After back-to-back tests of the 2021 and 2022 designs, Alex Rins believes Suzuki has taken a “very important step” with the GSX-MotoGP RR’s engine.
Suzuki has taken a’very major step’ with its GSX-RR MotoGP engine for 2022, according to Alex Rins.
Suzuki can change its engine design for the first time since Qatar 2020, thanks to the end of the covid technical freeze.
At the Qatar test in March, the factory was the first to run a 2022-spec engine with its MotoGP racers. Since then, the engine has continually improved, ending in the version saw on track at Jerez last week during the year’s last race.
“We worked with the new engine, some new fairings, general set-up, swingarm, many things!” said Alex Rins, who set the sixth fastest lap time.
“And we’re happy with how things are going, especially with the engine which seems to have more speed and power. After a back-to-back comparison with the 2022 engine and the 2021 engine, we can feel that we have made a very important step.”
If the engine performs as expected, it appears that the latest aerodynamics will need to be modified.
“Looks like the engine is working good but we still need to work in some [aerodynamics],” Rins said.
“We tried different fairings that more-or-less were working quite good. Not the big effect that we were waiting for. But looks okay. Looks like we are doing a good package for next year.”
Asked if he knew who the new Suzuki team manager will be, Rins reiterated: “We will have someone, but sincerely I don’t know who and I didn’t ask. I’m in that phase [where] I’m asking more for a better cowling!”
Rins and teammate Joan Mir (ninth quickest) were joined on the track by Sylvain Guintoli and Takuya Tsuda, a Japanese test rider.
It was a strong hint, when combined with the other new parts, that the factory is taking former world champion Mir’s complaints about the bike’s development being too slow this season seriously.
“To have Sylvain here is a good thing,” Rins said. “I was talking before with him and sincerely we have the same comments about the new chassis, new engine. So this means we are going the same way. This is important.”
Guintoli added: “We are going through a period of intense testing now, with many days spent on track as we have many items to try. Tsuda and I are doing a lot of work to deliver Joan and Alex some good options, and it looks like they are giving important improvements.
“Suzuki has worked on many, many items such as engine, chassis, fairings, electronics and other smaller details. Some of them are big changes, others are minor, but overall there is a lot to try.”
Shinichi Sahara, Suzuki Project Leader and Team Director, was pleased with the results: “I must say that the early feedback is very positive and we will go forward with our minds set in the right direction.”
Rins and Mir will be back on track in February at the Sepang test.
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