Skip to main content
Home

MotoMatters.com | Kropotkin Thinks

... that upgrading a website takes longer than you think

User Menu

  • Log in

Tools

  • Home
    • Contact
  • Subscriber Content
  • Round Ups
  • Features
    • Analysis
    • Interviews
    • Opinion
  • Photos
  • More
    • Search
    • Riders & Teams
      • 2023 MotoGP Rider Line Up So Far
      • 2022 Provisional MotoGP Rider Line Up
      • 2022 Provisional Moto2 Rider Line Up
      • 2022 Provisional Moto3 Rider Line Up
    • Calendars
      • 2022 Provisional MotoGP Calendar
      • 2022 Provisional WorldSBK Calendar
      • 2023 Provisional WorldSBK Calendar
    • Championship Standings
      • MotoGP Standings
      • Moto2 Standings
      • Moto3 Standings
      • MotoE Standings
      • WorldSBK Standings
      • WorldSSP Standings
    • Race Results
      • MotoGP Race Results
      • Moto2 Race Results
      • Moto3 Race Results
      • MotoE Race Results
      • WorldSBK Race Results
      • WorldSSP Race Results
  • Subscribe!
  • Patreon

Breadcrumb

  • Home

Sepang MotoGP Test: The MotoGP Bikes Up Close, by @colmobri

By David Emmett | Mon, 11/02/2019 - 09:21

This selection of photos from the Sepang test were taken by Colm O'Brien, a photographer who works with CormacGP's Cormac Ryan Meenan. You can follow him on Instagram at @colmobri.
After every race, MotoMatters.com will be publishing a selection of Tom Morsellino's photos of MotoGP bikes, together with extensive technical explanations of the details by Peter Bom. MotoMatters.com subscribers will get access to the full resolution photos, which they can download and study in detail, and all of Peter's technical explanations of the photos. Readers who do not support the site will be limited to the 800x600 resolution photos, and an explanation of two photos.


Valentino Rossi's Yamaha M1
David Emmett: The Yamaha M1 barely seems to change from year to year. In recent seasons, even the livery has remained almost identical. Yamaha's philosophy is one of evolution and refinement, and that is not always obvious from the outside. Despite the lack of outward change, there are some major changes to the 2019 Yamaha M1. Yamaha is continuing along the path of moving weight to the rear of the bike, and the bike has new chassis parts (including a new frame) to help with tire life. The biggest changes have been on the electronics side, optimizing the Magneti Marelli spec ECU software.


Marc Márquez' 2019 Honda RC213V prototype
David Emmett: Honda had a couple of variants of their 2019 bikes at Sepang. This is the bike referred to as 'the prototype' or 'the black bike', for obvious reasons. Key identifying detail for the 2019 bike is the black cover close to the headstock (and below the Honda tank badge). That contains various wires and minor electronics components which have been moved out from under the tank cover, to make room for larger airbox and direct air intake. Honda are playing with exhaust systems, and this bike has the older, squared-off tailpipe on the top exhaust. The newer version has a tapered cone on the exhaust. The carbon swingarm is a telltale giveaway that this is Marc Márquez' bike.


Danilo Petrucci's Ducati Desmosedici GP19


Hafizh Syahrin's KTM RC16


Aleix Espargaro's Aprilia RS-GP


Getting ready to start Cal Crutchlow's Honda RC213V


Aprilia's engine starter


KTM's engine starter


If you would like access to the full-size versions of these technical photos and all of Peter Bom's explanations, as well as desktop-size versions of the other fantastic photos which appear on the site, you can become a site supporter and take out a subscription. A subscription will also give you access to the many in-depth and exclusive articles we produce for MotoMatters.com site supporters. The more readers who join our growing band of site supporters, the better we can make MotoMatters.com, and the more readers will get out of the website.

If you would like to buy a copy of one of thes photos, you can email Thomas Morsellino

PhotoPage
CormacGP
MotoGP
Sepang, Malaysia
Aprilia
Ducati
Honda
KTM
Yamaha
  • Log in or register to post comments

To read the rest of this article, you need to sign up to become a MotoMatters.com site supporter by taking out a subscription. You can find out more about subscribing to MotoMatters.com here. If you are already a subscriber, log in to read the full text.


