Aprilia’s F1-style aero concept creating «huge» downforce
Aerodynamics has been an area where MotoGP manufacturers have been looking to make gains since Ducati turned up to the 2015 season with front fairing-mounted winglets. Over the ensuing years, aerodynamics has become an arms race, with Aprilia revealing its radical new F1-inspired concept in Portugal on the opening day of the final pre-season test. […]
Yamaha «will not be ready for first race» of 2023
The 2021 world champion ended Saturday’s running at the Algarve circuit eighth overall, but over eight tenths off the pace of Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia. Quartararo concluded last month’s Sepang test claiming his 2023 Yamaha was “a nightmare” in qualifying trim, and now admits the bike struggled for pace in general on fresh rubber. As a […]
Honda «cannot be optimistic» after first day of Portimao test
Honda is now in a race against time to make a breakthrough with its troubled RC213V with just one day of testing left before the 2023 season starts. Top Honda honours on Saturday at the Portugal test went to LCR’s Alex Rins, who was 11th and almost a second off the pace, while factory duo […]
Bagnaia leads Ducati 1-2 on first day
The countdown to the 2023 season is on as just two more days of running are permitted between now and the start of the new campaign on 26 March in Portugal. The paddock has decamped to the Algarve International Circuit to wrap up the pre-season, with Saturday’s session running for eight hours. VR46 Ducati rider […]
Aprilia reveals radical new aero concept for MotoGP at Portugal test
On Saturday at the Algarve International Circuit, Aprilia rolled out an RS-GP fitted with new wings on the front of the bike, as well as a downward wing on the swingarm and a t-wing on the rear of the seat unit. One of the Noale-based company’s top engineering managers Marco de Luca, who is head […]
Yamaha set to test F1-style rear wing in Portugal MotoGP test
At last year’s British Grand Prix, Ducati surprised the paddock with the introduction of what was branded a ‘Stegosaurus’ rear wing, which comprised several vertical strakes protruding from the back of the seat unit. The idea of placing a spoiler in that location of the bike was introduced earlier in the year by Aprilia, which […]
Aprilia reveals 2023 MotoGP livery ahead of final test
The 2022 season was a breakthrough campaign for the Italian manufacturer, which registered its first win in the modern MotoGP era when Aleix Espargaro scored a maiden victory at the Argentine Grand Prix. Espargaro went on to score five further podiums as he made a dark horse bid for the title, ultimately finishing fourth in […]
Riders “need to be a chameleon” to win MotoGP title now
Morbidelli spent the entirety of 2022 struggling to adapt his ultra-smooth riding style to the factory Yamaha, with the 2020 championship runner-up scoring just 42 points across the season compared to team-mate Fabio Quartararo’s 248 (which included three wins on his way to second in the standings). While the Yamaha used to be known for […]
Tech3 unveils new-look GasGas MotoGP livery
Herve Poncharal’s veteran squad continues its partnership with KTM in 2023, having linked up with the Austrian manufacturer in 2019 after 20 years as a Yamaha customer. Tech3 originally ran with Red Bull Cola title sponsorship backing in 2019 and 2020, before it was entered as KTM Tech3 Factory Racing from 2021 without a notable […]