Features 18 Feb 2016

Countdown: Phillip Island MotoGP testing

Five things to keep a particularly close eye on this week.

With MotoGP World Championship teams converging on Australia for the official IRTA test at Phillip Island this week between Wednesday and Friday, it’s an important outing from a variety of angles. CycleOnline.com.au takes a closer look at the things we’re watching out for as the test continues.

Source: Supplied.

Source: Supplied.

5. Suzuki development:
After a positive debut season last year, Suzuki’s factory outfit is eager to step things up once again in 2016. With a new engine, ongoing development of its seamless gearbox and mounting expectations while learning to make the most of spec electronics, the GSX-RR should be increasingly competitive with Maverick Vinales and Aleix Espargaro this season. And on day one in miserable conditions, Vinales was second fastest overall, while Espargaro did just two laps. Already today both are quickly up to speed in improved conditions.

4. Weather forecast:
It’s a long way to come from Europe to Australia for three days of wet conditions, but it looks like the rain will hold off at least for today. While yesterday’s testing was limited due to intermittent rain, today looks to be fine on Phillip Island and potentially the most important laps of all. Come tomorrow it’s expected to shower once again, so teams – and especially Michelin – will be watching the weather closely to try and make the most of any dry laps.

3. Miller makes it back:
Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS’s Jack Miller missed vital seat time at the recent Sepang test, so after rushing back from a broken leg suffered while riding motocross in the off-season, he’s back on the RC213V at Phillip Island this week. Despite doing just six laps on the opening day he was straight into the 1m33s, which was enough to put him inside the top 10 for Wednesday. Between he and rookie teammate Tito Rabat, it’ll be a great team to follow in 2016.

Image: Russell Colvin.

Image: Russell Colvin.

2. Lorenzo’s advantage:
After a stunning showing in Malaysia where he was well faster than his main opposition, Movistar Yamaha’s triple world champion Jorge Lorenzo will almost certainly carry that same form through testing and into the opening round. What’s important is that the likes of teammate Valentino Rossi and Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez narrow that gap, because there could be a runaway on our hands otherwise. There are so many variables heading into this year and it looks like Lorenzo’s finding comfort quicker than anybody else.

1. Michelin development:
We all remember the difficulties that Bridgestone has had at Phillip Island, especially since its late 2012 resurface, at what is a notoriously difficult circuit on tyres. But Michelin has plenty of experience in this arena and have already conducted private testing at the Victorian venue last year, so they should be geared to control excessive tyre wear to the best of their knowledge (fingers crossed we don’t witness another incident like Loris Baz’s at Sepang). If it’s wet the entire time, the French brand should still benefit.

Recent