then took over from Dovizioso. Rins had placed his Suzuki as second fastest yesterday. Pramac Ducati rider Jack Miller improved on his times and also went ahead of Dovizioso.

Andrea Dovizioso at SIC test – Photo credit MotoGP.com

However, a late charge by Vinalez put him right on top for the day. He was the only rider to lap under the 1m59s mark, with 1m 58.897s. That’s still just 0.067 second to Repsol Honda rider Jorge Lorenzo’s unofficial Sepang record of 1m 58.830s he set during the 2018 Winter Test on a Ducati.

Alex Rins at SIC test – Photo credit MotoGP.com

Judging by today’s times, a few riders may well dip under 1m 58s tomorrow if the weather holds. That’s because the top 19 riders were covered by just 1 second!

Cal Crutchlow at SIC test – Photo credit MotoGP.com

As for Marquez, he could go no faster than 1m 59.790 with the new engine. The time relegated him to 8th. His new teammate Jorge Lorenzo is also missing from the test as he nurses his broken scaphoid.

Jack Miller at SIC test – Photo credit MotoGP.com

Apart from Johann Zarco who finished 11thbest, the other KTM riders languished in the lower positions as they try to tame and sort out the RC16 wild beast.

  • Pasukan pengilang Yamaha kini dikenali dengan nama Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP.
  • Mereka turut memperkenalkan kemasan grafik baharu untuk jentera Yamaha YZR-M1 2019 bagi kejohanan MotoGP musim 2019.
  • Monster Energy telah mengambil alih penajaan utama dari Movistar.

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  • The Yamaha factory team is now called the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP.

  • They also launched the new livery for the 2019 Yamaha YZR-M1 for the MotoGP 2019 season.

  • Monster Energy takes over from Movistar.

The factory Yamaha MotoGP squad unveiled their new Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP livery and the 2019 Yamaha YZR-M1.

Monster Energy has taken over from Spanish telecommunications company Movistar as the main sponsor of the team. Hence the new livery consists of more black paint matched to the traditional Yamaha racing blue. The energy drink brand was already sponsoring both Valentino Rossi and Maverick Vinalez prior to this.

Whatever it is, the factory Yamaha team is looking forward to leaping back into contention after a dismal 2018 season. The longest losing streak in the brand’s history was thankfully broken when Vinalez won at Phillip Island.

The dearth of meaningful results even prompted Yamaha’s Project Leader Koiji Tsuya to issue a public apology to the riders, team and fans. He then stepped down last month and replaced by former head of chassis division Takahiro Sumi.

Riders Rossi and Vinalez will finally get to test the new bike during the first Pre-Season Test at the Sepang International Circuit from 6thto 8thFebruary.

Valentino Rossi

“I like it very much – Yamaha is always blue, and the blue of the Yamaha is beautiful, but I like the black of Monster because the colour of my soccer team, Inter, so I feel comfortable.”

Maverick Vinalez

“I can’t wait to start, the holidays were already too long,” Vinales said. “I would like to be on the bike. I’m really curious to see the steps forward we did and see if we can push the bike at the maximum already in the first test.”

  • Team Suzuki Ecstar telah melancarkan jentera Suzuki GSX-RR 2019 bagi MotoGP musim 2019.
  • Para penunggangnya adalah veteran pasukan Suzuki selama tiga tahun, Alex Rins dan penunggang rookie, Joan Mir.
  • Motosikal GSX-RR 2019 telah dipertingkatkan dalam beberapa buah bahagian utama tanpa menjadkannya sebuah jentera serba baharu.

(more…)

  • Team Suzuki Ecstar has launched the 2019 Suzuki GSX-RR for the MotoGP 2019 season.

  • The riders are three-year Suzuki veteran Alex Rins and rookie Joan Mir.

  • The 2019 GSX-RR is improved in a number of key areas without being completely new.

Team Suzuki Ecstar has launched the 2019 Suzuki GSX-RR for the MotoGP 2019 season.

