Valencia Day One – November 19, 2019
It was a Yamaha 1-2-3 on Day 1 of the Valencia Test at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo. Fabio Quartararo ended the day top of the pile after 82 laps, the fastest of which was two tenths off his pole: a 1:30.163.
Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) was second and 0.164 off after 66 laps, with Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) completing the top three but a few more tenths in arrears.
Petronas Yamaha SRT’s Quartararo and Morbidelli tried the carbon swingarm, and Quartararo tried some aero new to him, but not to Yamaha.
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP riders Viñales and Valentino Rossi – who was ninth – had a new chassis, engine and notably different air intake.
Rossi’s new Crew Chief, David Muñoz, was on hand as well as the team enjoyed an addition of a slightly different sort.
Fabio Quartararo – P1
“We tested many things including new wings and a carbon fibre swing-arm, and spent a lot of time doing back-to-back comparisons between the old and new parts. It means that we’ve already got an idea of all the positives and negatives of what we tried, and a plan for tomorrow on where we need to concentrate. I’ve had good confidence and feedback from the bike all day, and it’ll be useful to work on some areas tomorrow to improve the all-round package. When I crashed I was on a time attack lap but with a front tyre that was a bit used and I just braked a little too much – but we were able to make four more laps after the crash to check everything was fine.”
Maverick Viñales – P2
“For me it has been a really good test so far, because I worked a lot on my riding style and on my rhythm, and it seems like we improved. Today the grip level was quite good, so maybe we need to keep in mind that we still need to work on this when there‘s lower grip, but I was feeling really good on the bike today. We were especially working on reducing rear tyre degradation and we worked really well. I had a great rhythm on the last laps of a race distance on one tyre and that‘s key and also important for our work tomorrow. The prototypes are good. I‘m very happy. We are riding the bike in a good way and that‘s the most important. We are trying to save some tyres for tomorrow, because then we will try to create a better set-up. Today we just rode with the hard tyre and I felt great. Tomorrow we know more.”
Franco Morbidelli – P3
“It was a positive day for us because we were able to try a couple of things like new aerodynamics, some chassis components and the carbon fibre swing-arm and try and increase the performance of the bike. Some things were good and some weren’t quite as good, of course, but in the end it was a productive day for us. We were fast as well, which is nice, and it’ll be a case of trying to improve a little bit more and understand the new parts a little better tomorrow. The most important job for tomorrow will be to reconfirm what we tried today and maybe to try some more new parts as well.”
Valentino Rossi – P9
“Today was not so bad. We continue to work on the prototype of the 2020 bike that is a bit different, and the feeling is positive. We also worked a bit on the tyres and the setting, and at the end we found something good. It became better and better towards the end of the day, and I had quite a good pace, so we will try to continue like this tomorrow.”
Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) was fourth quickest and only 0.015 off Morbidelli after 58 laps, with the biggest headline from the Borgo Panigale factory proving a new chassis.
Andrea Dovizioso – P4
“I’m pleased because we tested some new stuff and it’s very interesting. Of course we’ll have to do some more tests with everything and also get some feedback on another track, to confirm the positive feeling we had today and then work on the details to try and make more improvements. In any case today went very well and I’m really satisfied”.
Danilo Petrucci also stole some limelight for tougher reasons, with the Italian only putting in 10 laps due to pain in his shoulder exacerbated by his crash during the Grand Prix. Nevertheless, he was 12th overall.
Danilo Petrucci – P12
“Unfortunately I was only able to do a few laps today because my left shoulder, which was already giving me a few problems, was injured a bit more in my crash on Sunday. Even though I tried to rest on Monday, when I got back on the bike today I didn’t have any strength in it so I preferred to stop and see if I can do a few laps tomorrow or if it will be better to postpone everything to next week at Jerez. Despite the fact I only did a few laps, my first impressions of the 2020 bike are certainly positive”.
Jack Miller (Pramac Racing) was tenth after an apt 43 laps, trying some new parts but the full package is expected by the Jerez test. Miller also set the fastest speed on day one at 328.9 km/h. In contrast, pace-setter Quartararo’s Yamaha only registered 318.3 km/h through the speed trap.
Ducati test rider Michele Pirro was on the other side of the Pramac garage, with Francesco Bagnaia remaining sidelined following his crash during the GP weekend.
