Skip to main content

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Recommended for you

What has changed as FOM and FIA appear more aligned on F1's future?

Feature
Formula 1
What has changed as FOM and FIA appear more aligned on F1's future?

Ex-F1 race director Wittich defends Masi's decision-making at 2021 Abu Dhabi GP

Formula 1
Abu Dhabi GP
Ex-F1 race director Wittich defends Masi's decision-making at 2021 Abu Dhabi GP

Bearman blames Colapinto for "unacceptable" crash at Suzuka

Formula 1
Japanese GP
Bearman blames Colapinto for "unacceptable" crash at Suzuka

Hakkinen vs Schumacher: Macau 1990 watchalong with Anthony Davidson

General
Hakkinen vs Schumacher: Macau 1990 watchalong with Anthony Davidson

Quartararo staying “a little bit out” of Yamaha development as frustrations grow

MotoGP
Quartararo staying “a little bit out” of Yamaha development as frustrations grow

Is it now or never for Russell in hunt for F1 title?

Feature
Formula 1
Is it now or never for Russell in hunt for F1 title?

Supercars to make Chevrolet Camaro updates after parity investigation

Supercars
Taupo Super 440
Supercars to make Chevrolet Camaro updates after parity investigation

Domenicali: F1 'needs to decide' on the next engine regulations this year

Formula 1
Domenicali: F1 'needs to decide' on the next engine regulations this year

Iannone expected Aprilia bike to be 'worse' at Valencia MotoGP test

New Aprilia MotoGP recruit Andrea Iannone said he expected the RS-GP bike to be "worse", but has still identified areas to make improvements

Iannone joins Aprilia from Suzuki for 2019 and made his debut with the Italian manufacturer in the two-day post-season test at Valencia this week.

He was 19th on day one after completing just 15 laps, and then took 18th on Wednesday, ending up 1.3s off the pace and seven tenths slower than new team-mate Aleix Espargaro.

Iannone also crashed twice on the second day of the test, but he said he expected worse from his new machinery.

"I am surprised from the bike - I expected the situation [to be] worse and in any case the situation is not so bad," he said.

"We have many positive things, also we have negative things but the negative points are really clear for me and also now for the engineers.

"I arrive with much information and experience and we will see, we know in which area it is important we work, it's really clear."

Espargaro led Aprilia's efforts on both days of the Valencia test, taking seventh and 10th respectively.

The Spaniard tested a new engine on Tuesday and a chassis on Wednesday, and while he liked the former, he said the latter "didn't convince me".

"[The new] engine, let's say, is one step more in the direction than the engine I used from the Misano test," Espargaro said at the end of day one.

"Immediately I felt good, not bad. With the used tyre I was three-four tenths quicker so was a little bit shocked.

"The feeling I had is with this engine is not more power but the connection with the throttle is a little bit smoother and the traction looks slightly better.

"So maybe they will allow us to use more power. [The] next step has to be to find more power.

"I tried a new frame [on Wednesday] and it was not super good, it didn't really convince me but I will try it in Jerez.

"We know exactly where we have to work, I talked a little bit with Andrea and he had the same problem as me - so this is positive."

Previous article MotoGP testing: Vinales tops final day of post-season Valencia running
Next article Valentino Rossi unsure about new Yamaha MotoGP engines for 2019

Top Comments

Latest news