Since last Monday’s Moto2 and Moto3 test session at Valencia was more or less a washout due to the weather, several teams will be back to test – and this time for three days – and this includes Team JiR with their completely new rider line-up.
Both 125cc Championship runner-up Johann Zarco and Eric Granado had their first taste of the MotoBi prototype, but the next three days will be used to continue their adaptation to the 600cc bike.
Fifteen year old Granado will test only on the first day as he’s scheduled to take part in the upcoming CEV race where he’s fighting for fourth place.
The test program also includes the debut of the revised technical team structure headed by Silvio Picchi and Massimo Biagini, with the technical coordination entrusted to Marco Bonesso.
The two riders will be involved in riding as many laps as possible in order to define the setting on the bike and get the first impressions of a motorcycle that is totally different in terms of dynamics than the usual two-stroke engine used so far by the two riders.
Team owner Gianluca Montiron said, “After the race at Valencia, the two riders had the chance to make their first contact with the new Moto2 MotoBI machine.
I hope that the weather will allow us to test without the worry of rain.
In this test, the attention will focus on the definition of the position on the bike and to make many km so that riders can learn the different riding style that Moto2 requires compared to the 125 two-stroke.
We have an extensive database of the previous two years that will help us to support in the best way our two young riders.
Technically, the inertia of the four-stroke engine requires a different riding style than the 125, also Moto2 is heavier and therefore requires more physical effort than the smaller class, while the excess engine power will help to catapult the bikes out of the corners in a way different to the 125.
Everything is new, we will face all the winter testing with the aim to gain experience, with Johann and Eric relying on a motorcycle that has already been defined in many of its areas for next season.
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