Rain-interrupted test at the Red Bull Ring for Moto2 and Moto3
After the first MotoGP weekend at the Red Bull Ring since 1997, many of the paddock’s Moto2 and Moto3 competitors remained in Austria a little longer than their MotoGP counterparts as they took to the track for an official test day. The weather proved the biggest rival, as rain set in after some more useful track time in the morning.
Those present from Moto2 included Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS, Federal Oil Gresini Moto2, Forward Team, Tech 3 Racing, Dynavolt Intact GP and CarXpert Interwetten, among more. Present from Moto3 were Sky Racing Team VR46, Estrella Galicia 0,0, Red Bull KTM Ajo, PULL&BEAR Aspar Mahindra, Peugeot MC Saxoprint, RBA Racing and Gresini Racing Moto3.
With the morning proving the only useful dry track time after the rain set in towards the afternoon, running was slightly limited but there were a selection of different focuses for those present.
There were a couple of new tyre options for the Moto2 teams to try, but focus was more individual with different teams trying different setups and suspension solutions.
Sam Lowes wasn’t quite 100% after his crash in the Austrian GP but the Brit was back on track to test new Öhlins forks – ones used already by Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS. Alex Marquez and Franco Morbidelli got in some dry weather running in the morning, before rain put paid to proceedings, and Xavi Vierge (Tech 3 Racing) tried a Kalex chassis with the same suspension used on his Mistral 610 to do some data comparison. German rival Sandro Cortese (Dynavolt Intact GP) tested Nissin brakes.
There was also new tyre to try for the Moto3 field, but concentration was split throughout the grid as Honda riders focused on evaluating a new fairing and chassis parts, and Mahindra and Peugeot worked on engine updates. KTM didn’t bring any updates to the test, with Red Bull KTM Ajo focusing on normal test work and evaluating some small issues from the race. Sky Racing Team VR46 was one of the teams who put in a lot of laps in the rainier conditions, as riders Nicolo Bulega and Andrea Migno work on their wet weather pace after some difficult races in the Dutch and German GPs.
Moto2 and Moto3 will be back out on track for the HJC Helmets Grand Prix České Republiky on Friday morning.
