The Yamaha YZR-M1 and the Suzuki GSX-RR have a lot in common. Both are inline four-cylinder machines and both rely more on angular speed and maneuverability than outright speed. And riders of both machines have complained about the lack of speed at great lengths.
Joan Mir’s frustration with Suzuki’s lack of power in 2021 was so great that he issued covert threats to seek solace elsewhere. “A lot of people end their contracts in 2022 and we hope to renew or make a different decision,” the 2020 world champion said ahead of the test in Sepang.
“Honestly, the test will be very important for me. It will be important to understand everything. As a Suzuki driver now, I feel great being here, I feel at home, but it is true that a change is something that in some moments can also be good. But for now, I can’t say more about it, because nothing is decisive. But let’s see”.
The biggest difference between Suzuki and Yamaha is that for Fabio Quartararo, those complaints continued after the tests at Sepang and Mandalika, Joan Mir and Alex Rins considered themselves happy.
Unlike the Yamaha, Suzuki has delivered an engine upgrade that’s substantial enough to really close the gap with Ducatis and Hondas.
They’ve also brought in a third version of the rear cruise height gauge, which improves steering out of corners and helps with more acceleration.
And so Joan Mir was much happier leaving Sepang, and embarking on the Mandalika test before missing the last day with intestinal problems. “Today is an important day to understand the potential of the engine, because the electronics have worked so much better, and I can be pretty fast, really consistent in lap speeds. So that’s really good,” Mir said after Sepang.
The new speed made a big difference. Mir said: “We are close, we are very happy. “We have clearly improved our top speed, we are there in the middle, which is really important. Because we know we have a fast racing bike. ”
“But always, to fight Ducatis and these guys with the engines we have, it’s very difficult to overcome. The story is the same in all races, it’s always a little tricky. So a little more power is a big help for me. And I expect with this advantage it will be much better.”
Alex Rins feels the same way. “What impressed me most in these tests was the engine,” he said after the Mandalika test.
“I mean it’s not easy to put more horsepower into the engine and keep the ‘answer’ from the engine. Sometimes it takes a while to get a good first throttle, but honestly, in Jerez, Malaysia and here, the engine is pretty good. ”
Contrast that with Fabio Quartararo’s words after testing with the new Yamaha. “Honestly, it’s something really big that’s missing!” exclaimed the 2021 world champion, before going on to say he won’t focus on it, preferring to look at what he has rather than what he doesn’t. A sound psychological strategy. But not a sign of absolute confidence in your bike.
Candlestick 2022 Suzuki GSX-RR Seems like a very complete package, there will be more product lines coming in 2020 than in 2021.
Rins certainly felt ready to start the season after testing. “We had five good days of riding in Sepang and here in Mandalika. I’ve had a very good feeling with the bike, I think we’ve improved our bike quite a bit,” said the Spaniard.
“So I am quite happy and feel ready for the first race in Qatar. I don’t want to say ‘we’ll be there’ because then the rest of the bikes will be ahead. But if we start in Qatar with the same ambition as we have been here then I think we will do our job well.”
It’s hard not to keep making comparisons with Yamaha when discussing Suzuki. But the similarities are hard to ignore.
Bikes that are similar in layout and development philosophy run along similar lines, creating incremental changes that they continue to refine, rather than go into radical change.
The difference is that this year, Suzuki’s incremental changes have been bigger and more efficient, while Yamaha is content to sit on its hands after winning the title in 2021.
Outside of the new engine, the changes Suzuki brings are relatively minor. A new chassis offers a bit more stability when braking, but sacrifices turnability.
The ride height gauge is new, better, but still has to be operated manually. And a slightly unmodified package.
The package is not where the biggest question mark remains. It is, again, an incremental upgrade, with slightly more thrust, although the bike still lacks side pods, the last one not using them.
The trade-off for more downforce is the loss of top speed, and although Suzuki has more of an edge in that respect, they still have to play less in balancing top speed with wheel control on exit. out corner.
“I think the priority right now is to improve aerodynamics,” said Alex Rins after Sepang. “We need to improve our ability to escape from the corners, the front. Escaping slow corners in low gear, we had our front wheels in the air and the others probably on the floor. And with the tire on the runway, the engine is still pushing. I think we need to improve at this stage.”
The good thing for Suzuki is that they don’t need to equip both the height gauge and the aerodynamic package right on the first lap. Growth in ride height can continue throughout the season, and with tests at Jerez and Barcelona, they will have a chance to improve throughout the year.
If the package doesn’t match what they need in Qatar, they will get a second chance to bring an updated package later in the year, again with the chance to test it out in Jerez and Barcelona.
So from the outside, Suzuki looks ready to go head-to-head in 2022. The GSX-RR has a solid engine, good throttle response – both riders spent a lot of time in the Mandalika test setting the bar. electronics – and good acceleration. The bike is nimble as always and stable under braking.
Joan Mir is in form and determined as ever, and the 2021 season has only sharpened his resolve. Alex Rins looks repaired from his mistakes in previous seasons, and more focused than we’ve seen him in recent years. His weakness is always a tendency to make mistakes and collisions, and better concentration helps in that regard.
And Suzuki finally has a team manager, in the picture of Livio Suppo. Suppo could take on some of the work set up by the committee to run the team following the departure of Davide Brivio shortly before the 2021 season begins.
That will allow Shinichi Sahara and Ken Kawauchi to focus more on developing the bike and running the Japanese side’s operations.
It’s hard not to see Suzuki entering the 2022 MotoGP season with justifiable optimism. Good bikes, good base team, hungry riders, organization leaves no big question mark as to who will be the team manager hanging over them.
Both Mir and Rins were fast in a lap and showed strong speeds on used tires during testing.
While fans and media focus their attention on Fabio Quartararo’s title defense, the rise of Pecco Bagnaia and the return of Marc Marquez, Suzuki drivers are flying under the radar. And they could turn out to be a much bigger threat than anyone expected.
Photo: Suzuki Racing
