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07-02-2009, 09:21pm
Well Testing at Sepang comcluded today with Stoner finishing on top closely followed by Rossi. So I spose we will have to wait and see now with most teams still to fulfill there testing time so roll on 2009..
Here is some more reading...
Sepang test concludes with Stoner on top
Saturday, 07 February 2009
As the first MotoGP test of 2009 concluded it was Ducatiâ€s Casey Stoner who sat proudly at the top of the Sepang timesheets.
Ducati Marlboroâ€s Casey Stoner set the pace on the third and final test day in Malaysia on Saturday, registering a hot lap of 2â€01.043 on the last of his 38 turns of the Sepang circuit to keep him ahead of the pack.
Having complained of continued pain in the wrist which hindered him in the second half of the 2008 season - the Australian is still recovering from the corrective surgery he underwent in November - Stoner kept his workload to a minimum but was still quick enough to end the day on top, by a 0.094s margin from rival Valentino Rossi.
Indeed Fiat Yamaha star Rossi and his compatriot Loris Capirossi of Rizla Suzuki were both on the pace again, having also featured in the top three on Thursday and Friday. Capirossi went round 0.219s behind former team-mate Stoner, continuing with an encouraging rhythm onboard the significantly updated 2009 GSV-R.
Also in good form over the three days in Sepang, Tech 3 Yamahaâ€s Colin Edwards was the fastest rider on satellite machinery, lapping fourth quickest on the new Yamaha M1 which he debuted on Thursday. Toni Elias†best effort, meanwhile, was just half a second off Stonerâ€s pace and his performance on his factory spec San Carlo Honda Gresini RC212V ensured there was top five representation on the timesheet from all four manufacturers present at Sepang.
Suzukiâ€s Chris Vermeulen and MotoGP sophomores Jorge Lorenzo (Fiat Yamaha) and Andrea Dovzioso (Repsol Honda) also featured in the top eight. Dovizioso demonstrated a good pace but opted against a full race simulation as he resolved setting problems and further acquainted himself with his new Bridgestones, whilst Lorenzo enjoyed a successful race simulation and overcame some braking issues which had hindered him in the previous 48 hours as he too familiarised himself with new Japanese rubber.
The top ten was completed by an improved Mika Kallio, who overcame hitherto restrictive handling issues and fellow Ducati rider Nicky Hayden, the only crasher of the day on a troublesome piece of asphalt at turn two which had caught out other riders on the previous two days.
MotoGP Official Test at Sepang, Malaysia
Session 3 - 07/02/09
Pos Rider Team Fastest lap Prev. Gap Lead. Gap Laps
1 Casey STONER Ducati MarlboroTeam 2:01.043 - - 38
2 Valentino ROSSI Fiat Yamaha 2:01.137 +0.094 +0.094 43
3 Loris CAPIROSSI Team Suzuki 2:01.262 +0.125 +0.219 60
4 Colin EDWARDS Tech3 Yamaha 2:01.413 +0.151 +0.370 22
5 Toni ELIAS San Carlo Honda Gresini 2:01.560 +0.147 +0.517 43
6 Chris VERMEULEN Team Suzuki 2:01.666 +0.106 +0.623 48
7 Jorge LORENZO Fiat Yamaha 2:01.907 +0.241 +0.864 61
8 Andrea DOVIZIOSO Repsol Honda 2:01.955 +0.048 +0.912 54
9 Mika KALLIO Pramac Racing 2:02.386 +0.431 +1.343 61
10 Nicky HAYDEN Ducati Marlboro Team 2:02.497 +0.111 +1.454 62
11 Alex DE ANGELIS San Carlo Honda Gresini 2:02.523 +0.026 +1.480 32
12 Sete GIBERNAU Guinea Ecuatorial 2:02.727 +0.204 +1.684 42
13 Randy DE PUNIET LCR Honda 2:03.418 +0.691 +2.375 50
14 Yuki TAKAHASHI Scot Racing Team 2:03.474 +0.056 +2.431 58
15 Niccolo CANEPA Pramac Racing 2:03.901 +0.427 +2.858 41
16 James TOSELAND Tech3 Yamaha 2:03.953 +0.052 +2.910 36
17 Yamaha Test Yamaha Factory 2:04.328 +0.375 +3.285 38
18 Yamaha Test Yamaha Factory 2:04.614 +0.286 +3.571 33
De Puniet: "I need more time to adjust the bike"
Saturday, 07 February 2009
Only 13th fastest on the third day of testing at Sepang, LCR Honda's Randy de Puniet hopes to improve next time out in Qatar.
