The latest technical fashion in MotoGP is in carbon-fibre chassis cladding, designed to modify stiffness ratios.
Already seen on factory Hondas in the past, Suzuki was continuing testing the system, and Ducati also had a pair of new chassis – one for each rider – similarly equipped.
At Suzuki team chief Davide Brivio said that Alex Rins had two of these, having liked from his first trials before the Barcelona race; but Iannone had just one, because he had taken until the post-race tests to appreciate any advantage.
Rins, Dutch MotoGP 2018
Iannone, Dutch MotoGP 2018
Both riders also had upgraded engines, with slightly improved power, Brivio added.
Ducatis ca-fi experiments were in search of better cornering performance on worn tyres, said the team’s Davide Tardozzi.
At Yamaha, Vinales’s bike was fitted with a sensor to measure clutch lever movement – an attempt to pin down the reason for his bad start at Catalunya.
Vinales, Dutch MotoGP 2018
By Michael Scott