Suzuki have improved their GSX-RR in "every area" compared to last year’s machine, reckons technical manager Ken Kawauchi.
The Japanese factory team bounced back well in 2018 following a tough ’17 campaign, scoring nine podium finishes between riders Alex Rins and Andrea Iannone. Rins ended up fifth in last year's standings, notching up top six finishes in each of the last seven races to cap off the year.
The Spaniard currently sits third in this year’s standings having taken Suzuki’s first victory since the 2016 British Grand Prix at the North American round of the series at the Circuit of the Americas. He also finished runner up to championship leader Marc Marquez at Jerez, while also scoring a brace of top five results in Qatar and Argentina at the start of the year.
Kawauchi says the key to the squad’s ’19 form are developments in several key areas compared to the ’18 spec GSX-RR.
"There are not so many visual changes from last year’s bike, but we have improved every area. They are very small changes, but we have a bit more horsepower, more speed and turning and most importantly have kept the same balance as last year, explained Kawauchi.
"We are very happy with the current level of the bike.”
"Our strongest points are probably the balance and turning ability of the bike, as well as low tyre degradation" said Kawauchi.
"We do however struggle a bit more on the longer straights compared to other bikes, as well as on the brakes. We are not satisfied with this area of the bike."
Straight-line speed has historically been one of the main sticking points of Suzuki’s MotoGP machine, and while they have made inroads over the winter, more progression in this area is on the horizon according to Kawauchi.
"Our power improvement comes in part from our new double exhaust system, as well as a slight improvement in engine performance. We also have an update coming for this (engine) that we try to prepare, as well as many other small things we try to combine with this to try and improve."