LCR Honda MotoGP Team racer Randy De Puniet completed 50-laps today aboard the Bridgestone-shod LCR Honda RC212V 2009 spec. clocking his fastest lap time of 2â€03.418 (13th position).
The Frenchman proceeded with his tyres testing and setting set-up throughout the whole day thanks to the favourably warm conditions at the Malaysian track.
"We improved the lap time but itâ€s not enough for me: last year I was 4th here in the same test session," said the Frenchman. "Thereâ€s a lot of things to adjust but this first outing gathered us important data for next test session in Qatar."
"This morning we took a step forward and I knew I could improve more in the afternoon but we suffered some brake problems and we skipped the session for more than one hour. Today I feel more positive than yesterday but I need more time to adjust the bike."
Dovizioso confident after first 2009 test
Saturday, 07 February 2009
Andrea Dovizioso completed the first MotoGP tests of 2009 with positive feelings.
The Repsol Honda man continued his adaptation to the new bike, evaluating the chassis of his RC212V and working on machine-tyres matching in typical tropical conditions.
The Italian rider, who last year scored his first MotoGP podium on this track, was Repsol Hondaâ€s lone rider today. Andrea improved his race pace, cutting more than 4 tenths off his lap time from yesterday.
"We focused on bike set up and decided the way to follow concerning the chassis," commented the former 125cc World Champion. "We understood a lot of things during these three days and Iâ€m very confident. We need more work to adapt the machine to the tyres, this is a very important point. Concerning the engine, my feeling is that we need a smoother power delivery."
"Today it was really hot and it was very demanding out there from a physical point of view, especially after a break of more than two months. I did a long run of eleven laps to understand better the machine and the tyres and collect data. All in all, we have done a very good job and everybody in the team is very motivated."
His team-mate Dani Pedrosa ended the test session yesterday after completing the test programme with confidence and good feelings, even if he decided to return to Barcelona earlier than originally planned, as he continues to recover from a knee injury which he picked up at the end of last year.
"Iâ€m satisfied of the work done during these three days of testing, both riders and team worked very well and we have fixed the line to follow for the season," said team manager Kazuhiko Yamano. "We did an important step forward. Dani finished his programme yesterday, he understood the bike and the way to follow and Andrea concluded the job today with a long run. The motivation in the team in very high and we look forward to the next test session in Qatar at the beginning of March."
Repsol Honda riders resume testing at Losail, Qatar in three weeks, next 1st, 2nd and 3rd of March.
Here is some more reading...
Sepang test concludes with Stoner on top
Saturday, 07 February 2009
As the first MotoGP test of 2009 concluded it was Ducatiâ€s Casey Stoner who sat proudly at the top of the Sepang timesheets.
Ducati Marlboroâ€s Casey Stoner set the pace on the third and final test day in Malaysia on Saturday, registering a hot lap of 2â€01.043 on the last of his 38 turns of the Sepang circuit to keep him ahead of the pack.
Having complained of continued pain in the wrist which hindered him in the second half of the 2008 season - the Australian is still recovering from the corrective surgery he underwent in November - Stoner kept his workload to a minimum but was still quick enough to end the day on top, by a 0.094s margin from rival Valentino Rossi.
Indeed Fiat Yamaha star Rossi and his compatriot Loris Capirossi of Rizla Suzuki were both on the pace again, having also featured in the top three on Thursday and Friday. Capirossi went round 0.219s behind former team-mate Stoner, continuing with an encouraging rhythm onboard the significantly updated 2009 GSV-R.
Also in good form over the three days in Sepang, Tech 3 Yamahaâ€s Colin Edwards was the fastest rider on satellite machinery, lapping fourth quickest on the new Yamaha M1 which he debuted on Thursday. Toni Elias†best effort, meanwhile, was just half a second off Stonerâ€s pace and his performance on his factory spec San Carlo Honda Gresini RC212V ensured there was top five representation on the timesheet from all four manufacturers present at Sepang.
Suzukiâ€s Chris Vermeulen and MotoGP sophomores Jorge Lorenzo (Fiat Yamaha) and Andrea Dovzioso (Repsol Honda) also featured in the top eight. Dovizioso demonstrated a good pace but opted against a full race simulation as he resolved setting problems and further acquainted himself with his new Bridgestones, whilst Lorenzo enjoyed a successful race simulation and overcame some braking issues which had hindered him in the previous 48 hours as he too familiarised himself with new Japanese rubber.
The top ten was completed by an improved Mika Kallio, who overcame hitherto restrictive handling issues and fellow Ducati rider Nicky Hayden, the only crasher of the day on a troublesome piece of asphalt at turn two which had caught out other riders on the previous two days.
