Six conclusions from the MotoGP test at Sepang: the excellence of Ducati, Acosta and Marc Marquez

After an appetizer of post-race tests in Misano on September 11th and in Cheste on November 28th, the 2024 contracted factory driver tested the first prototype for the next campaign before racing It was left to check the work inside. The winter test was carried out by engineers from five constructors and will be put on track at the Sepang circuit, with testing completed on Thursday this week. And unlike other pre-seasons where the dominant Ducati factory took two big steps forward compared to other teams, this time the difference wasn’t as steep, but at least Sepang and the grippier tracks Still in the lead. .

Ducati GP24 is scary

The message to the remaining competitors using the Ducati GP 24 triplet in testing is loud and clear. And even more so in the case of Champion Bagnaia, the number one biker defending his title for the second time. On the new bike, he broke the official fastest lap record at Sepang in GP23 by eight-tenths of a second. What’s improved? It provides better support during the initial corner entry, especially when braking. And what is even more frightening is Bagnaia’s statement: “I think we are showing 80% of our total potential, so we arrived well in Qatar.” As for the peloton on the GP23, Alex Marquez is the favorite. He stood out on the circuit and so did Di Giannantonio. And it was Bezzecchi who diluted it.

Marc Marquez’s best is yet to come

Remains Marc Marquez He became the center of attention for photographers and journalists in the pit lane, as he had rarely seen bets like his. The idea was to get off the official bikes like Honda and the best teams in the world and ride bikes to satellite teams. From the previous year. In the time attack, he is half a second behind Bagnaia and four-tenths of a second behind Martin, who is currently declared champion and runner-up. The important thing is that despite the “gag” of four different technical breakdowns on the first day, his pace is the best and he has not lost a step. He decommissioned his auto at Honda (which lasted 12 years) and is looking to find as yet undiscovered limits at Ducati. As proof of this, his zero score dropped during four days of test training.

Yamaha’s European revolution didn’t just explode

Yamaha Star player Fabio Quartararo was threatened with flight every time he opened his mouth, leading to a revolution in 2024. They want to keep their newest champion happy and renewed, and to do that they need to lure him with a more “European” bike. That’s what the Ducati and F1 engineers who have unashamedly fished for are trying to do. They haven’t been able to take advantage of time attacks yet, but thinking big is a cardinal sin in modern MotoGP. They must take advantage of that interest. Engines have been improved, but the eternal problem of how to transfer that power to the ground remains unsolved. Quartararo completed the test very seriously and Rins was able to adapt well to driving with full weight on the front axle.

Honda is improving but still a long way off

In the first place, the most important thing is that the 2023 RC213V is left in a basement in Saitama and is not even wanted as a comparison target. In Sepang, there are two versions of 2024, and according to the version, he has lost between 4 and 8 kg, which is a declaration that he wants to break with the past. Although the engine has improved, the lack of traction remains and Joan Mir set an encouraging time attack to round out the top ten, but cautioned that it was a novelty coming from his hometown.For his part, they contracted hard workers such as Luca Marini This alerts you to another problem. “When the rubber level drops, the bike moves a lot.”

Pedro Acosta’s stuff is out of this world

With history of two world titles in three years, that’s what he has to do. The rookie gave his all in the year and at Sepang he took the chance to complete 273 laps of his 5.5 kilometer circuit between shakedown and testing. And even with his eyes closed, he knew it, which was why he had calluses on his hands. The 19-and-a-half-year-old became the fastest rookie in history at the Sepang test, finishing ninth in his first time attack in MotoGP and matching his best results in sprint simulation. And those were just 38,000ths off the time set by KTM’s natural leader Brad Binder. As confirmed at Lusail, a circuit where KTM usually underperforms, we are faced with riders looking to revolutionize the chicken coop. And according to Binder, they already have “a bike to race in Qatar.” In other words, we have already done our homework.

Currently, Aprilia is competing for the second brand position.

Inspired by their compatriot Ducati, Aprilia engineers are also leading the way in the field of aerodynamics and are not shying away from applying F1 solutions to MotoGP. That’s why former Ferrari driver Massimo Rivola is in charge of Noale’s MotoGP project.As reported “Il Capitano” Espargaro “We were able to try 30 different solutions: three wings, two different ones on the fork, three combinations at the rear of the tail, a whole new huge swingarm thing, one on the fairing, and more in front. If you want to put more weight on the back, it’s a puzzle.” In RS-GP version 2024 espargaro The top five have fought against the Ducatista Reds, but neither Viñales nor Oliveira are with them. The bike has become more physical with significant aerodynamic enhancements, giving Aleix a head start across the grid in this regard.It’s a lot of fun to watch the trio work together to find a solution to the problem of excessive heat from the engine when riding in groups