Red Bull Motorsports
MotoGP
Find out why pre-season tests are vital for the MotoGP teams
For the riders and for the teams, pre-season tests are absolutely vital; finding the best set-up will have a huge impact at the end of the championship. We explain why that is.
After two long months, the MotoGP bikes are back. The MotoGP World Championship starts in Qatar on March 18 and we've already seen winter tests at Sepang, Buriram and Losail, where riders and teams had the chance to test their new bikes before the beginning of a long season.
But, what's really involved in a pre-season test? Watch the video below, then read on for more.
2 min
How to test a MotoGP bike
Dani Pedrosa and Marc Márquez practice session for the HRC MotoGP Team.
How does it work?
Each test lasts three days and each day has two different sessions, morning and afternoon. The track is open for no longer than eight hours. The amount of time is strictly limited, so setting up the bike is no easy task.
The manufacturers bring new material to be tested
© Gold & Goose/Red Bull Content Pool
First and foremost, the riders hope for good weather and no technical issues. Usually they have a set number of laps in which to try out the bike they'll use for the whole championship. Another important aspect is to try all the electronic components. Usually during the last day each rider does a ‘long run’, a race simulation over the same distance and at the same speed as a real Grand Prix.
We have to work very hard during the off season to get ready for the Championship
"We have to work very hard during the off season to get ready for the Championship… Each test is different; every year is different. One year you have this problem and the next it may be completely different,” says Dani Pedrosa. "On top of that, HRC brings some new material to try during the GPs to improve certain aspects, even if we haven’t had any complaints. They never stop working.”
What's the goal?
Everybody has a mission, even tyre or suspension suppliers. The goal is to have the bike ready for the beginning of the new season. The riders work closely with the technicians in order to find the best set-up.
Marc Márquez, completely focused
© Gold & Goose/Red Bull Content Pool
The team is working so hard that this is the worst time of the season, but you have to be strong
The manufacturers will also bring new parts and materials, or redevelopments of existing parts to be, tested.
“The team is working so hard that this is the worst time of the season, but you have to be strong… You have to find a good set-up for the bike. Sometimes the team is new, you are not at your best… You need time to be ready,” says Marc Márquez.
Perfect timing
Teams and riders have a set schedule in which to test all the new material and parts. Additionally, since 2016, Michelin have supplied all the tyres during the three days of testing and these tests are very important to improving the tyres. The French company work very hard to refine their product, always bringing new compounds to the testing.
The Honda RC213V is tested
© Gold & Goose/Red Bull Content Pool
At the end of each day, the team will evaluate the work done and finalise the schedule for the following day. Once the test is finished, the manufacturers gather all the information and use it to improve the bike before the next test.
Everything must be tested before the start of the season
© Gold & Goose/Red Bull Content Pool
You could say that a test can be considered successful if the rider has been able to effectively communicate their feelings on the bike and the team has been able to use this information to set the bike up according to his riding style. The communication between rider, team and manufacturer must be excellent.
The pre-season tests in numbers
Repsol Honda’s Marc Márquez and Dani Pedrosa will kick off the 2018 MotoGP World Championship season next week following nearly two months of testing in Malaysia, Thailand, and Qatar. It’s been five intense weeks that'll ultimately lead to the first Grand Prix of the year in Qatar. See it all broken down into the bare facts and figures in the infographic below:
The pre-season tests in numbers
© Team Repsol Honda
