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Test after Valencia GP
Monday Nov 09 2009Test after Valencia GP

Day 1

DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM START WORK FOR 2010

Less than 24 hours after the 2009 season had concluded the Ducati Marlboro Team was back on track at Valencia as Casey Stoner and Nicky Hayden completed their first day of testing for the 2010. Warm sunshine and strong winds welcomed the riders onto the track for the afternoon session, with a full day's work scheduled for Tuesday and another half day on Wednsday, when the track will close at 13:00.
Stoner and Hayden enjoyed a positive day, clocking the fastest and fifth fastest times respectively.
Casey Stoner (Ducati Marlboro Team) 1st; 1'32.660 (32 laps)

"We tried a new engine configuration designed at improving the rideability of the bike and for the moment it is going really well. The feedback is more smooth and we improved traction with the same set-up we used over the weekend, so that is positive. We also tried some different forks and in general I am satisfied. We didn't do many laps today - just tried to make sure we were working in the right direction. I think we are and I can't wait to get back on track tomorrow, when hopefully it won't be as windy."
Nicky Hayden (Ducati Marlboro Team), 5th; 1'33.358: (58 laps)

"I was really looking forward to getting back out on track today and starting work on next season. We have a direction to work in and loads of work to do but we made a lot of progress already today. We don't have a lot of tyres available and just worked with two sets - a hard one and a softer one - with very similar times on both that were not far off my qualifying time from Saturday. We tried some engine updates on one of the bikes, some forks and a couple of different settings but this is just the start and it is early to say which is best because the lap times have been very similar. Generally it's been a good first day and I'm happy."

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HONDA RACING INFORMATION

Valencia test 9.11.2009: Day one of three day MotoGP test session:

Weather: sunny, cool and windy
Ambient temperature: 18 degrees
Track temperature: 28 degrees

Pedrosa fastest Honda RC212V rider on opening day of Valencia test

The 2010 season opened with the traditional post
Valencia GP test, the first MotoGP winter test
session where the teams and riders get to test
the latest technical developments from the race
machine manufacturers R&D departments.

Testing started after lunch and ended at 17.00.
Early progress was hampered by fine sand blown
onto the track surface by strong overnight winds.
Once the track had developed a clean racing line
the riders set about testing in earnest.

The Repsol Honda factory team have a full
programme of testing with a new engine, chassis,
electronics and suspension parts to test. Dani
Pedrosa tested Ohlins suspension for the first
time today taking his time to get a good feeling
from the Swedish hi-tech suspension equipment.
Team-mate Andrea Dovizioso has already done the
hard work initial shake down test with Ohlins
over the final half dozen races of the season.
Pedrosa spent much of his time in the pit box as
team technicians worked on the various setting
possibilities restricting Pedrosa to 31 laps.

Italian Dovizioso spent the first afternoon of
the test evaluating the new stiffer chassis,
which features slight geometrical changes, and a
new swinging arm developed to improve the weight
distribution of the RC212V. Dovi was happy with
the improvements made and goes into the second
day of the test in a very positive frame of mind.

Frenchman Randy De Puniet set ninth fastest time
of the afternoon on his LCR Honda. The team
technicians worked to overcome a rear end problem
that had deprived De Puniet of grip in Sunday's
GP. Problem solved the team moved on to test new
suspension links and new traction control software.

San Carlo Gresini Honda will field a new
two-rider line-up in 2010 with former teamster
Marco Melandri rejoining the Italian squad where
he is joined by the 2008 250cc world champion
Marco Simoncelli. Both men spent time working on
basic machine set up, Simoncelli feeling more
comfortable, and improving his lap times, as the
day wore on, Melandri moulding the riding position.

Melandri last rode an RC212V in 2007 and was
pleasantly surprised by the improvements made to
the RCV during the intervening two season. Once
he had accustomed himself to the riding position
moved on to test various geometry settings in
preparation for tomorrow's full day on track.

Newly crowned, and last ever, 250cc World
Champion Hiro Aoyama took to the track for his
first ever MotoGP test aboard a Honda
RC212V. Everything was new for Aoyama! New
machine, engine type, carbon brakes, consequently
the 250cc World Champion took his time while
unravelling the mysteries of the 800cc V4 four-stroke Honda!

Several riders took to the track to test race
machines that will contest the new, for 2010,
Moto2 category. Thai rider Rathapark Wilairot
setting a time of 1m 39.815s using a standard
CBR600 engine in the SAG prepared chassis.

