World championship motorcycle racing takes another step back to the season returning at Misano.
The next three days sees both MotoGP and WorldSBK teams testing at the Italian circuit, preparing for the resumption of hostilities at Jerez in July and August.
Present are the MotoGP teams of KTM and Aprilia, allowed extra testing due to their status as concessions teams. Aleix Espargaro and Bradley Smith are riding for Aprilia, the second test for the Italian factory.
Espargaro was forced to miss the first test, unable to travel to Misano, and so waited for this test to get back on track, as he explained to Tammy Gorali in an interview a week ago. He joins Bradley Smith, promoted from test rider to permanent rider for 2020, to replace Andrea Iannone, still suspended after a positive doping test.
Both KTM teams are there, Brad Binder joining Pol Espargaro now that the South African has completed his two-week quarantine after returning to Europe, while the Tech3 duo of Miguel Oliveira and Iker Lecuona will also be riding.
Without the benefit of concessions, and unlimited testing with contracted riders, Suzuki and Ducati are only allowed to send their test teams to Misano.
Michele Pirro is riding for Ducati and Sylvain Guintoli testing for Suzuki at the Italian circuit, where two races are scheduled to be held on September 13th and 20th.
Neither Yamaha nor Honda are present, Yamaha boss Lin Jarvis recently telling Speedweek that there was little point testing if they didn’t have anything significant to test.
The MotoGP teams are to be joined by a bevy of WorldSBK teams from Wednesday, with Kawasaki sending Jonathan Rea and Alex Lowes to Misano, while a full cast of Ducatis will be there as well.
Factory Aruba.it Ducati riders Scott Redding and Chaz Davies will be at the track, along with Leon Camier of Barni Ducati, Michael Ruben Rinaldi of Go Eleven, and Leandro Mercado of Motocorsa.
The test will conclude on Thursday. As it is a private test, no official timing will be released.
Photo: MotoGP
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