This is part of a regular series of unique insights into the world of motorcycle racing, exclusive for MotoMatters.com site supporters. The series includes interviews, background information, in-depth analysis, and opinion, and is available to everyone supporting the site by taking out a subscription.

If you would like to read more of our exclusive content you can join the growing band of site supporters, by taking out a subscription here. If you prefer, you can also support us on our Patreon page and get access to the same exclusive material there.

↑Back to top

Comments

mikhailway

3 years 12 months ago

Permalink

thank you

Thank you David. I love these photo/explanation sequences you've added to your content in the last year. It makes me even more pleased to contribute to your excellent website!

  • Log in or register to post comments

Rideless

3 years 12 months ago

Permalink

In reply to thank you by mikhailway

Agreed, the comments

The commentary rounds out what was missing in years past from the great photos. 

  • Log in or register to post comments

digitalrurouni

3 years 12 months ago

Permalink

I can't get enough

of these articles on MotoGP tech. That KTM engine starter is a work of art!!

  • Log in or register to post comments

Powervalve58

3 years 12 months ago

Permalink

Aprilia RS-GP

That Aprilia looks quite a bit different from the 2018 version. Much longer side exhaust, almost like the megaphones in the 1960's and the early 70's MV's. Nice! Also the tail section is very different in shape, much flatter than last year. Actually I was hoping for a RSA250-shaped RS-GP, that organic shape would be so cool. And good for top speed too, but maybe too 'stabilising' at high speeds... I'm curious to see what colour scheme they'll give the new RS-GP; I quite like the leathers of the riders during these testing days, with those typical black-and-red Aprilia colours. A mainly black bike with a red lower fairing would look awesome I think.

  • Log in or register to post comments

Jay

3 years 12 months ago

Permalink

Fantastic as always

I love these peices on the tech. Great stuff and fascinating insights.

Awesome work David Thank you.

  • Log in or register to post comments

Powervalve58

3 years 12 months ago

Permalink

Suzuki?

No pics of the best-looking bike on the grid..? (Completely subjective description, I know)

  • Log in or register to post comments

David Emmett

3 years 12 months ago

Permalink

In reply to Suzuki? by Powervalve58

No Suzuki

Unfortunately, Colm didn't get a shot of the Suzuki, that I know of. I will try to track a photo down.

  • Log in or register to post comments

Powervalve58

3 years 12 months ago

Permalink

In reply to No Suzuki by David Emmett

Ah, thanks!

I thought it was just a hiccup/accidental omission. Not meant to put you on a quest for photos...

While you are at it though, maybe some comparison pics of the 2018 and 2019 version of Andrea Iannone would be fascinating too.

  • Log in or register to post comments
Profile picture for user Mick-e

Mick-e

3 years 12 months ago

Permalink

What is old is new again

So Honda finally caught up to US flat track racing from the 80s? I've seen home made crank shaft starters on Rotax flat track bikes forever. You'd better be ready when you pull the trigger. The torque on those will break your wrist if you're not prepared.

  • Log in or register to post comments

The old site was great!

TRIUMPH

Not happy - why have this area so big on the left here? Then the comment area stacked so thin on the right? It was so much better before. NOT HAPPY. And DISCORD?! Not sticking around.

Motoshrink

3 years 12 months ago

Permalink

Aprilia

Aleix Espargaro:
"I requested the salad box. Aprilia cannot afford. But a nice pizza crust can now be rolled out on our flat fuel tank cover with the detachable exhaust silencer. Smith has used it (he will do anything for the Wildcard rides). Iannone is quite focused on a "Bon Apetit" magazine cover shoot...he keeps saying something in Italian about housewives and sausage."

(These are great, thanks David and Colm)
P.S. great commentary job at the test Neil! Hope you do more.

  • Log in or register to post comments

Steve Reddy

Profile picture for user Apical
Australia
DUCATI

996 Strada

Apical

3 years 12 months ago

Permalink

In reply to Aprilia by Motoshrink

Buon appetito not buon gusto

Andrea Iannone is focused his bella figura, buon appetito not buon gusto. Sadly like "the No show" it seems A.I.29 is another waste of talent.

  • Log in or register to post comments

sunsettree

3 years 12 months ago

Permalink

Ooohhh, ahhaaaa....rival

Ooohhh, ahhaaaa....rival factories will no doubt have poured over these pics.

As an aside do our memberships auto renew?

