2010 GP Bike Testing

[DarthRider]

From Crash.net
http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/154537/1/rossi_lorenzo_impressed_by_2010_yamaha.html


Rossi, Lorenzo impressed by 2010 Yamaha

Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo, first and second in the 2009 MotoGP World Championship, were impressed by the latest prototype version of the 2010 YZR-M1 during testing at Valencia on Monday.

The Fiat Yamaha riders, second (Rossi) and third (Lorenzo) behind Honda's Dani Pedrosa in Sunday's season finale, evaluated the new machine alongside the 2009 bike – and felt clear benefits.

Lorenzo finished the day second fastest behind Ducati's Casey Stoner, with Rossi was just behind Lorenzo in third.

"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,” said Lorenzo, who lapped just 0.025sec behind Stoner and 0.396sec under his best race lap.

“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 acceleration 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,” he added.

Seven time MotoGP champion Rossi set a best lap time 0.166sec from Stoner and a few thousandths under his best race lap.

"It was quite hard work to get back on the bike today but it's a very important test for us,” said the Italian, who was riding with a new helmet (pictured). “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.”

[DarthRider]

From Crash.net
http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/154538/1/stoner_back_on_top_as_motogp_2010_starts.html


Stoner back on top as MotoGP 2010 starts

Casey Stoner, who had dominated the Valencia MotoGP weekend only to crash out on the warm-up lap of Sunday's race, underlined what might have been by leading the first day of post-season testing on Monday.

The Ducati star, whose embarrassing exit was officially blamed on cold tyres caused by the team's “grid strategy”, dipped 0.118sec under Sunday's fastest race lap.

That had been set by Repsol Honda's Dani Pedrosa, on his way to a victory that cost Stoner third place in the final world championship standings.

“We tried a new engine configuration designed at improving the rideability of the bike and for the moment it is going really well,” revealed Stoner. “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 [32] - 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."

Jorge Lorenzo and Fiat Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi had a new evolution of the 2010 prototype YZR-M1 to try alongside a 2009 bike. Both gave a positive assessment of the new machine.

Lorenzo, third in Sunday's race, came closest to Stoner - lapping just 0.025sec from the Australian and 0.396sec under his best race lap. Reigning seven time MotoGP champion Rossi set a best lap time 0.166sec from Stoner and a few thousandths under his best race lap.

Pedrosa - who beat Rossi to victory on Sunday - was fourth fastest as he got his first taste of the 2010 RC212V, which features a brand new chassis, swing arm and the latest evolution of the V4 engine.

The Spaniard also got his second chance to evaluate Ohlins suspension. He and team-mate Andrea Dovizioso first tried Ohlins at the Brno test, after which Dovizioso chose to switch to the Swedish brand.

Dani took the new bike and Ohlins equipment to within 0.3sec of his fastest lap in the grand prix and was ranked 0.428sec behind Stoner.

Nicky Hayden - fifth in the grand prix - completed a healthy 58 Monday laps, the best of which was a closer-than-usual 0.698sec behind team-mate Stoner.

“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,” explained Hayden. “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.”

Fresh from his Yamaha MotoGP debut as a wild-card during the race weekend, World Superbike champion Ben Spies completed his first laps as a Tech 3 Yamaha rider on Monday. The American once again underlined his enormous potential with sixth on the timesheets, 0.836sec behind Stoner and 0.519sec faster than his best race lap.

Dovizioso - who, like Pedrosa, rode exclusively with the 2010 Honda - was the first rider outside of one second from Stoner, with MotoGP rookie of the year Mika Kallio (Pramac Ducati) and Randy de Puniet (Honda LCR) eighth and ninth.

After a two-year break, Marco Melandri returned to Honda Gresini to claim tenth on the timesheets. The former Ducati and Hayate rider was 1.179sec from Stoner but a solid 0.624sec under his best ZX-RR race lap.

