Offseason tests – Marquez and Pedrosa generally satisfied with the 2018 tests at Sepang – HONDA used cars

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Marquez and Pedrosa generally satisfied with the 2018 tests at Sepang

Offseason testing - Marquez and Pedrosa generally satisfied with the 2018 tests at Sepang - HONDA used cars

Reigning MotoGP champion Marc Marquez and his teammate Dani Pedrosa focused more on set-up than on the time during the three days of official testing in Sepang (Malaysia). The two teammates of the Honda-Repsol team notably tried out several engine configurations and a new fairing. Debriefing.

As every year, the HRC engineers brought many parts to Malaysia to be tested by Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa, but also by Cal Crutchlow who helps official pilots to develop the RC213V more quickly. The most important novelty concerns the V4, which Honda has worked on in several directions this winter.

Different engine versions were available at Sepang, one of which was specifically developed to compensate for the lack of acceleration in the first gears regretted last year. On this point, progress is palpable in the unanimous opinion: this new engine would be more powerful … to the detriment – quite logically – of its ease of operation.

"The engine is a little too aggressive"

"For the moment, the engine is a little too aggressive and that worries me a bit", admits Marc Marquez who finished 7th on the last day 0.552 seconds behind and 8th in the combined classification of the three days. Performance in decline that he justifies by his desire to first develop a good base before panicking the pendulum.

Offseason testing - Marquez and Pedrosa generally satisfied with the 2018 tests at Sepang - HONDA used cars

"When I started out I was always staring at the screens during the pre-season, waiting for the right moment to set a stopwatch," recalls the fiery Spaniard. "So I was taking a lot of risks and falling a lot. Now I am concentrating on finding a good base in order to be competitive on all circuits," says the sage? – five-time world champion, who will celebrate his 25th birthday on February 17th … the day after Rossi’s 39th birthday !

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"I’m very happy, even if it doesn’t necessarily show in terms of time: during the afternoon, I was able to do a series of 15 laps when the temperatures were the highest and the pace was good!", noted n ° 93 with satisfaction.

Offseason testing - Marquez and Pedrosa generally satisfied with the 2018 tests at Sepang - HONDA used cars

“Regarding the engine, Cal, Dani and I have been working in several directions to get more information and to get a better handle on it. We’re not 100% yet, but I think we’ve done a good job,” he said. -he.

At this stage, Marc Marquez is not completely convinced that the added punch of the new engine compensates for his additional nervousness: the Spaniard fears difficulties on tortuous circuits, a characteristic impossible to determine on a fast track like Sepang.

Offseason testing - Marquez and Pedrosa generally satisfied with the 2018 tests at Sepang - HONDA used cars

"Sepang is a special circuit on which it is easy to go in the wrong directions", notes the headliner of the HRC who has already experienced this mishap previously. However, the routes where the next tests will take place – – are also quite fast: hence the concern of Marquez, who is afraid of making a bad choice with serious consequences thereafter….

Remember that the engine blocks are sealed before the opening of the season and that the manufacturers cannot intervene afterwards. Which means going in the wrong direction during the winter means a technical dead end during the season. !

"The team did a very good job"

Dani Pedrosa is more serene, with his second place on the last day and in the combined standings. Very fast, he finished 0.179 sec from and almost caught up with him below 1’59 (1’59.009). The Catalan is followed by Cal Crutchlow, also very comfortable on his Honda-LCR 2018 (1’59.052).

Offseason tests - Marquez and Pedrosa generally satisfied with the 2018 tests at Sepang - HONDA used cars

"This Tuesday, we drew on what had worked best during the first two days […] We tried to do some long runs, in order to better understand the behavior of the new engine, the impact it had on the tires … and from start to finish the pace was pretty good ", describes n ° 26 who was reworking for the first time with Alberto Puig, .  

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"We also worked on the time itself, on the hard tires as well as on the soft tires, but also on the suspensions. We gathered some valuable information. We will now have to analyze this data, but the feeling was there. . I think the team did a very good job, we followed our plan to the letter and every day we were able to move forward. Overall, this test is therefore positive. ".

Doubts about the new fairing

Honda riders also released a new fairing that receives imposing aerodynamic protrusions on the front. These fins similar to those of the Ducati have certain advantages (stability and anti-wheeling effect) but also disadvantages (additional heaviness in fast curves and Vmax behind).

Offseason tests - Marquez and Pedrosa generally satisfied with the 2018 tests at Sepang - HONDA used cars

Not totally convinced of their usefulness, Marquez, Pedrosa and Crutchlow have so far left them aside while waiting to be able to carry out a new series of tests to validate their sensations….

"Regarding the new fairing, we still have some doubts: we have to test it on another circuit", recognizes Marc Marquez who nevertheless considers himself "happy with the way these started.".

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