MotoGP | Qatar test: back on track on Saturday

IRTA Qatar MotoGP test – The MotoGP class riders will return to the track tomorrow Saturday 23 February in Qatar for a three-day IRTA test, the last before the inaugural race which will be held in Losail on 10 March.

All the protagonists of the Top Class will be back on the saddle, including Jorge Lorenzo, who had to miss the recent Sepang tests due to a fractured scaphoid suffered last January 20th while training with a dirt-track motorbike near Verona.

All the manufacturers with the exception of Aprilia and KTM (which enjoy regulatory benefits, ed.) will be asked to choose the engine which will then be stamped and used during the season (there will be 7 engines available, ed.). Furthermore, one of the two fairings that can be approved for the 2019 season must be chosen. From this year, in fact, it will not be possible to modify the profiles of the chosen fairings.

Let's analyze how the houses arrive at the last pre-season test.

HONDA

The house with the golden wing is the one on the drivers' side further back compared to the competition. Marc Marquez is in fact still struggling with the left shoulder operated on over the winter and although the situation will certainly be better than in Sepang, he will still not be 100%. We can say the same thing about Jorge Lorenzo, who as mentioned has just recovered from a scaphoid fracture, and Cal Crutchlow, who only returned to the track in Sepang after fracturing his right ankle during last October's tests at Phillip Island. From a technical point of view, the Tokyo company still received the feedback that the Japanese expected. At Sepang Marquez tested two engines, now it's time to choose. From a cycling point of view, the priority is the front.

DUCATI

The "Red" from Borgo Panigale seemed to be the fittest bike in Sepang and also its riders, both official Danilo Petrucci and Andrea Dovizioso and from Team Pramac, Jack Miller and rookie Francesco Bagnaia responded at their best. We will still work on the suspension and chassis, while from an aerodynamic point of view the Ducati is the most cutting-edge, in fact at Sepang it had a solution with the main wing at the level of the fairing and multiplane on the sides of the fairing.

YAMAHA

The house of Tre Diapason has as its main objective to improve rear tire wear. Both Valentino Rossi and Maverick Vinales target endurance competitiveness, in fact in the "dry" lap the M1 seems to have responded well in Sepang. The choice of engine has already been made, the official Iwata garage will focus on the chassis.

SUZUKI

The Hamamatsu manufacturer's bike did very well in Sepang with Alex Rins, who proved to be very fast. He still has to learn from the rookie Joan Mir, but at the moment the Team led by Davide Brivio seems to be on the right path.

APRILIA

The Venetian company has revolutionized its RS-GP, Aleix Espargarò promoted the new chassis tested in Sepang, with which he immediately had an excellent feeling. Instead he will have to catch up with Andrea Iannone, who only rode one day in Malaysia.