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Sepang last corner changes make "no sense" - Espargaro
Suzuki's Aleix Espargaro has raised concerns over the banking of the revamped final corner at Sepang, saying it presents a higher risk of crashes.
Valentin Khorounzhiy
Edited: Oct 27, 2016, 12:36 PM
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The Malaysian circuit has seen a major overhaul in time for 2016 Formula 1 and MotoGP grands prix, with a new asphalt and changes to run-off areas and the banking of several corners.
F1 drivers, during their Malaysian GP weekend in late September, were particularly critical of Turn 15 - the final corner of the circuit, now an off-camber turn with steep banking.
And, ahead of MotoGP's race at Sepang, Espargaro has expressed reservations about the corner.
"Yesterday I was cycling with the bicycle and [in the corner] when I was turning left, I had to stop pushing the pedals - because I thought the left one was touching the asphalt," he said.
"The banking is so heavy - and for me, there is no sense to make banking like this. The risk to crash is very very high, so I really don't understand why they did it like this."
2016 Sepang International Circuit upgrade
Photo by: Dromo
LCR Honda's Cal Crutchlow, who sampled the revised track during a test at July (along with Yamaha's Colin Edwards and Ducati's Michele Pirro) dubbed the revamped turn "strange", but said it would "add more excitement".
"It’s a strange corner now," Crutchlow said. "The braking point is nearly the same I would say, but with the drop in the track going so much, you have to be patient with the exit.
"We saw in F1 they were going around the outside as much as possible to miss the banking. That doesn’t really work on our bikes, but we’ll try it. We’ll try every line into the corner.
"They didn’t really need to make those changes to the last corner, but it adds a bit more excitement for everyone."
Yamaha's Jorge Lorenzo said: "Hopefully, it's okay. Hopefully you do the first lap and you feel grippy and good - otherwise, it will be a complicated corner.
"Especially if you want to overtake someone or if you want to be a little more on the inside, there's more banking, there can be some crashes."
Other concerns
2016 Sepang International Circuit upgrade
Photo by: Dromo
Talking about the rest of the modifications to Sepang, Espargaro was positive over the new asphalt, but said he was concerned about Turn 9.
"The asphalt looks great. This track really needed new asphalt. But the problem is that, in a lot of places there is like a patch of water - and it's been very hot, no rain and the water is still there. This is very, very strange," Espargaro said.
"And also, I think Turn 9, the very slow corner on uphill, it's very, very, very dirty, I've never seen a corner like this.
"Let's see tomorrow - I think if it's full dry it's not going to be a problem, but if it rains and it stops... we'll see what happens."
Additional reporting by Oriol Puigdemont
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