Honda, meanwhile, were fifth with reigning Champion Marc Marquez. He put in 60 laps although one was cut short as the number 93 crashed, scattering a few parts through the gravel.
Marc Marquez – P5
“I’m happy with how today went overall, we had our first contact with the 2020 bike and started to understand it. I had a strange crash on my out lap from the box but there weren’t any issues on the bike. Tomorrow we will concentrate on some other areas to understand some more things. It will be another busy day but I am looking forward to continuing our work so the team can work on our feedback over winter.”
The biggest news at Honda was a new chassis though, along with the arrival of Alex Marquez. The number 73 was at LCR Honda and had an early crash later replicated by test rider Stefan Bradl at Turn 10. Alex completed 53 laps by the end of the day.
Alex Marquez – P23
“First I want to say thank you to Honda for this opportunity to join them as the Moto2 World Champion. Each lap we were able to improve which is important and I was able to enjoy my time on the bike. I’m very happy, it has been a positive day for me apart from the rookie mistake I made in the first run. My rhythm was quite good, and I know where I need to improve and focus on for tomorrow. The plan for tomorrow is to just make more laps so I can understand the bike better, learn how to manage it more.”
Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) was 11th and did 69 laps working towards 2020.
Cal Crutchlow – P11
“We had a positive day. First of all, we tried the 2020 prototype bike and, as with everything, you have to set the bike up and make sure it runs properly first of all. I think we did that quite well today. It’s only the first steps towards making sure the bike is working in the correct way, we’ll try some more stuff after having a look at the data tonight. But overall, we’re quite pleased so far. It’s different in quite a lot of areas, although all the bikes in MotoGP have the same DNA so it’s not a massive difference. But what we’re always looking for is small advantages and I feel it’s a little bit stronger in the braking zone at the moment, which is what we were looking for compared to this year’s bike. So that for me is a positive.”
Suzuki locked out sixth and seventh on Day 1 with Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) leading team-mate Alex Rins. The former did 63 laps and the latter 76. The Hamamatsu factory had a new engine previously tested by test rider Sylvain Guintoli, and that’s what Alex Rins set his fastest lap with.
Davide Brivio – Suzuki Team Manager
“As always, it’s very good when you have a full day of testing to go through everything. Today the main focus was to check the 2020 engine specification, and the feedback so far has been positive. Now we have to fine tune all the settings, in terms of electronics and the bike in general. We’re interested to compare it again tomorrow, and also to try it on a different circuit, like Jerez next week. Tomorrow we’ll go through a few more things, comparing parts as well as the engine, trying to get some more information and confirm some feelings.”
Joan Mir – P6
“I’m quite happy with how today has gone. We worked on the bike and tried the new engine specification; my first impression is good. Tomorrow we’ll make some adjusts and continue to see what we think. The plan for me is to continue trying the engine and then also some settings such as electronics.”
Alex Rins – P7
“We’re feeling good today. We tried the 2020 specification engine in the morning and then did some comparisons. My initial thought is that the new spec is better in the areas of top speed and traction; at the end these are the aspects we had in our target, but we’ll continue with set-up, settings and comparisons tomorrow and see what we think ahead of Jerez next week.”
KTM were all hands on deck: a new chassis, different engine spec, a new steering damper and work focusing on electronics, fairing, winglets, seats kept them busy. The new chassis – still a tubular steel frame – is aimed at improved adaptability.
Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was tenth and did 58 laps. New team-mate Brad Binder was also a big addition for the Austrian factory and he put in 70 laps as a new era in his career begins.
Red Bull KTM Tech 3 also had a new kid on the block, although he’s taken part in his first Grand Prix: Iker Lecuona. The Spaniard was impressive once again, despite a crash, and ended the day in 13th after 57 laps.
Iker Lecuona – P13
“Today was my first official day in this team as a MotoGP rider and I’m very happy. I didn’t change the bike, but I was just working on myself and my riding style. For sure, I need to continue to improve, but I’m quite satisfied to finish this first day in 13th position, just 1.482 seconds to the top. I did very consistent laps and decent lap times, so it’s truly ok. Tomorrow I can’t wait to continue to work with my new team and improve myself, I need to ride more and we will see.”