MotoGP Official Test at Sepang, Malaysia
Session 3 - 07/02/09
Pos Rider Team Fastest lap Prev. Gap Lead. Gap Laps
1 Casey STONER Ducati MarlboroTeam 2:01.043 - - 38
2 Valentino ROSSI Fiat Yamaha 2:01.137 +0.094 +0.094 43
3 Loris CAPIROSSI Team Suzuki 2:01.262 +0.125 +0.219 60
4 Colin EDWARDS Tech3 Yamaha 2:01.413 +0.151 +0.370 22
5 Toni ELIAS San Carlo Honda Gresini 2:01.560 +0.147 +0.517 43
6 Chris VERMEULEN Team Suzuki 2:01.666 +0.106 +0.623 48
7 Jorge LORENZO Fiat Yamaha 2:01.907 +0.241 +0.864 61
8 Andrea DOVIZIOSO Repsol Honda 2:01.955 +0.048 +0.912 54
9 Mika KALLIO Pramac Racing 2:02.386 +0.431 +1.343 61
10 Nicky HAYDEN Ducati Marlboro Team 2:02.497 +0.111 +1.454 62
11 Alex DE ANGELIS San Carlo Honda Gresini 2:02.523 +0.026 +1.480 32
12 Sete GIBERNAU Guinea Ecuatorial 2:02.727 +0.204 +1.684 42
13 Randy DE PUNIET LCR Honda 2:03.418 +0.691 +2.375 50
14 Yuki TAKAHASHI Scot Racing Team 2:03.474 +0.056 +2.431 58
15 Niccolo CANEPA Pramac Racing 2:03.901 +0.427 +2.858 41
16 James TOSELAND Tech3 Yamaha 2:03.953 +0.052 +2.910 36
17 Yamaha Test Yamaha Factory 2:04.328 +0.375 +3.285 38
18 Yamaha Test Yamaha Factory 2:04.614 +0.286 +3.571 33
De Puniet: "I need more time to adjust the bike"
Saturday, 07 February 2009
Only 13th fastest on the third day of testing at Sepang, LCR Honda's Randy de Puniet hopes to improve next time out in Qatar.
LCR Honda MotoGP Team racer Randy De Puniet completed 50-laps today aboard the Bridgestone-shod LCR Honda RC212V 2009 spec. clocking his fastest lap time of 2â€03.418 (13th position).
The Frenchman proceeded with his tyres testing and setting set-up throughout the whole day thanks to the favourably warm conditions at the Malaysian track.
"We improved the lap time but itâ€s not enough for me: last year I was 4th here in the same test session," said the Frenchman. "Thereâ€s a lot of things to adjust but this first outing gathered us important data for next test session in Qatar."
"This morning we took a step forward and I knew I could improve more in the afternoon but we suffered some brake problems and we skipped the session for more than one hour. Today I feel more positive than yesterday but I need more time to adjust the bike."
Dovizioso confident after first 2009 test
Saturday, 07 February 2009
Andrea Dovizioso completed the first MotoGP tests of 2009 with positive feelings.
The Repsol Honda man continued his adaptation to the new bike, evaluating the chassis of his RC212V and working on machine-tyres matching in typical tropical conditions.
The Italian rider, who last year scored his first MotoGP podium on this track, was Repsol Hondaâ€s lone rider today. Andrea improved his race pace, cutting more than 4 tenths off his lap time from yesterday.
"We focused on bike set up and decided the way to follow concerning the chassis," commented the former 125cc World Champion. "We understood a lot of things during these three days and Iâ€m very confident. We need more work to adapt the machine to the tyres, this is a very important point. Concerning the engine, my feeling is that we need a smoother power delivery."
"Today it was really hot and it was very demanding out there from a physical point of view, especially after a break of more than two months. I did a long run of eleven laps to understand better the machine and the tyres and collect data. All in all, we have done a very good job and everybody in the team is very motivated."
His team-mate Dani Pedrosa ended the test session yesterday after completing the test programme with confidence and good feelings, even if he decided to return to Barcelona earlier than originally planned, as he continues to recover from a knee injury which he picked up at the end of last year.
"Iâ€m satisfied of the work done during these three days of testing, both riders and team worked very well and we have fixed the line to follow for the season," said team manager Kazuhiko Yamano. "We did an important step forward. Dani finished his programme yesterday, he understood the bike and the way to follow and Andrea concluded the job today with a long run. The motivation in the team in very high and we look forward to the next test session in Qatar at the beginning of March."
Repsol Honda riders resume testing at Losail, Qatar in three weeks, next 1st, 2nd and 3rd of March.