Pembalap MotoGP Uji Coba Ban Pirelli dan Motor 850cc di Brno

Sejumlah pembalap MotoGP menyelesaikan uji coba tertutup untuk menguji ban Pirelli baru dan motor prototipe berkapasitas 850cc untuk musim 2027 di Sirkuit Brno, Ceko, pada Senin awal pekan ini.

Dilansir dari media The Race dan Crash, pengujian ini berlangsung secara rahasia setelah gelaran Grand Prix Ceko tanpa adanya sistem pencatatan waktu resmi dari pihak penyelenggara.

Toprak Razgatlioglu yang membela tim Pramac dilaporkan mencetak waktu putaran 1 menit 54,2 detik menggunakan motor Yamaha, berada di bawah catatan waktu Marco Bezzecchi dan Raul Fernandez dari Aprilia dengan 1 menit 53,9 detik.

Pembalap asal Turki tersebut menilai karakteristik ban depan baru Pirelli sangat mirip dengan komponen yang biasa ia gunakan dalam ajang World Superbike (WorldSBK).

"It was positive, and I’m happy after the test," ujar Toprak Razgatlioglu, Pembalap Pramac.

Mantan juara WorldSBK tersebut menambahkan bahwa tingkat cengkeraman ban belakang sangat luar biasa meskipun timnya masih harus melakukan beberapa peningkatan penyetelan lanjutan.

"The rear we have incredible grip with. We need to improve something with it, but still we have incredible grip. But the front tyre especially I feel is like the superbike tyre." kata Toprak Razgatlioglu, Pembalap Pramac.

Setelah tiba di Assen, Razgatlioglu juga mengonfirmasi kesiapannya menghadapi musim baru walau proses adaptasi dengan motor 850cc dan ban Pirelli masih berada di tahap awal.

"We are still not really 100% ready with the new bike, but already we are testing 850 and the new tyres, Pirelli. And very positive already now." jelas Toprak Razgatlioglu, Pembalap Pramac.

Dirinya merasakan peningkatan kepercayaan diri yang signifikan pada area depan motor di setiap sesi latihan yang ia jalani di Brno.

“When I'm riding the bike, every session I feel much better, especially on front tyre. Brno is not really a hard braking track, but already I feel really good. We need improve something for the rear tyre, but still we have a incredible grip.

But, especially the front tyre, I feel the same, like Superbike. The feeling.” tutur Toprak Razgatlioglu, Pembalap Pramac.

Namun, penurunan tenaga dari kapasitas mesin 1000cc menjadi 850cc langsung disadari oleh para pembalap saat keluar dari tikungan.

“Power is less because after the 1000cc, with the 850… I feel very slow. All the brands, everyone, was saying it [felt] very slow. After the corner exit when you put third or fourth gear… [nothing happens]!

Okay, still it’s a fast bike, but after the 1000, you feel a big difference. This is strange. The first time I was thinking, do we have some problem on the straight?!

And after I understand, everyone says [the same].” ungkap Toprak Razgatlioglu, Pembalap Pramac.

Perubahan performa ini membuat Razgatlioglu memfokuskan seluruh agenda tes untuk memahami karakter ban baru demi meningkatkan motivasinya di MotoGP.

“A little bit more, yeah. Maybe next year we find more corner speed,” sebut Toprak Razgatlioglu, Pembalap Pramac.

Fokus penuh pada pekerjaan sendiri membuat dirinya tidak terlalu memperhatikan performa motor dari pabrikan lain di lintasan.

“It was not an easy schedule for me because I rode a lot. I just focused to my job and understanding the bike and tyres. I just focused on myself,” tegas Toprak Razgatlioglu, Pembalap Pramac.

Uji coba ini juga dianggap memberikan suntikan motivasi tambahan setelah menjalani musim debut yang cukup menantang bersama Yamaha.

“Why not? I get some motivation when I see the positive test,” kata Toprak Razgatlioglu, Pembalap Pramac.

Kendati demikian, pembalap bernomor 54 tersebut mengakui karakter ban Michelin saat ini sangat kontras dengan komponen baru yang sedang disiapkan.

“But the Michelin and this [1000cc] bike are completely different. We will see. I'm always trying my best every race weekend. I hope I'll continue to learn and improve a lot.” lanjut Toprak Razgatlioglu, Pembalap Pramac.

Sementara itu, juara dunia MotoGP 2020 Joan Mir menggarisbawahi bahwa motor spesifikasi baru tersebut sangat menyenangkan untuk dikendarai tanpa adanya perangkat pengatur ketinggian (ride height devices).

"The bike is fun," tutur Joan Mir, Pembalap Honda.

Mir memaparkan kecepatan menikung menjadi lebih tinggi meskipun kecepatan puncak di lintasan lurus berkurang drastis.

"The corner speed also is higher. The [top] speed obviously is less. And, you know, there's like…

A lot of room for improvement, no? In a new project. So it's fantastic.

What is true is that the style is very different. It's very different. Also the other tyre works in a different way.

It's a completely opposite thing. So everything is quite new. People will be surprised next year." urai Joan Mir, Pembalap Honda.

Di sisi lain, pembalap penguji Yamaha Augusto Fernandez menyebut regulasi baru ini akan mengembalikan aspek kendali motor sepenuhnya ke tangan pembalap.

"Because you're using it without the [ride height] devices and everything," kata Augusto Fernandez, Pembalap Penguji Yamaha.

Menurut Fernandez, minimnya perangkat elektronik pembantu akan meningkatkan kualitas tontonan dan sportivitas bagi para penggemar MotoGP.

"that feels more like a real bike, a motorbike, back to riding the bike yourself, not behind the bike and getting stuck on the devices. So for me it's more fun to ride. Less power, a little bit less power… it feels less power but not that much.

But yeah, more like a real and natural bike. For us as riders, I think it's going to be – and for you to watch us – entertainment. More entertainment, because we can play more with the bike.

Maybe because of the tyres as well. But I think we can fight closer and without risk." jabar Augusto Fernandez, Pembalap Penguji Yamaha.