In order to allow teams and riders to regroup after the final race of the season, today's MotoGP test began at 1pm and finished at 5pm. A full day of testing takes place on Tuesday, with another half day available on Wednesday.

[DarthRider]

Following Sunday's 2009 MotoGP season finale, teams and riders returned to Valencia to begin preparations for the 2010 season.

Monday saw 250GP stars Marco Simoncelli, Hiroshi Aoyama, Alvaro Bautista and Hector Barbera complete their first MotoGP laps, while World Superbike champion Ben Spies spent his first day at the Tech 3 Yamaha team.


1. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team 1min 32.660 sec (32 laps)
2. Jorge Lorenzo SPA Fiat Yamaha Team 1min 32.685 sec (45 laps)
3. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team 1min 32.826 sec (37 laps)
4. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team 1min 33.088 sec (31 laps)
5. Nicky Hayden USA Ducati Marlboro Team 1min 33.358 sec (58 laps)
6. Ben Spies USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1min 33.496 sec (50 laps)
7. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Repsol Honda Team 1min 33.675 sec (51 laps)
8. Mika Kallio FIN Pramac Racing 1min 33.726 sec (52 laps)
9. Randy de Puniet FRA LCR Honda MotoGP 1min 33.775 sec (61 laps)
10. Marco Melandri ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini 1min 33.839 sec (59 laps)
11. Aleix Espargaro SPA Pramac Racing 1min 33.878 sec (63 laps)
12. Colin Edwards USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1min 33.929 sec (35 laps)
13. Loris Capirossi ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1min 34.144 sec (55 laps)
14. Marco Simoncelli ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini 1min 35.229 sec (51 laps)
15. Alvaro Bautista SPA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1min 35.772 sec (52 laps)
16. Hector Barbera SPA Aspar Ducati 1min 36.204 sec (63 laps)
17. Hiroshi Aoyama JPN Interwetten Honda MotoGP 1min 37.964 sec (40 laps)
18. Kenny Noyes USA Promoracing (Moto2) 1min 38.654 sec (28 laps)
19. Ratthapark Wilairot THA Stop and Go (Moto2) 1min 39.815 sec (17 laps)
20. Joan Olive SPA Promoracing (Moto2) 1min 41.989 sec (18 laps)

2009 Valencian MotoGP:
Pole position:
Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro 1min 32.256sec
Fastest race laps by manufacturer:
Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda 1min 32.778sec
Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha 1min 32.830sec
Nicky Hayden USA Ducati Marlboro 1min 33.865sec
Loris Capirossi ITA Rizla Suzuki 1min 34.140sec
Marco Melandri ITA Hayate Racing 1min 34.463sec

[Sir Limpsalot]

1 Jorge Lorenzo Fiat Yamaha Team 1:31.939 - - 62
2 Casey Stoner Ducati Marlboro Team 1:32.195 +0.256 +0.256 44
3 Valentino Rossi Fiat Yamaha Team 1:32.528 +0.333 +0.589 55
4 Ben Spies Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1:32.942 +0.414 +1.003 61
5 Nicky Hayden Ducati Marlboro Team 1:32.981 +0.039 +1.042 84
6 Dani Pedrosa Repsol Honda Team 1:33.025 +0.044 +1.086 46
7 Randy De Puniet Lcr Honda MotoGP 1:33.111 +0.086 +1.172 76
8 Mika Kallio Pramac Racing 1:33.125 +0.014 +1.186 84
9 Loris Capirossi Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1:33.211 +0.086 +1.272 64
10 Marco Melandri San Carlo Honda Gresini 1:33.326 +0.115 +1.387 85
11 Aleix Espargaro Pramac Racing 1:33.345 +0.019 +1.406 74
12 Andrea Dovizioso Repsol Honda Team 1:33.546 +0.201 +1.607 44
13 Hector Barbera Aspar Team 1:34.206 +0.660 +2.267 100
14 Marco Simoncelli San Carlo Honda Gresini 1:34.230 +0.024 +2.291 79
15 Alvaro Bautista Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1:34.540 +0.310 +2.601 74
16 Hiroshi Aoyama Scot Racing Team 1:35.261 +0.721 +3.322 88
17 Xavier Simeon Gresini Moto 2 Team 1:37.279 +2.018 +5.340 58
18 Joan Olive Promoracing 1:37.881 +0.602 +5.942 86

Why do I suspect there'll be celebrations in Texas tonight?

