MotoGP’s Final In-Season Test at Misano: Teams Gear Up for 2025 with Prototypes and New Tech

Rumors are circulating from the paddock regarding the experiments each MotoGP team is conducting at Misano

Misano is currently hosting the last in-season test of the year, with activities in full progress

Information is surfacing about the specific areas of focus for each MotoGP team during their testing session at Misano on Monday, right after the San Marino Grand Prix.

The MotoGP teams and riders will be spending extra time at Misano, as the upcoming race of the 2024 season is set to occur at the same Italian location, due to the called-off Kazakhstan Grand Prix.

However, prior to that, Monday is slated to be a significant day for examinations.

For certain teams, this presents an opportunity to test out early models for 2025, whereas others will just have a handful of new products to experiment with.

This is the information we have at the moment.

At Misano on Monday, it seems that out of all manufacturers, Ducati has undertaken the minimal amount of development activities.

According to es.motorsport.com, Davide Tardozzi stated that the GP25 is not yet a reality, aligning with observations that the motorcycles in use currently are virtually the same as those that competed in Sunday's grand prix.

This doesn't mean they're not experimenting with fresh ideas. MotoGP.com's pitlane correspondent, Simon Crafar, is of the belief that Ducati is compelled to trial a 2025 prototype engine today, and Francesco Bagnaia is equipped with a novel chassis to utilize.

On Sunday, following his victory at the grand prix, Marc Marquez shared with the press that aside from experimenting with various configurations, there would be no novel components to trial on his Gresini Ducati. Nonetheless, he hinted at the possibility of testing the 2025 chassis, as Ducati would require his input on it before the upcoming season.

Pramac is testing a minor adjustment to the aerodynamics at the lower part of its fairing, an alteration they have experimented with previously.

Crafar mentioned, "There's not much difference between them. However, they're examining a distinct downdraft at the fairing's base."

"I observed it at Silverstone – occasionally, due to challenging conditions at Silverstone, they set it aside, but now it's returned. It's quite simple to overlook, but fortunately, I managed to peek inside. The interior openings have a unique shape. It's a modification."

Set to join Aprilia when the year concludes, Jorge Martin mentioned, “I don’t anticipate receiving any new components – merely focusing on refining specific aspects of riding, such as the time attack. I’ll devote time to enhancing my skills.”

Franco Morbidelli, a member of the same team, is experimenting with fresh strategies to enhance his connection with the GP24. Meanwhile, Fabio Di Giannantonio is not participating with the VR46 team as he focuses on healing from a shoulder injury sustained in Austria.

Yamaha, having access to certain privileges, has been able to conduct extensive testing sessions with its riders throughout the year.

Consequently, there are no fresh developments to experiment with at Misano, as it is merely evaluating the assortment of both previous and recent components it has been examining.

The primary focus will be on various engine configurations. Yamaha has introduced engine improvements at several races this year, yet it was the third version that emerged as the favored choice and will see increased usage.

During the San Marino GP weekend, Yamaha debuted a new chassis that improved their performance, allowing Fabio Quartararo to qualify in 10th place and cross the finish line in 7th position.

"Crafar mentioned that he had a conversation with the team manager, Maio Meregalli."

I asked, "What's different? I can't spot anything." He replied, "That's because we've secured the concessions; we've experimented with all possible options already."

This examination aims to validate their previous attempts by comparing them directly with the proven, effective methods to ensure improvements. It also allows for the opportunity to explore new configurations by the riders and their crew chiefs, something they haven't been able to accomplish this year.

"They fell behind schedule due to delays with the wet tests. Moreover, their extensive testing schedule left them no room to experiment with the chassis configuration, which is their focus for the afternoon."

Aprilia's Monday testing session is primarily centered around Raul Fernandez, with the Trackhouse team member being the sole racer from its lineup confirmed to remain through 2025.

According to Crafar, he is analyzing the 2023 and 2024 models to determine if the '23 version improves upon their current shortcomings, seeking an optimal mix.

Fernandez is experimenting with a diffuser positioned beneath the seat, described as an aerodynamic enhancement similar to those found in Formula 1, which significantly increases downforce at the back. This modification caused the vehicle to drift wider in turns. According to Crafar, they are conducting further tests on this feature.

Aprilia's test rider, Lorenzo Savadori, is diligently developing the engine for 2025, as Aleix Espargaro and Maverick Vinales experiment with adjustments to enhance their performance in entering corners.

"Stopping the bike is proving to be a challenge for me," Espargaro remarked after a difficult race at the San Marino GP for Aprilia.

"We're experiencing difficulties with traction, which is surprising given that this track is known for its high levels of grip. We're facing challenges and aren't performing as well as our competitors. We plan to experiment with different setups in the upcoming round to see if we can improve. While we don't have many new components to work with at this point, we're hopeful for a better outcome."

KTM, the company based in Austria, has assigned Dani Pedrosa to replace Pol Espargaro for today's test riding session. Meanwhile, Brad Binder and Pedro Acosta are evaluating the prototype motorcycle that Espargaro was competing with until recently.

Crafar is of the opinion that the motorcycle's engine has a distinct firing sequence, leaning more towards the configuration found in Aprilia's engines.

"Crafar mentioned, 'It seems Dani has approved the new engine, signaling a go-ahead.'"

"Dani is well-informed on the subject. According to sources within KTM, they've acknowledged errors in judgment by not heeding Dani's recommendations, instead opting for what they believed was correct."

"He hasn't received the latest engine update, indicating that only a few have, specifically the 2025 riders, Acosta and Binder. They must decide whether to approve or reject it soon, so KTM can plan their production for the upcoming year."

Binder commented, "As far as I'm aware, Pol Espargaro is using a significantly different setup."

The foremost task is to explore, examine, and assess my initial reaction to the package that Pol has developed.

"Additionally, enhancing our performance and identifying immediate improvement strategies would be highly beneficial. Given the length of the season, any assistance we can get during this period would be greatly welcomed."

Due to their respective departures, Jack Miller and Augusto Fernandez will be sharing a single motorcycle to trial various configurations for the current season.

Honda's racing team has introduced a series of upgrades at the Misano trials, featuring new aerodynamics, chassis, and engine configurations for their riders to assess.

On Sunday, Johann Zarco expressed that the 2024 motorcycle model is completely ineffective, emphasizing the significance of Monday's tests for the advancements expected in 2025.

The LCR team's rider has been experimenting with a novel ground effect fairing, akin to those used by competitors such as Ducati and Aprilia in their races.

Honda team racers Joan Mir and Luca Marini returned to the circuit for testing on Monday, having sat out the previous grand prix due to health issues. Despite facing physical challenges, they recognized the significance of participating in this test.

"Takaaki Nakagami highlighted several areas for enhancement, including the rigidity of the frame, as key focuses for Honda in the upcoming tests. He mentioned, "We have numerous aspects to work on. Therefore, we're aiming to boost the bike's overall performance."

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