MotoGP testing Qatar

[FourWheelDrift]

Seems Ducati is pushing the technology again by extended their starting device to be used out of every corner. Used to be a knob they turned at the race start that snapped closed when they got to the first corner, now it's a couple of buttons on the grip one for on one for off.

https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/936421/1/ducati-...

Day 1 times here - https://www.crash.net/motogp/results/936418/1/qata...

[FourWheelDrift]

Day 2 - https://www.crash.net/motogp/results/936465/1/qata...

Not looking great for Honda (I know it's testing, but even testing M Marquez likes to be top or near).

Could be an exciting year with more different winners.

[Higgs boson]

The old man's going quite well, too. Which is nice.

[stew-STR160]

I believe MM is still recovering from his shoulder surgery. Cal is suffering also.

[Zarco]

Love how Ducati keep innovating. By some accounts they were adjusting ride height on the fly tail end of last season (Rins spotted Miller's bike doing it at Sepang I think).

Can't wait for the first race.

[stevemcs]

Testing never reveals too much, 2 weeks to go !

[stew-STR160]

The ride height thing is a very cool development. There are some close ups of Jack's left handlebar with the rider activated switch for the suspension drop.

[stew-STR160]

MM is currently using Taka's spare bike (2019) as they are having issues dialing in the 2020 bike. It's basically 5 minutes left of testing and they're struggling...interesting.

Seen an action shot of Jack Miller exiting a corner and you can see the rear just drop. Very cool stuff.

[Hungrymc]

Zarco said:

Love how Ducati keep innovating.

Is certainly very good to see.

[FourWheelDrift]

Honda "breakthrough" on final day - https://www.autosport.com/motogp/news/148418/marqu...

[Turn7]

FourWheelDrift said:

Honda "breakthrough" on final day - https://www.autosport.com/motogp/news/148418/marqu...

Consensus is '20 aero no good but last years better

[stew-STR160]

Nice to see Zarco doing reasonably well on the Avintia Ducati.

[freddytin]

stew-STR160 said:

Nice to see Zarco doing reasonably well on the Avintia Ducati.

Absolutely. It's always good to see many riders in the mix, especially Zarco, Miller, Rins and the Petronas boys.

Stunning top speed from the Ducatis, probably helped by their new device, assisting corner exit, and of course few more frisky Italian ponies.

[poo at Paul's]

stew-STR160 said:

The ride height thing is a very cool development. There are some close ups of Jack's left handlebar with the rider activated switch for the suspension drop.

What I cannot understand is on my MX and endure bikes, the holeshot devise lowers the front end, not the back. And apparently, Yam and Suzook are working on a holeshot device that lowers the rear, but Apriia's will work on the front end! So will it raise the front or lower it!?

I just don't get how the ducati one works.

[take-good-care-of-the-forest-dewey]

poo at Paul's said:

stew-STR160 said:

The ride height thing is a very cool development. There are some close ups of Jack's left handlebar with the rider activated switch for the suspension drop.

What I cannot understand is on my MX and endure bikes, the holeshot devise lowers the front end, not the back. And apparently, Yam and Suzook are working on a holeshot device that lowers the rear, but Apriia's will work on the front end! So will it raise the front or lower it!?

I just don't get how the ducati one works.

I think it essentially reduces the travel and stiffens the rear which reduce reduces squat under power - thus reducing rotational movement around the rear wheel. The alternative - as you say - is dropping the front, but this simply moves the centre of mass fwd. I guess the benefits of either system are marginal given there are competing systems.

However, dropping the rear also changes the angle of attack of the winglets, which at high speed will reduce drag. I'm guessing active aero is banned - I'm not up to speed on MGP rules these days. So with less drag you get a higher top speed and It's far easier to pass in a straigh tline than in a corner so this could tip the advantage to a system on the rear.

[hiccy18]

A lot of talk about Yamaha and Suzuki but Aleix Espargaro's long run pace is possibly top six, comfortable top ten. BB and JZ5 have had some good single lap pace but long runs are a comfortable second off the likes of A.Espargaro or Mir. KTM pace harder to judge as Pol didn't do any longer runs.

But those Yam's and Suzi's do look good! Honda and Ducati have their hands full.