Si.

[panthercity]

What will happen when Elbows gets comfortable on the M1?

And House gets a handle on setting it up?

[panthercity]

...
Why do I suspect there'll be celebrations in Texas tonight?

Si.

Rumor has it Colin was too sick to ride today. Maybe started his celebrating a day early...

;)

[DarthRider]

Hey Ben, c'mon now...you've been a M-GP rider for 3 days and you're still slogging around 4th fastest?
Get the lead out of your ass buddy!

Good to see Nicky getting the handle on the big Duc.

Where's Colin??

[panthercity]

...Where's Colin??See above.

[DarthRider]

Rumor has it Colin was too sick to ride today. Maybe started his celebrating a day early...

;)


Musta been the Spanish Fly...

[panthercity]

Found a picture of Ben's amp.

http://www.stardestroyer.net/Mike/Movies/SpinalTap.jpg

Explains a lot...

[DarthRider]

From Crash.net:
http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/154577/1/ben_spies_fourth_after_five_days_at_yamaha.html


Ben Spies fourth after five days at Yamaha!

Ben Spies has done his best to play down his chances of 2010 MotoGP success, but the Texan's ever improving results have made the task of containing expectation all but impossible.

Last Thursday, on the eve of his first ride on the Yamaha M1, Spies said that it would take a miracle for him to finish anywhere near the podium during 2010.

But just five days later the rookie World Superbike champion set the fourth fastest lap time at the Valencia test, out of a 'full' field of 16 riders.

The Texan's march up the timesheets has been remarkable. Just 15th after Friday practice, Spies advanced to 12th on Saturday morning, ninth in qualifying and sixth in Sunday morning warm-up.

Spies then rode to seventh place on his M1 race debut (and fourth MotoGP start), before rising back to sixth on Monday's opening day of post-season testing, also his first day at Monster Yamaha Tech 3.

The triple AMA Superbike champion then hit a new MotoGP high with fourth on Tuesday - behind only factory Yamaha rider Jorge Lorenzo (1.0sec ahead), factory Ducati rider Casey Stoner (0.746sec) and Yamaha's seven time MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi (0.413sec).

The only possible 'negative' was that the gap from Spies to first grew from 0.836sec on Monday to 1.002sec on Tuesday, but with the three riders ahead of him all using prototype 2010 bikes - and Spies setting his best lap on worn tyres - the 25-year-old heads for the winter break a happy man.

“I'm really happy with this test. My performance in the race surpassed my expectations and so did the test,” said Spies, who rode for 50 laps on Monday and 61 laps on Tuesday. “I didn't touch the set-up of the bike again and continued mainly working on adapting my style. I feel like I made a lot of progress.

“My data guy could see on the computer that I was riding with more of a MotoGP style and each day I've made steps and gained confidence with the tyres. At the end I put on some tyres that had half race distance on them, but I was still able to lap half-a-second faster than yesterday. And where I was running 34'1s in the race I could get into low 33s consistently today.

“I've been making small steps but I'm a lot closer to the front than the back, so that is a good sign. I've enjoyed working with my new guys at Monster Yamaha Tech 3. It has been a tough year but a great year for me and I'm looking forward to the winter, training hard and being ready to go again in February,” he concluded.

Like the factory Yamaha team, Tech 3 will not test on Wednesday morning and Spies will now have to wait until the first test of 2010, at Sepang in Malaysia, before he gets back on a MotoGP bike.

Team-mate Colin Edwards missed day two due to sickness.

http://pix.crash.net/motorsport/710/PA678200.jpg