Attention-grabbing notes and quotes from Misano WorldSBK Check
11 min read
WorldSBK Testing
Misano – Might 2023
A lot of the World Superbike paddock have been out on observe at Misano this week for a two-day take a look at with a view to the upcoming Emilia Romagna WorldSBK spherical, set to play out on the identical Misano circuit on 2-4 June.
The work schedule of the varied groups was conditioned to a good extent by the climate, with rainfall interrupting proceedings on each days. Having mentioned that, Thursday morning and early afternoon introduced one of the best circumstances, with the observe having absolutely dried following in a single day rain.
Work progressed on Friday by ever-changing circumstances, the place many riders evaluated moist settings and digital methods earlier than they return to race in three weeks’ time.
Notable absentees from the take a look at have been KRT riders Jonathan Rea and Alex Lowes. Every full-time rider in WorldSBK is allowed not more than ten days of in-season testing, with this era beginning someday after the earlier season’s ultimate spherical and ending on the ultimate day of the present season. KRT selected to save lots of a few of these days for hotter circumstances. As a substitute, KRT left the position of evaluating digital methods to Florian Marino at Misano whereas the total crew will take a look at at Jerez subsequent week.
Guim Roda – KRT Group Supervisor
“Testing is so vital, particularly when issues don’t work out as deliberate, and particularly as a result of we don’t quit. In 2019 Alvaro Bautista received on the first 4 rounds, however we received the title. In fact we’re in a worse place than 2019, we’re not naive, however the idea is to by no means quit till recreation is over. Not successful empowers us to work actually exhausting to come back again stronger. We have to discover all of the areas to search out the way in which to struggle to win each race. That’s the goal. We couldn’t end some upgrades we have been engaged on with the bike, so we’ll attempt to discover different choices to check earlier than Misano. We’re particularly looking for greater than 45º tarmac circumstances to check on. We organised a small crew to come back with Florian to verify some useful steps in electronics. This Misano take a look at nonetheless crucial for KRT, even we don’t include all our weapons this time. The take a look at has been fairly good relating to some targets we have been aiming for. The observe temperature was not sufficient to work with objects we needed to work on with Alex and Johnny, however checking the performance of some software program changes has been very helpful. We tried another objects with the set as much as perceive the reactions of the bike. We additionally made some mileage management with sensors and different issues. Congratulations to Florian for his exhausting work, and we are actually returning dwelling to check at Jerez on the 18th, to check with all of the crew.”
Ducati’s Alvaro Bautista set a brand new circuit report of 1m33.035 on an SCQ tyre on the opening day earlier than utilizing day two to achieve information on wets earlier than the observe dried later within the afternoon.
Alvaro Bautista
“On the primary day, we did a very good job. Thankfully, the climate allowed us to trip in dry circumstances. We labored on the setup with out introducing any new options and I instantly discovered a great feeling. The quickest lap? Pirelli requested us to attempt the SCQ, which we don’t often attempt typically in testing. I used to be stunned by the sturdiness of the tire as I managed to set the time on lap 4. In the present day we additionally took benefit of the rain to gather information within the moist. We’re prepared for Misano, regardless of the circumstances”.
Yamaha’s Toprak Razgatlıoğlu posted the second-quickest time of the take a look at however the focus for the Turk’s crew was on race tempo simulation and evaluating new components from Yamaha’s European R&D facility in Milan.
Toprak Razgatlıoğlu
“I’m very completely happy – yesterday completed second place and did an excellent lap time, however the race simulation was unbelievable! In the present day, I simply tried the Yamaha take a look at bike and a few new components for enhancing the bike. We tried for good set-up, it’s new, however not good climate right this moment. Within the morning I trip within the moist circumstances and it was good, we’re actually quick. After, we’re simply ready for the dry circumstances. I saved my base set-up like yesterday’s bike, however simply right this moment attempt new components and the take a look at bike. We did an excellent job right here, after Catalunya I’m using the bike 100 per cent – no want to save lots of the tyre. It appears to be like just like the potential may be very excessive, as a result of the testing is superb, and I hope we’re preventing for the win at Misano race.”
