Ahead of the Official MotoGP™ Test which is to kick-start 2014 at Malaysia’s Sepang International Circuit next week, motogp.com caught up with former World Champion Loris Capirossi in order extract the Italian’s views on the season ahead.
A quelques jours du premier Test Officiel de l’année qui a lieu la semaine prochaine en Malaisie, Loris Capirossi s’est confié à motogp.com pour livrer ses impressions sur la nouvelle grille MotoGP™.
As sincere and available as always, Capirossi shares his opinions on what can be expected this year across the three categories of the World Championship. Having remained fully linked to MotoGP™ since retiring as a rider at the end of 2011, the 40-year-old also goes on to discuss his new job as a television commentator in the second part of this interview which is to be published next week.
Loris, what can we expect from this first Official Test of the year? Just a shakedown or will we be able to draw some real conclusions?
We will certainly shake off the ‘rust’ from over the winter and see how it goes with the new bikes. The test will be aimed primarily at understanding what we witness on the grid this year. It will be particularly interesting to see how the Honda RCV1000R goes against the FTR-Yamaha. Riders will have time to get back to grips with things next week, although it is the second Sepang test (to be staged at the end of February) that will be more important.
We will certainly shake off the ‘rust’ from over the winter and see how it goes with the new bikes. The test will be aimed primarily at understanding what we witness on the grid this year. It will be particularly interesting to see how the Honda RCV1000R goes against the FTR-Yamaha. Riders will have time to get back to grips with things next week, although it is the second Sepang test (to be staged at the end of February) that will be more important.
Honda and Yamaha still dominated proceedings last year. What do you believe Ducati must now do in order to return to the top?
They are now redoing their entire project. Unfortunately, last year the bike was not competitive but now they have an opportunity to switch to Dorna’s spec ECU software. If they do that (switch to Open specification machines), they would be able to enjoy the use of more engines than Honda and Yamaha and more litres of fuel, which would definitely be an advantage and give them an opportunity to get closer. However, it still looks set to be a trying year for them, whatever they do.
They are now redoing their entire project. Unfortunately, last year the bike was not competitive but now they have an opportunity to switch to Dorna’s spec ECU software. If they do that (switch to Open specification machines), they would be able to enjoy the use of more engines than Honda and Yamaha and more litres of fuel, which would definitely be an advantage and give them an opportunity to get closer. However, it still looks set to be a trying year for them, whatever they do.
For Italian Moto3™ fans, much of the attention will be on Team Sky-VR46 and their two young talents (Romano Fenati and Francesco Bagnaia), with leading expertise from Vittoriano Guareschi. Can they challenge from the off?
They can and they should, no doubt about it. They have an excellent team, the riders are very competitive and I sincerely hope to see them fighting up there right from the very first race.
They can and they should, no doubt about it. They have an excellent team, the riders are very competitive and I sincerely hope to see them fighting up there right from the very first race.
As for Moto2™, the battles will no longer be between Pol Espargaro and Scott Redding (having now both progressed to the MotoGP™ class). However, Moto3™ World Champion Maverick Viñales has stepped up; along with fellow Spaniards such as Tito Rabat and Luis Salom, can they control the title race?
Moto2™ has always been a very balanced class and I think things will continue that way. Last year, Espargaro won narrowly from Redding and the championship almost went right down to the last race. The bikes are all very similar, so once again it will be a great contest to follow very closely.
Moto2™ has always been a very balanced class and I think things will continue that way. Last year, Espargaro won narrowly from Redding and the championship almost went right down to the last race. The bikes are all very similar, so once again it will be a great contest to follow very closely.
On to predictions for the premier class. Another title for Marquez? Lorenzo winning it back? Pedrosa or Rossi getting in on the act, perhaps?
Marquez is the favourite to become World Champion again, but Lorenzo will be very close and it will be those two fighting. Pedrosa could join the fray as well, no doubt about it – it could well be between the three of them. At the same time, Valentino will be watching them all with one year of experience on his shoulders since getting back on a Yamaha. He could form part of that top group, too.
