Marc Marquez Crashes At Qatar While Testing New Aerodynamics
Reigning MotoGP Champion Marc Marquez crashed his Repsol Honda RC213V at the first day of testing today in Qatar while putting a new aerodynamics configuration developed by Honda through its paces. Factory Ducati pilot Andrea Dovizioso set the fastest time after Day 1, with a 1:54.819. Marquez regrouped to set a 1:55.819, good enough for 12th best after the first day of testing.
The RC213V’s new configuration integrates winglets within the fairing, circumventing the ban on winglets coming into effect for the 2017 season, with FIM regulations only requiring that “…the external shape, excluding the windscreen, is defined in this regulation, so the following parts are not considered as part of the Aero Body: windscreen, cooling ducts, fairing supports, and any other parts inside the external profile of the bodywork.” Honda joins the Yamaha, Suzuki, and Aprilia factory teams in integrating winglets within its bodywork, leaving only Ducati and KTM without the wee-little downforce generating disruptors to MotoGP aerodynamics.
Ducati is rumored to have its own integrated winglet fairing to be tested, and KTM with its rookie status is allowed to continue testing new aerodynamics packages throughout the season, but the rest of the teams must choose a design prior to the opener in Qatar in two weeks time, and are allowed one more update at anytime during the season thereafter.
Marc Marquez has just gone out using new Honda aerodynamics package. The big Ducati unveiling expected 2moro night pic.twitter.com/nBoFyO5Ymh
— Matthew Birt (@birtymotogp) March 10, 2017
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