Hervé Poncharal – Red Bull KTM Tech3 Team Manager
“It’s the end of day one testing for Iker Lecuona at Red Bull KTM Tech3. We are very happy. We don’t have too much to test on the bike, but a lot with the rider. Iker just moved from Guy Coulon’s to Nicolas Goyon’s crew, so he had to relearn new guys and new methods of working, although they are quite similar and it was very interesting to start working with him without the pressure of a Grand Prix, with more time than a 45 minutes session. What he did today, was very impressive, to be honest, because we have been testing different settings, different tyres and he reacts quite well. You could see that run after run, his riding style is improving, he’s getting more efficient for the MotoGP bike and I would like to say, that tonight we are a happy team. We are very proud and lucky to have Iker with us, so just wait for tomorrow, don’t be carried away, but it was a good first day for the 2020 season. On the other side of the garage, we don’t have too much to say, but we have the honor of Dani Pedrosa using our garage. We have a lot of very exciting technical things under our eyes, we have a very clever and skillful rider there, so this was a very emotional day one for the 2020 season. Thanks Dani, thanks Iker and more tomorrow!”
Dani Pedrosa was on track for KTM too, putting in 52 laps and based in the Tech 3 garage as Miguel Oliveira remains absent through injury.
At Aprilia Racing Team Gresini, there was no big developments revealed as yet, with work focused on improving electronics and engine braking. Andrea Iannone did 54 laps and was 14th, Aleix Espargaro did 45 laps and was 16th. Test rider Bradley Smith was also on track and caused a Red Flag with a crash, rider ok, but he did complete 50 laps for the Noale factory.
2020 MotoGP Valencia Test Times Day One
- QUARTARARO, Fabio Petronas Yamaha SRT 1:30.163 73 / 82
- VIÑALES, Maverick Monster Energy Yamaha 1:30.327 0.164
- MORBIDELLI, Franco Petronas Yamaha SRT 1:30.650 0.487
- DOVIZIOSO, Andrea Ducati Team 1:30.665 0.502
- MARQUEZ, Marc Repsol Honda Team 1:30.698 0.535
- MIR, Joan Team SUZUKI ECSTAR 1:30.811 0.648
- RINS, Alex Team SUZUKI ECSTAR 1:30.958 0.795
- ESPARGARO, Pol Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 1:30.974 0.811
- ROSSI, Valentino Monster Energy Yamaha 1:31.012 0.849
- MILLER, Jack Pramac Racing 1:31.130 0.967
- CRUTCHLOW, Cal LCR Honda CASTROL 1:31.183 1.020
- PETRUCCI, Danilo Ducati Team 1:31.433 1.270
- LECUONA, Iker Red Bull KTM Tech 3 1:31.645 1.482
- IANNONE, Andrea Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 1:31.674 1.511
- RABAT, Tito Reale Avintia Racing 1:31.775 1.612
- ESPARGARO, Aleix Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 1:31.815 1.652
- PEDROSA, Dani Red Bull KTM Tech 3 1:31.863 1.700
- PIRRO, Michele Pramac Racing 1:32.016 1.853
- ABRAHAM, Karel Reale Avintia Racing 1:32.034 1.871
- SMITH, Bradley Aprilia Factory Racing 1:32.090 1.927
- BINDER, Brad Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 1:32.645 2.482
- BRADL, Stefan Repsol Honda Team 1:32.833 2.670
- MARQUEZ, Alex LCR Honda 1:32.873 2.710
Valencia MotoGP Lap Records
- Race Lap Record – Marc Marquez (2019) – 1m31.116s
- Fastest Ever Lap – Jorge Lorenzo (2016) – 1m29.401s
2020 MotoGP Valencia Top Speeds Day One
- Jack Miller 328.9
- Andrea Dovizioso 327.4
- Joan Mir 325.8
- Marc Marquez 325.8
- Stefan Bradl 325.8
- Danilo Petrucci 324.3
- Cal Crutchlow 324.3
- Michele Pirro 322.8
- Pol Espargaro 321.3
- Tito Rabat 321.3
- Alex Rins 321.3
- Maverick Vinales 321.3
- Karel Abraham 321.3
- Alex Marquez 321.3
- Andrea Iannone 319.8
- Dani Pedrosa 318.3
- Iker Lecuona 313.9
- Fabio Quartararo 318.3
- Valentino Rossi 318.3
- Franco Morbidelli 316.8
- Aleix Espargaro 316.8
- Bradley Smith 316.8
- Brad Binder 315.4
Source: MCNews.com.au