Iannone expected Aprilia bike to be 'worse'

ByAutoSport

Published 21/11/2018 at 18:23 GMT

New Aprilia MotoGP recruit Andrea Iannone said he expected the RS-GP bike to be "worse", but has still identified areas to make improvements.

Eurosport

Image credit: Eurosport

Iannone joins Aprilia from Suzuki for 2019 and made his debut with the Italian manufacturer in the two-day post-season test at Valencia this week.

He was 19th on day one after completing just 15 laps, and then took 18th on Wednesday, ending up 1.3s off the pace and seven tenths slower than new team-mate Aleix Espargaro.

Iannone also crashed twice on the second day of the test, but he said he expected worse from his new machinery.

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"I am surprised from the bike - I expected the situation [to be] worse and in any case the situation is not so bad," he said.

"We have many positive things, also we have negative things but the negative points are really clear for me and also now for the engineers.

"I arrive with much information and experience and we will see, we know in which area it is important we work, it's really clear."

Espargaro led Aprilia's efforts on both days of the Valencia test, taking seventh and 10th respectively.

The Spaniard tested a new engine on Tuesday and a chassis on Wednesday, and while he liked the former, he said the latter "didn't convince me".

"[The new] engine, let's say, is one step more in the direction than the engine I used from the Misano test," Espargaro said at the end of day one.

"Immediately I felt good, not bad. With the used tyre I was three-four tenths quicker so was a little bit shocked.

"The feeling I had is with this engine is not more power but the connection with the throttle is a little bit smoother and the traction looks slightly better.

"So maybe they will allow us to use more power. [The] next step has to be to find more power.

"I tried a new frame [on Wednesday] and it was not super good, it didn't really convince me but I will try it in Jerez.

"We know exactly where we have to work, I talked a little bit with Andrea and he had the same problem as me - so this is positive."

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