MotoGP: Silverstone gains to boost Suzuki pace

Suzuki MotoGP rider Aleix Espargaro believes breakthroughs discovered at Silverstone will bring the returnee team closer to the pace for the remainder of the 2015 season.

In its first MotoGP campaign since 2011, the factory Suzuki squad has achieved four front row starts – including a one-two on the Barcelona grid for Espargaro and team-mate Maverick Vinales – but just one top-six race finish.

Its qualifying form has also tailed off in recent grands prix, but Espargaro said the bike's behavior in Britain was "overall much better than the last races" following setup adjustments.

"We found something with the rear geometry and especially on the electronics to improve a lot," he said. "I have to say that it was a little bit my fault with my riding style because I'd lost a little confidence on the front so I was not pushing as always but [at Silverstone] we made one step forward. We're not where we were at the beginning of the season but we're much better and closer to the top guys."

Suzuki's engine has been regarded as the package's weak point, but Espargaro says how the traction control affects acceleration could be a bigger problem than outright power.

"In other races I've said when it's the engine performance and top speed's fault, but at Silverstone we were not using all our power," he said. "I went with Vale [Rossi] and on every long straight you can feel the difference, but I think we could have been at least half a second faster.

"It's on acceleration. The first touch of the throttle is really good but when we pick the bike I have a lot of pumping and really lose the acceleration. We've had this problem previously, it's the TC.

"Right now I'm happy with the level of TC but not how it's working – it's too aggressive. Sometimes it creates more bumps [in power delivery].

"They're working so hard, maybe more in electronic maps than with the engine, and we are improving. It's working."

The MotoGP season resumes with the San Marino GP at Misano this weekend.

Originally on Autosport.com