Valencia MotoGP Test

[thought]

I'm wondering who's going to adapt best to the new Michelins. From what I've read so far they are low on front end grip but really high on rear end grip.

I can see that affecting the late brakers aka Rossi/Dovi and forcing them to change their styles again. I could see Jlo doing fine with it because his riding style seems to stress the tires less and I think MM will just ride around the problems. Hell, Honda could have just been one year too early with the 2015 chassis. No rear grip this year but could be fixed with the new tires next year. Not sure how it will affect Dani though... it might help him get better acceleration out the corners which is normally his strong suit.

Might work for Pol and his fast/loose style... not sure about the rest of the field.

[greycode]

Day 1:

1. Marc Marquez   ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 1m 31.551s (Lap 10/47)
2. Andrea Iannone   ITA Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP15) 1m 31.639s +0.088s   (30/61)
3. Dani Pedrosa   ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 1m 31.681s +0.130s   (11/49)
4. Maverick Vinales   ESP Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)* 1m 31.720s +0.169s   (36/59)
5. Jorge Lorenzo   ESP Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 1m 31.767s +0.216s   (32/41)
6. Cal Crutchlow   GBR LCR Honda (RC213V) 1m 31.911s +0.360s   (8/54)
7. Pol Espargaro   ESP Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1) 1m 31.937s +0.386s   (10/40)
8. Bradley Smith   GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1) 1m 31.997s +0.446s   (32/67)
9. Aleix Espargaro   ESP Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) 1m 32.005s +0.454s   (36/47)
10. Andrea Dovizioso   ITA Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP15) 1m 32.073s +0.522s   (57/66)
11. Scott Redding   GBR Octo Pramac Racing (Desmosedici GP15) 1m 32.214s +0.663s   (30/52)
12. Valentino Rossi   ITA Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 1m 32.401s +0.850s   (45/57)
13. Danilo Petrucci   ITA Octo Pramac Racing (Desmosedici GP15) 1m 32.442s +0.891s   (46/47)
14. Hector Barbera   ESP Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP14.2) 1m 32.468s +0.917s   (35/38)
15. Jack Miller   AUS Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V) 1m 32.594s +1.043s   (33/47)
16. Tito Rabat   ESP Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V)* 1m 32.673s +1.122s   (82/84)
17. Stefan Bradl   GER Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) 1m 32.721s +1.170s   (34/46)
18. Loris Baz   FRA Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP14.2) 1m 32.943s +1.392s   (52/53)
19. Yonny Hernandez   COL Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP14.2) 1m 33.046s +1.495s   (31/57)
20. Alvaro Bautista   ESP Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) 1m 33.061s +1.510s   (66/66)
21. Eugene Laverty   IRL Aspar MotoGP Team (Desmosedici GP14.2) 1m 33.253s +1.702s   (39/46)
22. Takuya Tsuda   JPN Suzuki Test Rider (GSX-RR) 1m 34.591s +3.040s   (54/55)
23. Nobuatsu Aoki   JPN Suzuki Test Rider (GSX-RR) 1m 36.338s +4.787s   (12/24)

[Mhanis]

Is this test being conducted on Bridgestones or Michellins?

Mark

[duccarlos]

We also forget that next year everyone will be using the spec ECU. I'm sure all the factories have been capturing data from their open class bikes, but when adding new spec tires, you have a lot of unknowns. I wonder if the factories will be more conservative in the same they design their engines and chassis next year. I doubt we will see many records broken next year.

[thought]

Yeah, def not expecting any records broken. I wonder how much the Japanese teams were willing to contribute to the ECU development this time around. Ducati pulled a good one by getting that head start on it.

I wonder if Suzuki will make some decent positions next year when everyone is sorting out their bikes. And with all the championship madness I totally forgot about how well Duc has done this year. 2 years ago they were finishing behind the sattelites, now they can fight with the factories. Still need a alien though but I'm hoping Ianonne proves himself to be one once the bike matures some more.

[thought]

Michelins

[triangleforge]

Lots of front end crashes; from the Crash.net rundown on day one:

As well as Marquez and Crutchlow, Tuesday saw front end falls for Pol Espargaro, Aleix Espargaro (twice), Eugene Laverty (twice), Maverick Vinales, Alvaro Bautista, Stefan Bradl, Jack Miller, Tito Rabat and Andre Iannone. All riders walked away.
Read more at http://www.crash.net/motogp/results/225049/1/valencia-motogp-test-times-tuesday-final.html#AHdSktu61hul3GRF.99

[duccarlos]

Well, I guess from these we can see who feels more comfortable with the gripier rear tire.

[thought]

From Emmett's morning post about the times:

"The bikes out are a fair mixture, with Suzuki and Ducati sticking to their own electronics for the first day, while the other manufacturers have switched to the 2016 spec software"

https://motomatters.com/results/2015/11/10/2015_valencia_post_race_test_times_12_no.html

So we won't see a glimpse of the true performance of the Duc/Suz till tomorrow. And the results so far have fitted nicely into what I thought might happen.  

Oh, and Rabat isn't looking bad at all considering this is his first outing on a MotoGP bike. The Moto2 graduates all seemed to have done pretty well.

[duccarlos]

They will be put in their place soon enough.

[duccarlos]

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2015/11/10/lorenzo-we-need-to-work-a-bit-more-on-the-front/189915

Seems like the front tire will be an issue at least for the short term.

[Triple J]

I think MM will struggle. He rides the crap out of his front tire, plus he doesn't know anything else since being in MotoGP. That said, he's such a great rider, that he may just adapt.

Rossi should be OK, as should Pedro. They've ridden Michelins before, and been fast. I'm really hoping this is Pedro's year.

JLo, I don't know. I'm inclined to think he is going to struggle since he is so precise.

No idea on the Ducati guys. I hope Iannone does well though. I'd love to see him and MM mix it up as much as possible!

Who knows though...I'm probably completely wrong! 

[Speeddog]

Iannone seems to be a happy bunny:
http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/225056/1/iannone-for-me-the-front-tyre-is-perfect.html

MM seems to like the rear tire:



I saw something recently, can't find it now, that confused me on what the tire allocation will be.
Managed to dig up an article that cleared it up, straight from the horse's mouth:
https://motomatters.com/analysis/2015/08/22/michelin_speaks_piero_taramasso_on_2016_.html

[thought]

Yeah, I have no real worries over MM adapting. He made the jump from Moto2 to MotoGP bikes within a couple of races and if can do that then switching tires should'nt be an issue. He has that Stoner ability of just jumping on anything and making it fast.

[greycode]

Maybe Crazy Joe + Duc + Michelin will be magical like Stoner + Duc + Bridgestone. If there's plenty of rear grip, I could see him riding more like MM and the Honda the last season, get the thing stood up quick, then point and shoot. That takes a stability on the front tire under breaking, though, so who knows...

Also, Ducati loses some fuel capacity next season, right? Or was that this season? May not have quite the top end advantage any more...?