FIRST TESTS OF THE 2020 MOTOGP SEASON END IN VALENCIA
APRILIA HARD AT WORK WITH ESPARGARÓ, IANNONE AND SMITH
Only a one-day break separated the final 2019 race weekend and what are, for all intents and purposes, the first tests of the 2020 MotoGP season. The Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia was where all the teams were hard at work, in Aprilia’s case, the factory team with Espargaró and Iannone supported by the Test Team and Bradley Smith’s efforts. While waiting for the new Italian prototype, expected to be ready for the Sepang tests, most of the work involved electronics strategies, an element that will also provide benefits for the future RS-GP.
The major indications concerned electronic traction management. Progress was also made in terms of the engine brake, a particularly important aspect in the braking and cornering phases.
Ahead of the winter break, there will be time in a few days for the final test in Jerez de la Frontera.
ALEIX ESPARGARÒ
“During these two days, unfortunately some of the difficulties we had during the race weekend were confirmed again, beginning with a certain instability at the front that we were unable to fully resolve. We worked primarily on the electronics, we know that the new bike will arrive in Sepang and I can’t wait to try it.”
ANDREA IANNONE
“We did a lot of work during these two days. We know we need to improve, and we are leaving nothing untried. We had the chance to test various solutions and to retest a few components used during the year. We found some interesting things – developments that will certainly be useful in view of the 2020 season. Of course, problems can happen and that is to be expected when you get close to a few limits, but I am rather serene.”
BRADLEY SMITH
“Over these two days, Aleix, Andrea and I divided up the work. Right now, it is not about testing drastically new components, but rather collecting data that lets the engineers make the final changes to the 2020 project, in my case, primarily in terms of chassis architecture and ergonomics. We don’t have a lot of days to test before the beginning of the season, so it is important to move forward with our work as much as possible.”