Unlike other teams, Suzuki chose to unveil their bikes through a video on YouTube, instead of a “live” launch event. The team unveiled their all-Spanish rider line-up last season. Three-year factory veteran Alex Rins is joined by newcomer Joan Mir. The latter replaces Andrea Iannone who left for Aprilia. Sylvain Guintoli continues his role as test rider for Suzuki.

Alex Rins #42

Alex Rins finished in second place in the last three rounds of 2018 and hopes to move up to the front step in 2019. Suzuki last won a race with Maverik Vinalez in 2016.

“After the last test in November I left clear feedback for the engineers to work on, as far as I know the improvements we will try in Sepang will not be drastic but many small improvements in many areas, which is totally the Suzuki philosophy. We know what we were missing on the bike, so I believe the R&D in Japan will deliver a package which will help us to improve further,” said Rins.

Joan Mir #36

Joan Mir made his first Moto3 appearance in 2015 to replace the injured Hiroki Ono. He crashed out after making contact with John McPhee. Mir came back as a full rider in 2016 and finished 5thoverall. In 2017, he dominated the series with 10 wins and a 91 point advantage over his closest rival. Pundits felt that he could be the next Valentino Rossi or Marc Marquez.

He moved to the EG 0,0 Marc VDS team in Moto2 in 2018 where he captured 4 podiums and finished the season in 6th.

“Of course I still need many more hours on the bike, there are so many things I still need to understand to be even more effective, but I feel very supported by the team and I will rely on their wealth of experience to improve, and also to contribute my own improvements to my bike,” he said.

2019 Suzuki GSX-RR

The 2019 bike follows the basic shape of the 2018 model with some visible but small modifications.

2019 Suzuki GSX-RR
  • Fatter tail section.
  • Different front brake calipers.
  • New wheels.
  • The front suspension also appears to be different.
  • The footpegs are placed higher.
  • New graphics with bolder yellow and gray stripes on the upper fairing, extending to the fuel tank.
  • The news bikes are shown in their “raw” form before being modified later to each rider’s individual preference.
2018 Suzuki GSX-RR

Those are differences we could see, but the team’s Technical Manager Ken Kawauchi said that the factory has developed a new engine, chassis, besides improvements in the electronics and fairing. He also added that Suzuki’s approach to the MotoGP project is by taking step-by-step improvements rather than redesigning something completely new all the time.

That last statement proves how important it is for the riders to start off their new season with something familiar yet improved, instead of riding something which completely alien to them. It helps the rider to familiarize himself to the bike quicker and hopefully translate to great results from the beginning.

All pictures from Suzuki and MotoGP

  • Kami telah berpeluang untuk melihat dengan lebih dekat jentera KTM RC16 yang akan dikemudi oleh Hafizh Syahrin untuk MotoGP musim 2019.
  • Sebahagian besar motosikal tersebut terselindung di sebalik panel badan yang tertutup kemas.
  • Namun begitu, ada beberapa perincian yang telah berjaya mencuri perhatian kami.

(more…)

Hafizh Syahrin bersama KTM telah bersedia untuk menyahut cabaran MotoGP 2019. Dengan sesi ‘winter test’ yang akan bermula tidak lama lagi, ia merupakan satu langkah bersejarah bukan sahaja untuk pelumba MotoGP pertama dari Malaysia malah untuk KTM juga di dalam musim ketiga mereka berlumba di kelas tertinggi. (more…)




  • Pasukan PETRONAS Yamaha Sepang Racing Team telah dilancarkan hari ini.

  • Ianya merupakan pasukan MotoGP pertama dari Malaysia dan juga bagi rantau Asia Tenggara.

  • Penunggang pasukan ini terdiri daripada Franco Morbidelli dan Fabio Quartararo.

PETRONAS akan menampilkan sebuah pasukan dalam kejohanan Moto3, Moto2, dan MotoGP bagi musim 2019. Pasukan MotoGP berkenaan akan dikenali secara rasminya dengan nama PETRONAS Yamaha Sepang Racing Team (PETRONAS Yamaha SRT), manakala pasukan Moto3 dan Moto2 akan dikenali sebagai PETRONAS Sprinta Racing Team (PETRONAS SRT). (more…)

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