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Rules changed over the off-season before the lights went out for the 2016 WorldSSP season, and MV Agusta have found themselves struggling a little more than some of their contemporaries to adapt to the changes. With the road bike having traction control and a host of other things now against the rules in World Supersport, the adaptation process has been a difficult one. Added to lead rider Jules Cluzel’s ongoing recovery from a terrible crash in Jerez de la Frontera near the end of the 2015 season, 2016 has proved a difficult one. Andrea Quadranti talked to WorldSBK.com about the season so far before the WorldSSP summer break.

“We were expecting something better in World Supersport and something less in WorldSBK,” explains Quadranti. “I wasn’t even meant to be in this role – we had a different plan – but now I have to be involved directly in the team. Due to the tight calendar, and the new rules in WorldSSP, we’ve had no time to adapt or test anything or make the engine more reliable…and we’ve had some problems with that. We’re still not quite in the best condition.

“It takes a lot to adapt – the software company also started the project this year with no experience – and it’s quite difficult for us to step down so much even from the street bike – because the street bike has traction control and many other things that we’re not allowed to use here. We just need to find the numbers and get the riders used to the system without the traction control. Jules was very used to that. In addition to that he had the big crash last year, and he’s not so confident now being on the bike without that security. So we just need some time to figure things out and test and develop.”

The changes in the regulations have certainly shuffled the order somewhat in the top echelons in WorldSSP, but Cluzel is still in the title fight – albeit quite far from the front – and has taken podiums, and the win in Thailand in Round 2.

“I don’t know if that was good or not, if I look back at what happened,” says Quadranti of the victory. “Maybe we got the illusion that it wasn’t that bad and we could still win. Then we fell on our face. We had some quite bad luck as well with Cluzel and Zanetti…so…I still think we can fight for victories before the end of the season but the Championship is going to be very hard. I’m looking at next year.”

So Cluzel has remained a podium contender and winner, although the season has been one of ups and downs. Teammate Zanetti however seems to have struggled more, with the race winner not finding his usual results on the MV Agusta in 2016.

“We need to look into that because it’s strange,” says Quadranti. “I can’t accept having a bike so far from the top ten. I think after this we are going to sit down and talk and look at all the data to see what the problem is there because it can’t continue like it is.”

MV Agusta Reparto Corse were one on the participants in a recent test at Lausitzring ahead of Round 10 at the German venue, testing with both the WorldSBK machine and the WorldSSP team as they look for more progress with each. After the summer break, there are then 4 more Rounds until the season finale in Qatar, and the preparations for another season begin.