Rider lap times and quotes:

Dani Pedrosa, Repsol Honda: 4th - 1m 33.088s, 31 laps
"We tested with the new 2010 bike today and also
used Ohlins suspension. The key thing was to
begin getting used to the new suspension because
the feelings are quite different and we need some
time to find the set-up for the new chassis. We
didn't do so many laps this afternoon because,
with this kind of testing, you spend quite a lot
of time in the box. The feeling from the chassis
was quite similar today - it's the suspension
that really feels different, and I think this is
normal when you make a change like this. The
initial feeling is positive and we'll come back
tomorrow and get back down to work."

Andrea Dovizioso, Repsol Honda: 7th - 1m 33.675s,
51 laps "Today we tried the 2010 machine with the
new chassis and swing arm. It's very early days
of course, but the first impression is positive
and the feeling is that we are working in a good
direction. The weight distribution is different
in order to improve the stability of the machine
under braking and to better suit the Bridgestone
tyres. We have two more days of testing here, and
tomorrow we have the whole day to continue evaluating the new machine."

Randy de Puniet, LCR Honda: 9th - 1m 33.775s,
61 laps."First we tried to understand what
happened yesterday when I struggled with rear
grip issues during the race but we have not found
a real solution to that problem. After that we
worked on some new things like the 2010 link of
Ohlins suspensions, modified traction control
software and some new braking system components.
I am pretty satisfied about the performance of
the bike but I would like to get more stability
in the rear which is our main job for tomorrow."

Marco Melandri, San Carlo Honda Gresini: 10th -
1m 33.839s, 51 laps. "I had a very positive
feeling this morning when I entered the garage
and tested my position on the bike. It was a very
good surprise to feel how different it is the
current Honda machine to the bike I used to ride
in 2007. We started working on the geometry of
the machine while tomorrow we will focus on
suspension and some other details but I'm really
very happy. The engine is a little different to
use compared to the one I was used this year and
I need to get used to controlling the gas. Anyway
my pace was quite consistent and not too far from the other Honda riders".

Marco Simoncelli, San Carlo Honda Gresini: 14th -
1m 35.229s, 59 laps "I was impressed by the
speed! It is not aggressive but the engine
pushes. The first impression is that it's not so
easy as people say. After the test I shared with
the technicians my first impressions and tomorrow
we will continue working. We started with some
settings studied for riders with different
physical sizes than I so we did immediately
important changes and I improved constantly. We
have to continue like this, step by step as I
need to understand the new machine and the direction to take for the set up"

Hiroshi Aoyama, Interwetten Honda MotoGP: 17th -
1m 37.964s, 40 laps "Today we started a little
bit later than the other riders as last night we
celebrated my 250 title. Yesterday my dream came
true and today a new adventure starts. Even if I
knew that I was going to ride a MotoGP bike, till
yesterday I was 100 per cent focused on the 250.
Today I tested a 4 stroke MotoGP bike for the
first time. We lapped without traction control
and electronic system (anti wheeling) to get used
to the new machine. I was not used also to carbon
brakes so today I concentrated to study the
carbon brakes. For me everything was new today:
new bike, new team so the first thing was to make
laps and study the bike. Tomorrow we have the
whole day to test, this would be very important
as today we only completed 40 laps ."

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Valencia - MotoGp Test Day 1 - 09/11/2009

MARCO & MARCO COMPLETE FIRST 2010 TEST WITH TEAM SAN CARLO HONDA GRESINI AT VALENCIA

Marco Simoncelli made his MotoGP debut at precisely 13.31 this afternoon, taking to the track for the first time on board the Honda RC212V at Valencia. "Super Sic" completed 52 laps as he gathered confidence with the bike and gave his first feedback to the team's engineers, who were able to start work on adapting the machine. Today also marked a welcome return to Team San Carlo Honda Gresini for Marco Melandri, who was reunited with Crew Chief Antonio Jimenez and quickly got back into the groove with a best lap of 1'33" 839.

Marco Melandri (1'33"839, 59 laps): "It was a nice day, first of all going into the garage today and then getting on the bike. It was a nice surprise to see how much the 800cc Honda has changed since 2007 - it is a very different bike to the one I rode that year. I like it and we quickly got to work on the geometry, finding a good base to work from. Tomorrow we'll turn our attention to the suspension and a couple of other little things but for now I am happy. The engine works differently to the Kawasaki so I need to get my feeling for the throttle back but my pace was consistent today, not far behind the other Hondas, and we got an impression of how much room there is for improvement. Not bad, not bad!"

