After monopolizing the podium in yesterday’s race, the Ducatis also took the top three positions in the official MotoGP tests at Misano. Leading the group was Pecco Bagnaia, who managed to sign a time of 1’30″619 in the afternoon session. The reigning world champion tried some things with a view to 2025, but also some electronic strategies that he hopes can be helpful starting from the second non-European triple.
The Borgo Panigale manufacturer also brought an updated aerodynamic package, but this was only used by Enea Bastianini and Jorge Martin, who both seemed positively impressed (Bagnaia revealed that he had already approved it at Silverstone, but had put it aside for now). The rider from Rimini, who finished third, 366 thousandths from the top, also seems to have solved the problems that had made the medium rear tyre indigestible for him over the weekend, so he is looking forward to next weekend with confidence. The world championship leader, on the other hand, led in the morning session, but at the end of the day he finished sixth, just under half a second behind.
As mentioned, there were three Ducatis in front of everyone, because in second position Franco Morbidelli confirmed that he had found a great feeling with the Desmosedici GP24 on the Romagna track, so after having found the front row and the podium in the Sprint in recent days, he is back for a leading role in the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix next week.
The first of the pursuers was Pedro Acosta, who today worked hard testing the laboratory KTM that wild card Pol Espargaro rode over the weekend. The Spanish rider seems to have found some positive answers, as he finished with the fourth fastest time, four tenths behind, despite a crash in the morning. Same program for Brad Binder, who spoke of quite particular sensations on this RC16, which will therefore require some adaptation. The South African placed tenth, just under seven tenths behind.
After having probably had the best weekend of the season, Fabio Quartararo continued with good feelings today, finishing fifth. The chassis that debuted on Friday seems to have been definitively promoted and today there was a new engine specification to try for him and for Alex Rins, who instead always struggles a bit more and did not go beyond the 16th time.
Said of the sixth time of “Martinator”, the Madrid native preceded the two GP23s of Marc Marquez and Marco Bezzecchi, who worked mainly on the setting. Ninth time then for the Aprilia of Maverick Vinales, who also slipped in the morning: today in the garage of the Noale manufacturer there were no radical innovations, but a targeted work was done to try to improve the ability to stop the bike with both riders. Just outside the top 10, in 11th position, there is also Raul Fernandez, on whose RS-GP of Trackhouse Racing instead the rear diffuser reappeared. A sign that the Venetian brand probably has not resigned itself to the idea of seeing it set aside.
You have to go down to 18th place to find the first of the Hondas, which is that of Johann Zarco. The Japanese manufacturer has introduced a new aerodynamic package designed to try to take the concept of ground effect to the extreme, but opinions have been a bit discordant: while on the one hand Luca Marini said he was convinced that it could be a step in the right direction, Joan Mir hinted that he would have expected something more after all this waiting.
Today, however, some particular tests were also carried out: the first is the one related to the front tyre that Michelin would like to introduce in 2025, to which a 30-minute session was dedicated after the lunch break. Bagnaia’s opinion was interesting, he practically fell in love at first sight, while others said they needed time to adapt, but that the first feeling was positive anyway because it seems to be able to offer more grip, even if it perhaps makes the bike a little heavier.
The tests of radio communications also continued, on which the two official Aprilia riders and Quartararo worked today. Based on their feedback, the system seems to be making progress, although more will be needed given that there are still problems hearing the messages, especially in the fastest sections. A necessary step given that communications from Race Direction to the riders, aimed at warning of any dangerous situations, will become a reality in 2025.
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