MotoGP - Team Suzuki Ecstar tests at Catalunya

Team SUZUKI ECSTAR riders Maverick Viñales and Aleix Espargarò stayed on at the Montmelò circuit in Spain following yesterday’s MotoGP race for the official one-day IRTA tests, and emerged with valuable information despite rain cutting-short proceedings. The team worked-on improvements on the electronics and to finalise the settings on the new GSX-RR engine specifications, plus a new front fairing to help both riders find more top-speed on the straights. Unfortunately only Viñales made a proper test of the fairing as Espargarò slid-off – without any major injury – early into the test, and just before heavy rain began to fall. 

Before the downpour, both riders topped the session until the very end, with Viñales scoring a 1’42.069 in his second lap out of 20 and Espargarò right behind him with 1’42.127 on lap seven from 11 before Bradley Smith pushed Viñales into second place by 0.051 seconds. 

Aleix Espargaro: 

“Yesterday I was really upset because of the crash, it was a very bad-end to a weekend that was very positive for us. For this reason, this morning I was very happy to take to the track again and to re-start my mind-set and get back on my GSX-RR. I guess that this morning just one second after 10am (when the track was opened). I was out running, then unfortunately in lap 10 I crashed; it was in the same corner where I crashed yesterday in the race, but this time it was very different: Yesterday I was almost stopped, while today it was very fast. I don’t know what happened, but we are still investigating through the data. Then it started raining so we had to stop; it’s a pity because we had many things to try but luckily we will move to Aragon for some more testing. I need to ride again soon, try not to fall again; and continue the development.” 

Maverick Viñales: 

“The short-term objective is to find a better pace with worn tyres and finally we did it today. The colder weather also helped but I’m proud to see that I ran almost six- tenths-of-a-second faster than in yesterday’s race. The rain stopped our work and now we need to do it in Alcañiz, we need to improve on the tyre management and to finalise a set-up that remains consistent as the tyres get worn. We had some new parts to test but most of all I focused on my riding style. Of course we need data to grow therefore any laps is an important source of information for us.” 

Final classification of the day:  

1. Bradley SMITH, Monster Yamaha Tech 3 – 1:42.018 

2. Maverick VIÑALES, Team SUZUKI ECSTAR – 1:42.069 +0.051 

3. Aleix ESPARGARO, Team SUZUKI ECSTAR – 1:42.127 +0.109 

4. Marc MARQUEZ, Repsol Honda Team – 1:42.197 +0.179 

5. Yonny HERNANDEZ, Pramac Racing – 1:42.332 +0.314