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Forward Racing Team and its riders, Lorenzo Baldassarri and Luca Marini, have just concluded a fruitful day of testing in the wind tunnel “Raffaele Balli” at the University of Perugia Engineering Department.
The tests, coordinated by Prof. Francesco Castellani, focused on improving the riding position for the two members of the VR46 Riders Academy in order to minimize “drag” and improve top speed on the straights.
Baldassarri and Marini, enthusiastic about the initiative, jumped on their Kalex 2016 machines, this time not to blaze down the asphalt of the World Championship, but to be hit by an air flow travelling at speeds that peaked at 160km/h. On this occasion, Forward Racing Team mechanics assisted the University of Perugia experts in order to make the most of the day.
“It's the first time I’ve been involved in such a test - said Lorenzo Baldassarri - Usually, when I get on a Moto2 bike, I do it on the track, but this time I was stationary! Today we obtained useful information to improve my position on the bike, especially on the straights. I can’t wait to go to Austria and put what we have discovered into practice.”
“This day we spent in the wind tunnel was very useful - echoed Luca Marini - Now we have to study the data provided to us by the University of Perugia technicians, but I am pretty sure that we can increase performance even more by improving some small details, especially on tracks with long straights. We will soon be going to Austria where we will be able to have some feedback right away even though it is a new track. See you there!”
“I consider this a very interesting experience that comes at a key moment of the year, mid-season, when our boys know the new bike well already and can focus on going faster with it by improving aerodynamics and CX - added team principal Giovanni Cuzari - I wish to thank the University of Perugia, Professor Castellani and his team, who supported us and demonstrated great professionalism. A special thanks to the guys on the team who, despite the holiday break, came here to study improvements for our riders. Thanks a lot to the sponsors who support us and they do it even in these research and development initiatives. Now we just have to get on the track at Spielberg and put what we have learned into practice in the hopes of being able to count the kilometres earned in top speed.”