Marco Simoncelli (1'35"229; 52 laps): "Gosh, what a difference! It is not uncontrollable but the engine pulls a bit! My first impression is that these bikes are not as easy as people say and like with anything new you have to work hard at it. I have given my thoughts to the engineers and I'm sure I'll be faster tomorrow. We started out with a setting designed for a rider with completely different physical dimensions to me and quickly made progress with the changes we made to adapt it. We need to keep working like this and not try to get ahead of ourselves in this test. I just have to get an understanding of the bike and find a direction with the set-up. "

Fausto Gresini - Team Manager: "This was basically the first day of the new season, with some important debuts being made. Marco Simoncelli made his first appearance in MotoGP on a Honda and Marco Melandri rejoined us to complete the all-Italian dream team. Simoncelli has started out carefully, in the right way, trying to understand a bike, brakes andtyres that are totally different to anything he has ridden before. The system of working is also totally different for him and the mechanics but the first day went well. Melandri was in enthusiastic, positive and determined mood. It looked liked he had fun, his lap times were good and there is room for more. All in all in MotoGP it was a positive day and we're all delighted. It was also the first day of Moto2 testing for us with the Moriwaki test rider Simeon, a Belgian youngster who has just won the Superstock Championship. Simeon is only 20 but we decided to give him the opportunity to ride our bike while we make our final decision on who our riders will be in 2010."

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MotoGP Testing - Valencia - Spain - November 9th 2009 - Day 1

Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team begin 2010 preparations

Less than 24 hours after the conclusion to a successful 2009 MotoGP world championship campaign, the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team was back in action at the Valencia circuit today to begin preparations for next season.

With track action not commencing until 1pm, this morning gave the team chance to welcome new rider Ben Spies, who will partner fellow Texan Colin Edwards in 2010. It was also an opportunity for his mechanics to acquaint themselves with new crew chief Tom Houseworth, who has been a fundamental part of Spies' successful career to date.

Spies raced to a brilliant seventh place on his Yamaha debut yesterday and his impressive pace cont inued in sunny but blustery conditions today.

For Spies, this afternoon's four-hour session was all about continuing to familiarise himself with Yamaha's YZR-M1 machine. The World Superbike champion opted to work more on refining his own riding style than making alterations to the set-up of his Monster Yamaha Tech 3 machine.

The 25-year-old completed 50 laps with a best time of 1.33.496 making it a positive and productive first day with Tech 3. His time was the sixth quickest today and only 0.8s away from fastest rider Casey Stoner and he knocked a massive 0.6s off his best time posted in yesterday's race.

Fresh from a brilliant fourth place in yesterday's 30-lap Valencia MotoGP race, which secured fifth overall in the final rankings, Edwards completed a short stint of 35 laps while experimenting with wheelbase and front-end settings on his YZR-M1.

Ben Spies 6th 1.33.496 - 50 laps

"I am really happy to finally make my debut for the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team. They are a great team and it feels good to finally get to work with them. Today I was obviously on a different bike but with the same setting that I raced on and it felt good. I improved on my qualifying time so it was a positive and productive day. I really just focused on doing a couple of things different with my style and in the last two sessions I tried to do some things very different and it worked. I was slowly able to chip away at the lap times, so it is encouraging that I'm getting faster and more comfortable without even making any changes to the set-up of the bike. We'll make some changes to the bike tomorrow, more for me to see what I can feel, than looking for big improvements."

Colin Edwards 12th 1.33.929 - 35 laps

"First of all I want to welcome Ben to the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team, or should that be Team Texas. He's joined a fantastic squad and we already love him here because his brilliant Yamaha debut in the race helped me get fifth in the world championship. Personally I'm really excited about working with him in 2010 because he's a talented rider, and I'm sure we'll be motivating each other a lot. I didn't too many laps today and all I did was work on the wheelbase and some different front-end geometry. The bike felt good and we definitely learned a couple of things by making the bike longer. I've got a couple of other things to check on the bike tomorrow and then it will off for a hard earned winter break."

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FIAT YAMAHA START WORK FOR 2010 IN VALENCIA

One day after sealing the Triple Crown of titles for 2009, the Fiat Yamaha Team was back at work in Valencia today looking towards the next season. World Champion Valentino Rossi and runner-up Jorge Lorenzo tested this afternoon and will continue tomorrow before finally getting the chance to take some time off. Lorenzo finished the day second fastest behind Casey Stoner and Rossi was just behind him in third.

