[kropotkin thinks...] - 2015 Misano Thursday MotoGP Round Up: New Asphalt, Hidden Ben

[Ninjette Newsbot]

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There was a sense of eager anticipation at Misano on Thursday. For the past five years, the riders have complained more and more of the poor surface, of bumps, of a lack of grip, and of asphalt polished as smooth as pebbles on a beach. The new surface is a vast improvement, incredibly grippy, most of the bumps ironed out and fresh dark asphalt ready to welcome sticky rubber. Racing at Misano will be a much more rewarding experience than it has been in the past.

Just how much better is the new surface? Aleix Espargaro said that the Suzukis had lapped a second under the lap record, while Marc Márquez had been untouchable, lapping "nearly three seconds under the record." That seemed almost improbably fast, and a quick survey among the rest of the paddock suggested Márquez' time was not quite that quick, but at 1'31.9 impressive nonetheless. That is fully two seconds quicker than the race lap record, and a second under the pole record. On a scorching hot surface with track temperatures of over 60°, that is a very impressive time.

Track temperatures could be an issue, as Dani Pedrosa explained. "Because the asphalt is super black it got so hot, it started sweating," he said. The surface is so dark that it absorbs more heat than other, lighter-colored surfaces, meaning that track temperatures rise more quickly and get hotter overall. But with temperatures this weekend expected to be closer to normal, around 29° on Sunday, excessive heat should not be a problem.

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