Triumph torque brings Moto2 closer to MotoGP

Moto2 riders got their first taste of the official Triumph race engines and Magneti Marelli electronics during testing at Jerez in late November.

The extra torque from the 765cc triple - compared to the former 600cc four-cylinder Honda engines - was the hot topic of conversation and will require a more 'MotoGP' riding style.

Those best placed to make the comparison are Sam Lowes and Thomas Luthi, the only riders on the 2019 Moto2 grid that have also spent a season in the premier-class.

"The corner speed is loads slower than I was on the Honda engine, but exit and entry are already faster," said Lowes, returning to Gresini and Kalex for 2019.

"Okay, it's not MotoGP - it's 130hp - but it's more like MotoGP in the way that you have to stop it more than you did on the Honda Moto2 engine," said Lowes, who raced for Aprilia in the MotoGP during 2017.

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The Englishman, second fastest to Luca Marini at the test, added that it's "a breath of fresh air to have power in your hand" and that "you've got to play" with the throttle with the Triumph.

"Honestly, when everyone got 40% out of a corner on a Honda Moto2 bike they were flat out. You do that now, you'd be wheelieing. So it's nice having to work with that," he explained.

"It’s like your window of good power is a lot bigger now. You can short-shift and drive. You're not having to run lean angle to carry the rpm.

"With the Honda engine everyone was more-or-less riding on the same line. Hanging out of it and carrying the speed. Now, you can do that, but also you can stop-start it.

"I think that'll be nice for battling, for passing and it'll be a lot more of a stepping stone [to MotoGP]. Also for the fans it'll be a better, more wheelie and a lot more moving about at the end of a race. More action."

Luthi, who spent a tough 2018 on a Marc VDS Honda in MotoGP, is returning to the intermediate class after signing for the Dynavolt Intact team.

"Now I'm coming back and I was also thinking, 'Moto2 will be closer to MotoGP' - but still you need the corner speed compared to the big bikes," he said.

Nonetheless, "I think it's the right moment to get back into this class because sure, it's still Moto2, but it's not the 600cc engine and there is quite a lot of torque from the Triumph out of the turns.

"I was actually impressed by the engine.

"I was just talking with Sam and he was saying the same. It's quite hard to control actually, there's quite a lot of torque at the bottom. On the corner exit, but also already on the apex it's very difficult because you have to be so smooth and so careful.

"I think that's why we saw some highsides. Because it's very difficult to control. You need to be calm and very smooth with the throttle. It's just new and we have to find a way to set it up properly to get more control."

Alex Marquez, preparing for his fifth season in Moto2 with Marc VDS, also singled out torque as having a big impact on riding style...

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