Both riders had a new evolution of the 2010 prototype YZR-M1 to try alongside a 2009 bike, a step on from the first version they tried in August in Brno. They both reported back positively to the Yamaha engineers and were able to set some good times on the prototype bikes. Lorenzo's best time was just 0.025 seconds off Stoner, with Rossi 0.141 seconds behind his team-mate.

Jorge Lorenzo
Position: 2nd Time: 1'32.685 Laps: 45
"I was really excited to try this new version of the M1 today and I had a lot of motivation to get back to work. The feeling out of the corner is much better and we have more grip already in the rear so it's a big improvement for me. We still need to work on accelleration but I like what we have so far and I think we will continue to be competitive like this year. We have to wait and see the comparison between the old and new bike at a different track next year, but I am excited. I'm quite tired because this is already our fourth day riding here, but I am happy to have one more day of testing."

Valentino Rossi
Position: 3rd Time: 1'32.826 Laps: 37
"It was quite hard work to get back on the bike today but it's a very important test for us. The new prototype we have already feels better than what we tried in Brno, so this is positive. I was faster than with the old bike straight away so we know we're working in the right way and hopefully we can improve some more tomorrow. Of course we still have a 2009 specification engine and we won't have an update until the next test in February, but the bike already feels more stable and has more rear grip. Tomorrow we have quite a lot to get through and it will be an important day before we can finally relax."

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Bautista makes encouraging debut at a chilly Valencia

09/11/2009 17:24pm
Bautista makes encouraging debut at a chilly Valencia

Alvaro Bautista made his MotoGP entrance onboard a Rizla Suzuki GSV-R at a cool and windy Valencia in Spain this afternoon.

Bautista has made the step-up from the 250cc class and performed well on his first ride on a four-stroke MotoGP machine. He completed 52 laps of the 4,005 Ricardo Tormo circuit as he familiarised himself with the difference in performance between the 800cc bike and his previous ride in the quarter-litre class, finishing the day with a very impressive lap-time of 1'35.772.

Loris Capirossi used the short afternoon session to begin testing new components for the 2010 Suzuki GSV-R. He began by evaluating a new cowling designed to improve cornering confidence in windy conditions and also tested some new Akrapovic exhaust systems which will be a factor in Suzuki's performance development for next year's machine.

Rizla Suzuki has a full day of testing at Valencia tomorrow and another half-day on Wednesday morning, when both riders will continue with their respective test schedules to get the maximum preparation under their belts in readiness for the 2010 season.

Loris Capirossi:

"The test this afternoon has not been too bad for us, because the weather was so similar to yesterday we were able to do back-to-back comparisons on a couple of things without having to worry about outright lap-times. We will make some big changes tomorrow because we have a lot of time and also a lot of things to try. We got a better feeling today than we had all weekend and the new cowling and pipes certainly made a bit of difference. It will be really important to get a full day tomorrow and make sure we understand the direction we are going in. I think already that the direction for 2010 is clear and that we can improve a lot."

Tom O'Kane - Crew Chief, _lvaro Bautista:

"I would firstly like to welcome _lvaro to the team and the whole crew is looking forward to working with him. I have been very impressed by the way he took to the bike today and his feedback has been excellent considering it is his first time on a MotoGP machine. His times are also very pleasing, but that is not the important thing right now. We need to get him familiarised with the bike and then we can start making adjustments and improvements that will help him to improve on his times. He has already gelled with the team and he looks like being a big asset to Suzuki."

Paul Denning - Team Manager:

"The conditions today have been very similar to yesterday's Grand Prix, which was a good thing because it has helped us compare things in particular areas where we have struggled. The new cowling design that Loris tested was not a fundamental fix, but it has certainly helped his confidence. Although the ultimate lap-time isn't important the biggest benefit has been that his consistency and rhythm has improved a great deal. Along with some other detailed test items it has been a productive afternoon for Loris and small first step towards improving our level in 2010.

"We have been delighted to see Alvaro riding the bike today - as well as him smiling a lot and basically enjoying himself. He has never ridden a four-stroke motorcycle before - let alone a MotoGP machine - so to make a lap-time in the 1'35s within 50 laps of riding the GSV-R is very encouraging. He is already starting to feel a part of the bike and the team. Overall from both sides it has been a good first day of the test, so let's hope we can continue upwards tomorrow.

"A quick 'thank-you' is also due to our new technical partner Akrapovic, who are working so hard to help us and already in the first test with their systems we have found a good step forward in power delivery."

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