The final test of the MotoGP for this year has come to an end. Of course, this is final for the factory teams only and there is one more test scheduled for Open Class motorcycles and for the Ducati Team where the test cannot consist of the actual riders who will be on the Ducati next year.
No surprises on the third and final day of the test. Marc Marquez on the top but Bradley Smith getting into second was a bit of mild surprise. But then the Tech3 Yamahas have gone well this season so except for the fact that it is Smith who had a very quiet season that has gone to the top of the timing sheets there is not much else to think about. Pol Espargaro went well but he has to still come to grips with the motorcycle.
Talking of coming to grips with new steeds, Cal Crutchlow and Andrea Dovizioso decided not to push on the present motorcycle because they were clear that this is iteration of the D 16 is not what they will be using at Sepang and the new General Manager of Ducati Corse, Luigi Dall’Igna has promised to produce another version by then.
Most of the interest lay centred on the Honda production racers RCV 1000R which was being ridden by Nicky Hayden and Hiroshi Aoyama for Team Aspar. Aoyama was hardly noticed whereas Hayden was but due to the gag order that is in place he could not say much more than how the electronics of the motorcycle had to be improved.
What will be of great interest is how the factory Ducatis will fare and how fast the RCV 1000R and the FTR Yamaha of team Forward will be.Both these motorcycles are considerably more expensive than the CRT’s and it remains to be seen if they are worth the extra investment in terms of the speeds they produce.
Today the final test of 2013 for World Superbikes will be begin at Aragon and go on for two days.