The riders and teams in the Moto2 and Moto3 classes will be able to test Pirelli tyres for the first time in Barcelona – Superbike tyres will be used for the Moto2 class
The Monday after the Barcelona Grand Prix will be an important test day for the smaller classes. Originally, no official IRTA test had been planned for 4 September. But next year Moto2 and Moto3 will change tyre partners. Pirelli has signed a contract for the period from 2024 to 2026.
So that the teams and riders can gather first impressions with the new tyres, this test day was inserted. Since Moto2 and Moto3 have been in existence, Dunlop standard tyres have been used.
In principle, these will be superbike slicks. The tyres that will be used in Moto2 next year will be commercially available. Hobby riders will be able to ride trackdays with exactly these World Championship tyres.
Pirelli will not start its own development for the Moto2 class, but will rely on well-known Superbike products. The dimensions of the rims are already the same in the Superbike World Championship and in Moto2.
The width of the rim for the front wheel is 3.5 inches and 6 inches for the rear wheel. The diameter of both rims is 17 inches. This means that the Moto2 teams do not have to buy new rims and can continue to use their material.
Compared to the Dunlop tyres, the Pirelli tyres are slightly higher at the front and rear. The change in tyre partner will mean that the handling will feel different. The mechanical set-up of the bikes will also be different.
Will concrete conclusions be possible?
Some riders might like the feel of the new tyres straight away, while others might struggle more at first. In any case, teams and drivers face the challenge of working out a new base set-up for the new Pirelli tyres.
“Let’s see how it really works”. “It’s a first feeling out. If it goes, we can draw some conclusions from that. “
Since this first test is relatively late in the year, it will also be a challenge in terms of timing for the chassis designers to implement changes in stiffness for next year. Typically, chassis construction for the coming year begins in the autumn.
“Monday will show the direction,” Baumgärtel also has to be surprised what impressions he will get from the teams and riders. The new tyres will definitely have an influence on the geometry, the weight distribution and the setting of the suspension elements.
This Pirelli test day in Barcelona could also have been the first and last in the calendar year 2023. The contract with Dunlop runs until the day of the season finale, which takes place in Valencia on 26 November. From 1 December, testing is banned.
More Pirelli tests possible this year?
Theoretically, there would be a maximum of four days left at the end of November for possible further testing in Spain before the winter break. “And that’s also a critical period weather-wise,” Baumgärtel notes. “We are so late in the season. You can have bad luck even in Jerez.”
In Valencia, a test day for the MotoGP is scheduled for 28 November. For the smaller classes, it would also be a feat to travel the 700 kilometres to Jerez immediately after the season finale and set up the pits there again.
So far, the team association IRTA has not communicated whether there will be further test days after Valencia. A lot also depends on how this Monday test in Barcelona will go.
By the way, the new agreement with Pirelli does not only concern Moto2 and Moto3. All JuniorGP classes as well as the Asia Talent Cup, the Northern Talent Cup and the Rookies Cup will also be equipped with Pirelli tyres from 2024 onwards.
