The post-Italian Grand Prix tabloid format test day in MotoGP at Mugello was essentially ruined by rain, making one of the three collective tests available in the season useless. Initially, there was a brief period of dry track, but the rain quickly spoiled the session, making it completely unrepresentative. The test lasted eight hours, but it served no purpose. Brad Binder, riding for KTM, managed to top the standings with a time of 1m47.617s, just 0.033s ahead of rookie Pedro Acosta on the Tech3 Gas Gas. However, their lap times were three seconds slower than the pole time over the weekend. Only three other riders managed to achieve lap times in the 1m47s range.
Binder ironically referred to leading the test as the highlight of his weekend. He explained that he was able to do two fast laps in the dry in the morning, but then it started raining. He hoped to continue testing, but couldn’t due to the weather conditions. This testing opportunity would have been particularly valuable for the European manufacturers in MotoGP, as they do not have other chances to test with their full-time riders. On the other hand, Japanese manufacturers Honda and Yamaha, classified as ‘Rank D’, can make up for the lack of track time through private tests.
Many riders chose not to ride in the rain. Marco Bezzecchi, from VR46 Ducati, explained that riding in wet conditions is very different at each track. Just because a rider performs well in wet conditions at Mugello, doesn’t mean they will have the same success in Assen, for example. Wet conditions vary from track to track.
The disruption in the weather is especially frustrating for Raul Fernandez of Trackhouse Aprilia, who had planned to use the test day to familiarize himself with a 2024-spec Aprilia. He is scheduled to undergo his second arm pump operation in just over a year and intended to switch from his 2023-spec bike to the newer model at Silverstone. Now, with only one collective test in the remaining season schedule, which will take place in Misano in September, Fernandez’s plans have been disrupted.