Group-mate Andrea Locatelli additionally had the chance to check new objects, together with the fifth “take a look at bike” equipped by Yamaha’s engineers, however struggled barely on Thursday to search out the best feeling with the elevated floor grip in comparison with the race in Barcelona final weekend.
Andrea Locatelli
“Two days of testing in Misano was additionally a great alternative to attempt the bike right here after Barcelona race. This observe is a bit totally different in respect to the opposite tracks, as a result of I’ve lots of grip – so we work to discover a answer to take away a little bit of chattering and the issue we had in Race 2 in Barcelona. Typically, we have been a bit unfortunate with the climate as a result of yesterday and likewise right this moment we wanted to attend for the observe to dry and likewise this morning it rained once more, however fortuitously within the afternoon right this moment we may do many laps. I’m extra completely happy in comparison with yesterday, we have to enhance slightly bit extra and we’ll see in the course of the race weekend what we will do. I hope the climate might be slightly bit higher! It was good to trip these two days, even when the rain didn’t assist. We search for a strategy to arrive again right here in Misano prepared for the race and to attempt to struggle for a great place – I feel if we will put all of the issues collectively, we will have a great weekend.”
The GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Group have been current with Dominique Aegerter and Remy Gardner.
Dominique Aegerter
“It’s at all times good to be testing, particularly right here in Misano the place we’ll race in just a few weeks. The circumstances and the circuit are very totally different from Barcelona, so it was cool to check in a distinct state of affairs. We loved a little bit of dry asphalt and we tried to enhance our emotions, plus we have been capable of trip on moist tarmac too to achieve extra information. It’s time to recharge our batteries now and prepare for the subsequent spherical.”
Remy Gardner
“We had two good days right here in Misano, fortunately we managed to take pleasure in some dry observe time and we discovered one thing constructive for the subsequent rounds. Sadly, we missed a little bit of observe time resulting from rain, however we ultimately bought the possibility to trip on damp asphalt which might be useful for the long run as nicely. Now let’s head to the subsequent races, beginning with Misano the place we’re assured we will have a great weekend.”
Lorenzo Baldassarri (GMT94 Yamaha) loved a powerful take a look at on dwelling soil at Misano.
HRC have been current with Xavi Vierge and Iker Lecuona.
Xavi Vierge
“On Thursday the climate wasn’t as unhealthy as anticipated fortunately. We discovered good feeling ultimately, however it was a tough first day. We struggled slightly greater than anticipated early on, with out actually understanding why. However after making some adjustments to the bike for the afternoon session, issues went higher and my feeling improved, notably as soon as we examined a brand new swingarm. I made many laps with a brand new set of tyres and was capable of regain robust feeling, so I used to be happy with that. On day two, we weren’t as fortunate as Thursday with the climate as a result of we have been solely capable of full just a few laps within the dry early on earlier than the rain began. Within the afternoon we had slightly extra dry observe time and will evaluate swingarm’s specs. We didn’t have probability to make many laps, however we have been capable of gather strong information for the engineers to analyse. I really feel the work’s been constructive, particularly when it comes to the objects we examined yesterday, so now now we have two extra weeks to work on the information we’ve collected after which we’ll see after we come again right here to Misano in simply over two weeks’ time.”
Iker Lecuona
“It has been a difficult take a look at for us, to be trustworthy, and I struggled to set any actually quick instances. Thursday was not simple, as we additionally spent numerous time within the storage making adjustments to the bike. We examined a brand new swingarm, however I’m undecided but whether or not it’s higher or not – we’d like extra time to know this – and on Friday the climate didn’t assist, forcing us to cease even sooner than yesterday. However we’ve labored exhausting, additionally attempting some set-ups in moist circumstances, and now have much more information to analyse earlier than coming again right here for the races.”
Garrett Gerloff was the quickest BMW rider on the take a look at.
Garrett Gerloff
“I wasn’t actually anticipating to have so many dry laps, in order that’s constructive, for positive. Yesterday was actually good, we made lots of progress. We tried simply small issues however all of the small issues add up. We ended the day in a great place and I used to be proud of that. In the present day, we didn’t exit earlier than the rain so we didn’t have any dry laps within the morning. Within the afternoon simply the grip didn’t really feel so nice however anyway, we have been proud of how the take a look at went, particularly yesterday. We’ve lots of data for the race arising quickly, so I’m trying ahead to that.”