Marquez is the favourite to become World Champion again, but Lorenzo will be very close and it will be those two fighting. Pedrosa could join the fray as well, no doubt about it – it could well be between the three of them. At the same time, Valentino will be watching them all with one year of experience on his shoulders since getting back on a Yamaha. He could form part of that top group, too.
What sort of entertainment do you reckon we will enjoy between the Factory and Open specification bikes? Will the Opens be closer to the Factories than the (now defunct) CRTs were last year?
Of course they will be. We were capable of creating a sort of ‘Ad hoc’ regulation, allowing for more litres of fuel and the softer rear tyre. We will see the bikes much closer on time in qualifying – maybe even in front of the Factory bikes. Things will be a little more difficult in the races, but we’ll have to see how it pans out.
Loris, que pouvons-nous attendre du premier Test Officiel de la semaine prochaine ?
« Les pilotes vont devoir reprendre leur rythme et voir comment les nouvelles motos avancent. Ce test nous permettra de mieux comprendre ce que l’on peut attendre de la grille pour cette année. Il sera particulièrement intéressant de voir la Honda RCV1000R face à la FTR-Yamaha. Les pilotes vont avoir l’occasion de se remettre au travail la semaine prochaine mais c’est le second test (qui aura aussi lieu à Sepang fin février) qui sera vraiment important. »
Honda et Yamaha dominaient de nouveau l’an dernier. Penses-tu que Ducati puisse revenir au sommet ?
« Ils refont entièrement leur projet. La moto n’était malheureusement pas compétitive l’an dernier mais maintenant ils ont l’opportunité de passer sur le logiciel ECU de Dorna. S’ils le font (passer en catégorie Open plutôt que de courir en Factory), ils pourront utiliser plus de moteurs que Honda et Yamaha (12 contre 5, par pilote et pour l’ensemble de la saison) et plus de carburant (un maximum de 24 litres contre 20 pour les Factory), ce qui leur donnerait un certain avantage et une opportunité de rattraper leur retard. Ce devrait quand même être une année difficile pour eux, quel que soit leur choix. »
Les fans italiens suivront en Moto3™ le Team Sky-VR46, avec Romano Fenati et Francesco Bagnaia, ainsi que Vittoriano Guareschi au poste de team manager. Pourront-ils se battre devant ?
« Ils devraient pouvoir le faire, sans aucun doute. Ils ont une excellente équipe, des pilotes compétitifs et j’espère sincèrement les voir se battre devant dès la première course. »
Pol Espargaró et Scott Redding ont quitté le Moto2™ pour le MotoGP™, laissant Tito Rabat face aux rookies Maverick Viñales et Luis Salom. Crois-tu que ces deux derniers puissent se battre pour le titre ?
« Le Moto2™ a toujours été une catégorie très équilibrée et je pense que ça continuera comme ça en 2014. L’an dernier, Espargaró a gagné avec une maigre avance sur Redding et le championnat est presque allé jusqu’à la dernière course. Les motos sont très similaires et ce sera de nouveau un superbe show à suivre. »
Tes pronostiques pour la catégorie reine. Un autre titre pour Márquez ? Une revanche pour Lorenzo ? Pedrosa et Rossi pourront-ils se mêler à la lutte ?
« Márquez est le favori mais Lorenzo est très proche et ils se battront tous les deux pour le championnat. Pedrosa pourrait les rejoindre, ça pourrait sans aucun doute se jouer à trois. Valentino les observera et avec l’année d’expérience en plus qu’il a eue avec Yamaha, il pourra peut-être se joindre à ce groupe. »
Penses-tu que les Open seront plus proches des Factory que ne l’étaient les CRT l’an dernier ?
« Bien sûr, elles le seront. Nous avons réussi à modifier le règlement pour aller dans ce sens, en autorisant plus de carburant et un pneu arrière plus tendre. Tout sera beaucoup plus serré en qualifications et certaines de ces machines seront peut-être devant des prototypes Factory. Les choses seront peut-être un peu plus compliquées en course mais nous devrons attendre pour voir comment la situation évoluera. »
via MOTOGP.com
