RiderTua.com – At the 2023 Italian GP, the top speed record in MotoGP was astonishing, reaching 366.1 km/hour set by Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM) in a sprint race on the 1,141 km start-finish straight at Mugello.
From previous years, the fact is that the Qatar Lusail Circuit with a straight track of 1,068 km has always recorded an absolute top speed record. For example, in 2021, when Johann Zarco (still at Pramac Ducati) in free practice reached 362.4 km/hour.
MotoGP Top Speed at Qatar Test: Ducati and KTM Record More than 350 Km/h..!
At the 2023 Qatar GP, the figure of 360 km/h will not decrease. This is also because the maximum speed measuring point on the straight start-finish track has been shifted by around 30 meters. The highest top speed record from the weekend race in November 2023 was 356.4 km/h (Enea Bastianini, Marco Bezzecchi and Zarco each on Ducati).
Last week, in the final pre-season test before the start of the 2024 MotoGP season, Bastianini also achieved a top speed of 355.2 km/h in Lusail. Brad Binder recorded a maximum speed of 351.7 km/h. In terms of the average of the five fastest values, the South African rider is in the top position with 348.1 km/h.
The top speed list with two Yamaha riders in the top 10 supports Fabio Quartararo’s statement that the new machine is a real improvement compared to previous years. But the M1’s aero package is also much sleeker than the competition.
This is very different from the Aprilia RS-GP which only occupies the bottom position in the top speed list. However, the manufacturer from Noale-Italy does not want to bring the final development stage of its engine to the track until the start of the World Championship. Like all manufacturers from Concession groups A to C, Aprilia must homologate engine specifications before the start of the season, but this is only a minor update as heard in Qatar.
Only Yamaha and Honda will be allowed to develop their engines further throughout the season thanks to the new concession.