  • Log in or register to post comments

redax

3 years 12 months ago

Permalink

KTM starter unit

that KTM starter unit is one nice piece of kit
we race Laverda triples in the BEARs series in Aussie and use a Pingel remote starter direct on to the crankshaft but it runs on 24 volts and lugging a pair of batteries around everywhere is a pain, would love one of those units

 

 

  • Log in or register to post comments

macrocephalic

3 years 12 months ago

Permalink

In reply to KTM starter unit by redax

Compressed air

Have you thought about adapting a pneumatic impact wrench to it instead?

  • Log in or register to post comments

2dogs

3 years 11 months ago

Permalink

KTM Starter

Hey Redax, I would be taking your starter to a battery supplier offering Li-Ion batteries for a lightweight battery alternative. Else do a wanted ad in Gumtree for a Li-Ion Powerwall DIY'er to knock one up for you.

  • Log in or register to post comments

Steve Reddy

Profile picture for user Apical
Australia
DUCATI

996 Strada

Apical

3 years 11 months ago

Permalink

Valentine's Day Is Over

 
Happy birthday Valentino Rossi !

Thanks for the tweet yesterdy David, that link was broken. I did catch up with Billy Bragg's Valentine's Day Is Over, cool & thanx again.

I do hope Valentino Rossi's day aint over. Dr Vale will be forty tomorrow. I've just finished reading his book "What if I'd never tried it" Loving Rossi again, hoping for a good season for Yamaha & Ducati, expecting Marc Marquez to win the majority of races & the chip.

Off season almost over now, riding down to P.I. next Thorsday thank Chrysler for WSBK !

" you'll find your things all stacked out on the landing "

 

  • Log in or register to post comments

The old site was great!

TRIUMPH

Not happy - why have this area so big on the left here? Then the comment area stacked so thin on the right? It was so much better before. NOT HAPPY. And DISCORD?! Not sticking around.

Motoshrink

3 years 11 months ago

Permalink

In reply to Valentine's Day Is Over by Apical

What are you honed in on?

As excited about Beautista and the sorted V4 Ducati as me? Think they can do the business? Is Lowes going to arrive on the next step?
What are has you piqued?
(Enjoy!)

  • Log in or register to post comments

Steve Reddy

Profile picture for user Apical
Australia
DUCATI

996 Strada

Apical

3 years 11 months ago

Permalink

Age & Exprience v Youth with talent

Yamaha getting more wins, V.R. proving that old blokes rule, even if he only wins one this year. hoping for more than that sir Shrink.

Happy birthday Valentino Rossi !

I wanna see Danilo Petrucci win his first MotoGp race after being very close on previous occassions.

KTM & Zarco could provide some extra new spark.

Aprilia Andrea's antics, more of a sideshow than the main event, but may be amusing.

Eugene Laverty, Chaz and Alvaro on the V4 at Phillip Island next weekend. Eugene's tash & talent could make a difference. I think the Ducks may do well at P.I. Marco Meladrama won both races last year. Anything can happen "that's why they line em up on Sunday" and Saturday.

Having met Alex Lowes & his parents at Donington last year I would love to see Alex & Magic Michael do well and pick up more wins, sure to get podiums, there is only one J.R. Yes i am a Ducati nut, but I do have two Yamahas in the shed.

Yes Motoshrink I think it will be another gear, another year of the current Golden Age of motorcycle racing.

  • Log in or register to post comments

Log In or Register

  • Create new account
  • Reset your password

MotoGP.com latest

  • What can we expect from 2023's MotoGP™ sophomores?
  • Yamaha top as rain affects testing schedules on Day 2
  • Yamaha top as rain effects testing schedules on Day 2
  • GALLERY: Sepang Shakedown Test 2023
More

Follow MotoMatters on Twitter


Mastodon

MotoGP Technology

Buy Neil Spalding's essential guide to the technology of MotoGP bikes, MotoGP Technology.

Recent comments

  • Small screen orientation
    2 hours ago
  • Perspective
    2 hours ago
  • Wow, that escalated quickly!…
    4 hours ago
  • Suspension query
    6 hours 40 minutes ago
  • Is the Front allowed as a…
    6 hours 54 minutes ago

All content copyright of MotoMatters.com unless otherwise stated. MotoGP is a trademark of Dorna Sports s.l. and MotoMatters.com is not associated with it.

Site hosted by