Valentino Rossi says that the new chicane at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya will make little difference to the flow of the lap.
MotoGP reverted to the Formula 1 layout midway through the 2016 Catalan Grand Prix weekend after the death of Moto2 rider Luis Salom in a practice crash at Turn 12.
That layout transforms the sweeping Turn 10 into two more angular corners and introduces a chicane which bypasses the scene of Salom’s accident.
However, a new chicane has since been constructed, which effectively mirrors the F1 version but provides more run-off for motorcycles.
It is this layout, including the F1 Turn 10/Turn 11 complex, which will be used for the first time in a race in 2017, though a number of teams experienced it during testing last month.
Speaking on the eve of the Catalan Grand Prix, Rossi said that the revision will make little difference to the lap compared to the F1 layout which was hastily implemented in 2016, but did raise concerns about the surface change which the construction of the new chicane has caused.
Buy tickets
“For me, it is not a big difference; it’s very similar,” said Rossi, whose Movistar Yamaha team did not join the private testing.
“We need to understand with the bike what’s happened. For me, the only really worse part compared to last year is that you have to pass across another asphalt.
“The layout, for me, is similar; maybe a little bit worse under this point of view (surface changes) but not a big difference.”
Marc Marquez, on the other hand, claimed that he found the new chicane difficult to adjust to when Repsol Honda tested on the circuit in May.
“(They) changed only two corners but of course it is a big change,” said Marquez.
“On the test, it was difficult to find the best lines but step-by-step you find the best way.
“I think it’s not a very, very big difference (in the end), but it is interesting to understand (how it differs).”
Meanwhile, Rossi confirmed that his physical condition is still not perfect after being hospitalised as a result of a motocross crash prior to last weekend’s Italian Grand Prix.
The Italian laboured to fourth in his home race, and says that he would have preferred that the Mugello and Catalunya races did not fall on consecutive weekends.
“My condition could be better,” said the 38-year-old.
“To be at 100% I would have needed another week, but unfortunately these races are in a row.
“It’s a shame, also for the Championship because they’re two of the best races in the Championship so it’s so busy.
“Fortunately for me I had a good race in Mugello and rode in front of all the fans.
“I didn’t have pain, but I knew I had to suffer a bit more over race distance because I was struggling more to ride the bike.
“I hope here can be better.”
Practice for the Catalan Grand Prix, Round 7 of the season, begins this evening.
VIDEO: Rossi and Marquez discuss the circuit changes
Discussion about this post