04-18 – Spanish GP – MotoGP tests in Jerez: Viñales, Marquez and Pedrosa in a handkerchief –

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MotoGP tests in Jerez: Viñales, Marquez and Pedrosa in a handkerchief

04-18 - Spanish GP - MotoGP tests in Jerez: Viñales, Marquez and Pedrosa in a handkerchief -

The MotoGP riders returned to the Jerez track the day after the Spanish Grand Prix as part of the first official test of the 2017 season. Very important tests insofar as Michelin provided a stiffer front tire to address the problems encountered race. Viñales finished in the lead with 0.002 sec ahead of Marquez and 0.081 sec over Pedrosa, winner on Sunday.

This first official MotoGP 2017 test session took place under the sun and quite high temperatures (29 ° C in the air and 43 ° C on the ground), conditions identical to those encountered during the race won on Sunday by Dani Pedrosa in front of Marc Marquez and Jorge Lorenzo. This contrasts favorably with the gloomy weather faced the previous week during private testing at Le Mans (72), in which several drivers participated including Pedrosa, Marquez, Rossi and Viñales !

  • Spanish GP : 
  • Spanish GP : all MNC declarations and analyzes
  • MNC of May 7, 2017 : 

But in addition to being able to test new specifications in optimal conditions, this weather condition made it possible to put a lot of stress on Michelin tires, including the front solution with a more rigid carcass developed by Michelin in response to the problems encountered during the race. Remember that many riders complained about a leaky grip and marked wear during the Spanish GP, particularly the representatives of the official Yamaha team..

  • MNC Live – Spanish GP series crashes in Jerez 
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Maverick Viñales – 6th in the Spanish GP and current 2nd in the provisional – raised the bar by dominating this practice session, the day after what should be called a debacle for the Iwata clan. The Spaniard turned in 1’38.635, a few hundredths faster than his qualifying time on Saturday but still four tenths slower than the pole position signed by Dani Pedrosa.

04-18 - Spanish GP - MotoGP tests in Jerez: Viñales, Marquez and Pedrosa in a handkerchief -

The n ° 25 took the opportunity to test a new chassis on the official M1, which he considers promising as well as the more resistant front tire. It should be noted that this type of tire with a stiffened carcass was offered by Michelin during the off-season tests (in Valence, in particular), but that it had been excluded from the allowance by most of the drivers. Among those who appreciate it and would like to be able to use it in racing are heavy brakemen like Marc Marquez and Valentino Rossi…

Rossi not so comfortable with the hard tire

However, the Doctor did not work miracles with this hard tire, since he finished these tests at a distant 21st position, 1.828 seconds behind his teammate! The n ° 46 has also tested the new frame on his Yamaha, and is satisfied with it despite its glaring lack of rhythm. Let us hope for him that the trend is reversed at the next race scheduled for Le Mans (72) on May 21 …

04-18 - Spanish GP - MotoGP tests in Jerez: Viñales, Marquez and Pedrosa in a handkerchief -

"We opted for a slightly different setting in the race, but unfortunately these did not prove to be conclusive", recalls the Italian, still leader of the championship despite his 10th place in Spain. "Suddenly this Monday, we had returned to a little more classic settings. But the novelties and the chassis did not make us progress any further. During this test, however, we experimented with various things, which should allow us to resolve these concerns. the future".

Words which are meant to be reassuring for the "Doctor", who nevertheless delivers a moderately convincing analysis of the Michelin front tire: "I tried the harder carcass and there are no big differences for me. But I prefer the tire. hardest carcass ".

Honda riders have pot

Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa, respectively second and third in this post-Grand Prix test less than a hundredth behind Viñales, confirmed the excellent competitiveness of the official Honda in Jerez. Marquez, second in the Spanish Grand Prix behind Pedrosa, is one of the most assiduous drivers of this test with 96 laps completed.

04-18 - Spanish GP - MotoGP tests in Jerez: Viñales, Marquez and Pedrosa in a handkerchief -

Besides the harder front tire, the defending champion was also testing the new, shorter exhaust released by his teammate during the Grand Prix des Ameriques. This silencer seems to bring complete satisfaction to n ° 93, as well as the carcass stiffened by Michelin: nothing surprising about this since Marquez is one of the pilots who uses his front axle the most, as are Rossi or Crutchlow. !