Scott Redding
“Within the dry, observe circumstances have been actually good. We examined some components which gave me a greater feeling on the bike which I’m fairly proud of. I really feel I can push the bike slightly bit extra which is what I’m on the lookout for. However nonetheless I wrestle to attain a greater lap time after I push for it. However right here in these observe circumstances, the consistency was actually good and I used to be quick with many laps on the tyre, however I couldn’t make a step with a brand new tyre. That’s one thing that we have to work on. Even when rain interrupted issues a bit, it was good to have two days of testing right here and attempt to enhance.”
Tom Sykes used the chance to familiarise himself with the ROKiT BMW after lately parting methods with Puccetti Kawasaki and set a time faster than Scott Redding.
Tom Sykes
“I’m very grateful for getting this chance and to be right here. I do know the crew very nicely from the previous, however clearly I’m on the opposite aspect of the storage now, so the very first thing we did was organising a plan for our work. I used to be very proud of the way in which issues went. Run by run, we tried extra to know the bundle and to get myself comfy once more with the BMW. Truthfully, I used to be very proud of the progress we saved making. Day two was interrupted with rain so we did some moist and performance testing to get ahead. Credit score to BMW and the complete crew; since I used to be final using the bike, they’ve continued to maneuver ahead and made massive steps with the bike, for instance relating to the engine and electronics. General it has been a really productive take a look at and I’m trying ahead to the upcoming occasion at Misano.”
Loris Baz continues to wrestle with current leg accidents.
Loris Baz
“The main target at this take a look at was to be again a bit extra pure on the bike, particularly with my leg. The couple of races that I’ve contested since I got here again, I used to be in fact not using naturally. It’s nonetheless not excellent, and the foot was extra painful at Misano than it was at Barcelona resulting from all of the adjustments of path so now we have not accomplished too many laps however targeted on attempting to get again a sense with the entrance and a greater turning of the bike once more. There we have been struggling extra this season in comparison with final yr. I feel that we made a great step in that path. We’ve additionally been a bit fortunate with the climate as two days of rain had been predicted and we nonetheless had good laps on the dry. I did many of the take a look at with the SC0, my greatest lap time was with actually previous tyres. So the take a look at was fairly okay. Now I’m trying ahead to 3 extra weeks of restoration for my leg as a result of it’s nonetheless locking me in the best–hand corners and adjustments of path.”
With each Petronas MIE Racing Honda at the moment recuperating after crashes at Catalunya, Midori Moriwaki’s crew fielded Supersport rider Tarran Mackenzie throughout this take a look at. Mackenzie spent the primary session attending to grips with the CBR1000RR-R for the primary time.
Tarran Mackenzie
“Yesterday was thrilling as I used to be using the CBR1000RR-R for the primary time. I hadn’t been to this observe for six years both, so it wasn’t simple in fact, and using a distinct bike meant there was quite a bit for me to absorb and perceive however because the day went on, we continued to enhance. We made some adjustments for right this moment, to try to enhance my feeling and make me extra comfy, and issues went slightly higher total I’d say. The climate wasn’t nice, however I felt fairly good within the rain this morning. I feel I maybe improved slightly, however I’d positively want extra time to know every thing. I’m completely happy to have examined right here although and have realized quite a bit over the 2 days.”
WorldSBK Testing Might Misano
- Alvaro Bautista 1m33.035
- Toprak Razgatlioglu 1m33.545
- Michael Rinaldi 1m33.708
- Xavi Vierge 1m34.043
- Garrett Gerloff 1m34.345
- Axel Bassani 1m34.385
- Tom Sykes 1m34.416
- Andrea Locatelli 1m34.460
- Iker Lecuona 1m34.602
- Scott Redding 1m34.637
- Lorenzo Baldassarri 1m34.681
- Philipp Oettl 1m34.729
- Dominique Aegerter 1m34.807
- Remy Gardner 1m34.853
- Loris Baz 1m35.253
- Lucas Mahias 1m35.426
- Florian Marino 1m35.668
- Tarran Mackenzie 1m37.101
