If there is a crucial moment at the beginning of the season, they are the Jerez tests, which are usually held on the day after the Spain Grand Prix. On this occasion and despite the fact that practically the entire Iberian Peninsula was without electricity supply, the equipment and pilots present on the Jerez track had no problem carrying out the evidence they had planned.
At the end of the day Marc Márquez was the fastest, but the really important thing was not to get a quick lap that in the case of the Ducati pilot stayed two tenths of the pole time of Quartarara, but in finding solutions, trying pieces and solving doubts.
So the time table headed by Marc and in which Maverick Viñales placed second to 361 thousandths, and Quartararo third to 477, is nothing more than a comparator of how much they have been able to roll. But the important thing happened between racks, with all brands testing solutions. One of them was, logically, Ducati, who despite dominating pleasure is looking for a way to make the motorcycle less critical with the front train. To do this they were testing pieces, configurations and even an old swinging to see the answer.
KTM, the second in the time table thanks to a vineyard that, incidentally, is erecting as the flag bearer of the Austrian brand for their latest results, was testing solutions that allow them to be more competitive in general terms and, especially, make less criticize the motorcycle. They also tested new aerodynamic packages, but in this case with the handicap of the strong wind that reigned in the Jerez tests and prevented them from drawing conclusions.
Those who did conclusions and were satisfied after this Jerez test were Yamaha’s official pilots, who have had an engine update. And even though the GP for Quartararo was the best of the year, the truth is that they are still missing benefits.
The work done by the Iwata factory allowed them to gain peak and power speed following the online four configuration. They were also working on ergonomics. The least positive part is that as in Jerez they were already competitive, drawing conclusions of whether it is an evolution in the motorcycle, in the pilots or is due to the characteristics of the layout, it is more complex.
April and Honda did not stand out especially in the Jerez tests
On the part of Aprilia Marco Bezzecchi was the fastest pilot of the brand in the sixth position, and relatively close to the Yamaha and KTM that preceded him in the table. But the most important thing for Noale’s mark in these Jerez test was to try configurations with the brakes and also in the sensations, in addition to aerodynamics. Bezzecchi was the pilot who gave the most with a total of 99, which undoubtedly shows that for desire and work it will not be.
The last mark to place a pilot in the time table was Honda. Japanese motorcycles seem not to have worked as well in Jerez as in other paths and in these collective training it has not been different. Zarco, ninth, was the best of the representatives, stopping the chrono practically a second of Marc.
But that does not mean that they were not working, although they proved new elements including a new swinging. Although who worked the most for the golden wing was Takaki Nakagami, who had three motorcycles at his disposal and multitude of pieces and configurations that have not yet reached the official pilots.
