Suzuki MotoGP Team Make Progress In Final European Test At Mugello

Troy Siahaan
by Troy Siahaan

A week on from the Suzuki MotoGP test at the Misano circuit, and the team has wrapped up its final test of the season at Mugello. Here, team riders Randy DePuniet and Nobu Aoki tested a new cowling, an updated chassis, as well as further revisions to the electronics package.

The new cowling was reported to give a better top-speed performance without any negative effects under different circuit conditions, so it was an improvement and step-forward from the team’s initial test of it in Misano. Back-to-back tests with Misano and Mugello also provided more positive data that the machine has improved its braking and corner-entry characteristics; plus the team also found new direction in finding better rear-grip; an area that the Suzuki MotoGP Test Team will look at further-developing during the next few months – and into 2014.

With track temperatures dry on both days – and ranging between 68-97 degrees Fahrenheit – De Puniet put in 67 laps on the opening day and Aoki 10. De Puniet’s best lap was a 1:50.080 on Tuesday and today he improved his best-time to 1:49.260 after a total of 53 laps of the 3.3-mile circuit. For reference, Marc Marquez set the fastest time of the race earlier this year at 1:47.639, a new race lap record.

The team will now take the information back to Japan where it will further refine its MotoGP contender for its 2015 racing debut.

Troy Siahaan
Troy Siahaan

Troy's been riding motorcycles and writing about them since 2006, getting his start at Rider Magazine. From there, he moved to Sport Rider Magazine before finally landing at Motorcycle.com in 2011. A lifelong gearhead who didn't fully immerse himself in motorcycles until his teenage years, Troy's interests have always been in technology, performance, and going fast. Naturally, racing was the perfect avenue to combine all three. Troy has been racing nearly as long as he's been riding and has competed at the AMA national level. He's also won multiple club races throughout the country, culminating in a Utah Sport Bike Association championship in 2011. He has been invited as a guest instructor for the Yamaha Champions Riding School, and when he's not out riding, he's either wrenching on bikes or watching MotoGP.

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