"I’m pretty happy with this test day: we completed a lot of laps, while trying a lot of things," said the defending champion. “We worked hard, we spent half the day on the new exhaust, but I think it was important because there is real potential behind it. Now we have to decide if we will use it at Le Mans or if we need more time ".

“Anyway we made some real progress, especially with the worn tires. I’m happy because we drove a lot with the hard rear tire and the results were quite positive,” he said. "I also tried the tire before Michelin had brought for the occasion. I found it gave me more stability under braking as well as in the corners. I liked it. The other riders must of course give their feedback, we will see what will be decided ".

Lorenzo prefers the current front tire, which is more flexible

Among these other riders, in fact, some are still divided on this rigid carcass: this is the case in particular of Loris Baz (19th in this test) and Jorge Lorenzo, sixth in these tests after winning his first podium (3rd) on Ducati during the Spanish Grand Prix. The Mallorcan says he prefers "the one we had so far because, in my opinion, it offers more grip in the middle of the curve".

04-18 - Spanish GP - MotoGP tests in Jerez: Viñales, Marquez and Pedrosa in a handkerchief -

This is quite predictable given the specificities of the Ducati – including its physical front end – and especially the Mallorcan’s fluid driving style: remember that Lorenzo was one of the few to have opted for a medium front tire in the race when the Most of his rivals (Pedrosa, Rossi, Viñales and Marquez) started with a hard front slick.

However, this choice turns out to be rather relevant if we consider the superb 4th won by Johann Zarco, first Yamaha rider of the Spanish Grand Prix with his M1 Tech3 equipped at the front with a medium rubber! The Cannes driver, currently sixth in the provisional, finished this session in Jerez in 9th place, ahead of Scott Redding’s Ducati and Jack Miller’s Honda, who was fined € 1,000 for their crash in the race on Sunday.

Guintoli prepares for Le Mans, Stoner for tests in Barcelona

Finally, let’s end this chapter "MotoGP testing" by noting the 23rd fastest time at 2.6 seconds signed by Sylvain Guintoli, who discovered the Suzuki GSX-RR in Jerez with a view to replacing Alex Rins at Le Mans. Another return to the track to watch: that of Australian retiree Casey Stoner, who is also preparing to get back on the saddle of a MotoGP but only to fulfill his role as a tester for Ducati.

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The former double MotoGP world champion will ride in Bacelone (Spain) in the wake of the French Grand Prix, on May 23 and 24, in the presence of the two official riders of the manufacturer from Bologna, Jorge Lorenzo and Andrea Dovizioso.

Results and classification of post-race practice in Jerez

  1. VIÑALES, Maverick 1: 38.635 84 laps
  2. MARQUEZ, Marc 1: 38.637 0.002 96 t.
  3. PEDROSA, Dani 1: 38.716 0.081 52 t.
  4. ESPARGARO, Aleix 1: 38.999 0.364 69 t.
  5. DOVIZIOSO, Andrea 1: 39.030 0.395 44 t. 
  6. LORENZO, Jorge 1: 39.124 0.489 50 t.
  7. CRUTCHLOW, Cal 1: 39.319 0.684 70 t. 
  8. BARBERA, Hector 1: 39.460 0.825 60 t.
  9. ZARCO, Johann 1: 39.528 0.893 42 t. 
  10. REDDING, Scott 1: 39.536 0.901 61 t.
  11. MILLER, Jack 1: 39.548 0.913 86 t.
  12. RABAT, Tito 1: 39.576 0.941 71 t.
  13. IANNONE, Andrea 1: 39.654 1.019 92 t   
  14. FOLGER, Jonas 1: 39.797 1.162 39 t.
  15. PETRUCCI, Danilo 1: 39.879 1.244 57 t. 
  16. ESPARGARO, Pol 1: 39.959 1.324 64 t. 
  17. SMITH, Bradley 1: 40.111 1.476 46 t. 
  18. TSUDA, Takuya 1: 40.163 1.528 95 t.
  19. BAZ, Loris 1: 40.377 1.742 58 
  20. KALLIO, Mika 1: 40.382 1.747 76 t.
  21. ROSSI, Valentino 1: 40.463 1.828 62 t.
  22. LOWES, Sat 1: 40.572 1.937 64 t.
  23. GUINTOLI, Sylvain 1: 41.260 2.625 37 t.

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