Moto GP

[Rev004]

Thanks Gassick, what time do you go to work and you even make time to have a quick sticky at the forum before you go now that's dedication.

Anyway here is the results and info from the 1st round of testing from Qatar.

Hayden top as rain restricts night test at Losail
Sunday, 01 March 2009

The first evening of the 2009 MotoGP Official Night Test at Qatar saw relatively little action on track as rain hampered the work of the MotoGP field in the Middle East.


The MotoGP riders will be hoping for better conditions on the second two days of the MotoGP Official Night Test at Losail International Circuit on Monday and Tuesday, following a difficult first evening at the desert track.

Highly unexpected rain on Sunday morning and during the evening session, combined with relatively cool track temperatures and sand on the asphalt meant the going was difficult under the state-of-the-art Qatar floodlights, with most riders finding their work schedules restricted by the conditions.

The test commenced at 6pm local time, with Rizla Suzukiâ€s Chris Vermeulen setting down a 2â€01.843s marker early on. That time was not bettered until the last hour of the session, after a heavy downpour at 7pm interrupted the proceedings for an hour and the slippery surface slowed the riders down.

Late on the riders were able to push that bit harder and Ducati Marlboro newcomer Nicky Hayden finished top of the timesheet with 2â€00.717 effort registered in the final hour of the outing.

There was good news for Marco Melandri too, making his first 2009 test appearance he was the first rider out on track at the start of the evening, with the newly formed Hayate Racing Team, and he ended up second quickest overall, marginally slower than his Ducati replacement Hayden with a best time of 2â€00.867.

The top five was completed by Pramac Racingâ€s Mika Kallio, San Carlo Honda Gresiniâ€s Alex de Angelis and Kallioâ€s colleague Niccolo Canepa, who all beat Vermeulenâ€s early best effort late on, as several of the MotoGP big guns stayed in their pit-boxes.

Fiat Yamaha pair Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo completed just one lap each, whilst Dani Pedrosa did not undertake a meaningful lap. Casey Stoner and Loris Capirossiâ€s names, meanwhile, were absent from the timesheet.

Pedrosa elected not to take any risks with his left knee still not completely healed after an operation in December. Likewise, Stoner is yet to re-test the condition of his left wrist which hindered him last season and which was also troubling him at Sepang in the first test of the year after his corrective surgery in November.


MotoGP Official Night Test at Losail, Qatar
Session 1 - 01/03/09

Pos Rider Team Fastest lap Prev. Gap Lead. Gap Laps
1 Nicky Hayden USA 2:00.717 - - 31
2 Marco Melandri ITA 2:00.867 +0.150 +0.150 35
3 Mika Kallio FIN 2:01.020 +0.153 +0.303 29
4 Alex De Angelis RSM 2:01.074 +0.054 +0.357 15
5 Niccolo Canepa ITA 2:01.328 +0.254 +0.611 26
6 Chris Vermeulen AUS 2:01.843 +0.515 +1.126 6
7 Yuki Takahashi JPN 2:03.221 +1.378 +2.504 18
8 Andrea Dovizioso ITA 2:03.233 +0.012 +2.516 15
9 James Toseland GBR 2:03.417 +0.184 +2.700 7
10 Randy De Puniet FRA 2:03.580 +0.163 +2.863 18
11 Colin Edwards USA 2:03.652 +0.072 +2.935 8
12 Toni Elias SPA 2:08.637 +4.985 +7.920 3
13 Jorge Lorenzo SPA 2:24.832 +16.195 +24.115 1
14 Valentino Rossi ITA 1:12:31.872 +1:10:07.040 +1:10:31.155 1
15 Dani Pedrosa SPA -.--- - - 0
16 Casey Stoner AUS -.--- - - 0
17 Loris Capirossi ITA -.--- - - 0


Fiat Yamaha write off first night in Qatar
Sunday, 01 March 2009

A rare rain shower over the Losail International Circuit spelt an end to the first session of night testing in Qatar for Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo, who completed just one lap each.


Testing commenced under the floodlights at 6pm local time in Qatar on Sunday, but the rain began as soon as Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo ventured out on track, with neither of them able to get a fast lap in.

The cool night time temperatures meant the asphalt was unable to dry sufficiently from then on and, although some riders ventured back out later in the evening, the Fiat Yamaha pair decided not to risk a patchy track surface and their activities were suspended until Monday.

Valentino Rossi
“Five minutes of rain really gave us a lot of problems today. First we waited and then finally we decided to abandon it. I hope tomorrow itâ€s back to normal because this was our worst race last year and we need the time to see where we are and continue to improve with our new package.”
Jorge Lorenzo
“I went out and on the third lap it started to rain – I couldnâ€t believe it! It seems strange to have rain in the desert and itâ€s been a nightmare for the team because we have lost a whole day. I hope itâ€s better tomorrow because I really want to try the new electronic system and also I need to keep working to improve with the Bridgestone tyres.”


Melandri makes 2009 test debut with Hayate Racing
Sunday, 01 March 2009

The very first rider out on track at the MotoGP Official Night Test at Qatar on Sunday evening was Marco Melandri, testing with the newly formed Hayate Racing Team.


Wasting no time whatsoever as the Qatar test commenced it was Marco Melandri who undertook Sunday eveningâ€s first lap of the floodlit Losail International Circuit.

After a period of uncertainty and having missed the first test of the year at Sepang in February it was perhaps no surprise that Melandri would be the first out of his pit-box, notching up eight early laps before a surprise rain interruption.

Keen to get his 2009 preparations underway Melandri headed out onto the track on the Kawasaki ZX-RR under the watchful eye of Ichiro Yoda, the veteran Japanese engineer who will direct the newly formed Hayate Racing Team, for whom the Italian 26 year-old will be the sole rider.

Giving his very first thoughts on his initial 2009 outing Melandri commented on his return to the pit-box, “It was difficult getting used to being on a MotoGP bike again at first after a few months away, but the key thing is I am already feeling good on the Kawasaki.”

Assisting Melandri this season under the management of Yoda, the Hayate Racing Team Manager will be Andrea Dosoli, whilst Jasja Bos will undertake the role of Team Co-Ordinator.

Dosoli told motogp.com, “This is an important test for us in order to assess our potential. The chassis is completely new and so is the engine. The rain is not helping us early on, because we need to see exactly where we are as a team in normal conditions. It is improtant for us to have Marco on the bike as he is a talented rider who has great experience.”