Sepang Test

[Tassie Devil]

“No rush” at Sepang Test for Spies

Monday, 01 February 2010
Malaysia will be the Monster Yamaha Tech3 rider’s first outing on a bike since the Valencia Test last November, and he is looking forward to adjusting to the new M1.

Ben Spies will return to action this week in the first official MotoGP Test of the year at Sepang, having not ridden a motorcycle for over two months.

With a second Test at the same circuit three weeks later the primary aim for Spies when he takes to the track on Thursday will be to find his initial feeling with the bike he will ride for the 2010 season.

“The good thing is that we go back again three weeks later, so I’m not in a rush at all to prove anything in the first test,” explained Spies. “Time-wise I’m not so concerned, I just want to put laps in and mess with the bike so I’m actually changing things. After the test at Valencia we didn’t change anything with the bike, so really I’ll just get a solid set-up and then we’ll go back there again in three weeks and that’s where I’ll really start trying to get down to my business, doing the best I can and getting up to speed. This first test is more just a shakedown. I’ve not ridden a motorcycle since the Valencia race, I haven’t ridden a motocross bike – I haven’t done anything. I’ve just been lying low, so I have to knock the dust off and start working with the new team and see how that goes.”

When asked what he could say about the M1 he will ride this season, Spies replied: “Honestly I don’t know! I’m going to ride it as hard as I can whatever I’m given. I would like to say that with the new engine rules and things like that, that I feel that a satellite team bike from any manufacturer is going to be closer than it has been in recent years, just because it’s a lot cheaper on a manufacturer to produce. But I really can’t tell you what I’m going to be on compared to what the factory guys will be on, or if it’s going to be the same identical bike. I have no clue right now but I’m just going to show up in Malaysia and start clicking off laps, and start that learning process.”

Spies’ pre-season preparations have followed his usual routine which involves lots of fitness work and plenty of cycling, and he has competed in races to maintain a competitive outlet.

“I’ve been doing a lot of physical preparation. My training during the season will be a little bit different because I’ll be doing one race in a day instead of two: I’ll have to consult with my trainer,” he said. “So far though I’ve just been putting in a lot of miles and getting my pace up, so that when we start the hard part of the season I’ll then be working on the high-end part of my fitness. I’ve been doing a lot of cycling and a little bit of racing, and I’ve had a pretty good off-season so far.”

I think the fun begins tomorrow my time....
I invested my pension allowance on a case of James Boags export lager and a video pass for the Sepang test.....
Then I just wasted the rest....

Cheers,

JQ.

[Sir Limpsalot]

JQ, a timely reminder that good times are a'comin'. If you get any test times/results before I do, post 'em up for us. Good lad!

It'll be interesting, certainly. Honda have hired the three Italian electronics gurus away from Fiat Yamaha, and also hired Livio Suppo (Casey's old team manager at Ducati) specifically to (attempt to) hire Casey for the 2011 season.

Meanwhile Ducati have changed their V4 to a "long bang" configuration, more like the Yamahas to try and make it easier for mere mortals to ride because only Casey can ride it how it is and "no Casey, no win.."

Si.

[DarthRider]

.

“I was the only person riding the Ducatis today and I rode all of them!" - Vittoriano Guareschi.

From Crash.Net:

http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/156521/1/ducati_team_manager_rides_ten_bikes_at_sepang.html

http://pix.crash.net/motorsport/710/PA675728.jpg

[Deans BMW]

Should be an interesting year.

[Griffon]

I'm looking forward to this year. Between the rules changes, personnel changes, and the fact that it will be the last year for a few of the stars' contracts it's a big motivation to renew my susbscription.

In other news, Tucker Rocky is offering a discount package to distributors. If there is any way I can make that work, I just may. Hobbes needs a few long range runs to be happy, and the package includes a lap or two on the track.

Tempting...

[Tassie Devil]

Test riders end day one at Sepang

Wednesday, 03 February 2010
The test riders complete the opening day of the first official MotoGP test of 2010 at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia.

Conditions were close to what was expected at Sepang on Wednesday as an air temperature of 30ºC and track reading of 60ºC met test riders, ahead of what will be a busy Thursday when the official MotoGP riders take to their 2010 bikes.

Norihiko Fujiwara and Wataru Yoshikawa (Yamaha Factory), Kosuke Akiyoshi (Repsol Honda Team), Nobuatsu Aoki (Rizla Suzuki MotoGP) and Vittoriano Guareschi (Ducati Marlboro Team) were present as they all took out the respective official 2010 prototypes.

Also present in Pit Lane and the Paddock, but not riding, were Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo, Casey Stoner, Dani Pedrosa, Loris Capirossi, Nicky Hayden and MotoGP debutants for 2010 Héctor Barberá, Álvaro Bautista and Hiroshi Aoyama, who all watched the day’s activities with great interest.

No official times were provided as the primary objective was a focus on the set-ups of each bike, but the Yamaha box indicated that between Fujiwara and Yoshikawa a best lap of 2’07.34 was recorded.

For Honda, Akiyoshi took out the bikes of both Andrea Dovizioso and Dani Pedrosa to ensure that the basic set-up on each was functioning properly ahead of Thursday, as well as new developments. Dovizioso and Pedrosa will both be testing engines which have been evolved to meet the new regulations, and will also try out new electronics.

Guareschi, Team Manager of the official Ducati structure and also test rider, was on track until 2.30pm local time, and in the afternoon held meetings with the satellite teams.

“We have a few different things to test,” commented Guareschi. “We have three forks of varying rigidity for the riders to choose the best from. It is very important because here it is very hot and that results in much tyre wear.”

He continued: “We also have two different fairings that Nicky will test tomorrow (Thursday), which are very similar to the 2009 ones and which we started to use in the final four races of last season. We also have to keep working on the tuning of the set-up and the suspension.”

Some light rain fell at 4pm local time, although it did not disrupt the work being undertaken, and the official MotoGP team riders will take to the track on Thursday.

Looks like the real testing starts tomorrow....

Cheers,

JQ.

[Sir Limpsalot]

Here we go boys!

Reigning seven time MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi began 2010 MotoGP testing on top of the timesheets by a comfortable 0.491sec at Sepang on Thursday.

The Fiat Yamaha rider was fastest for much of the day, having recorded his best lap time of 2min 1.411sec on lap 15 of 54.

"Today was very important because this year we have just six days of testing in which to set the bike, so we can not waste any time,” said Rossi.

“This first day was very positive, we tried the new bike for 2010, with a different chassis and a new engine, which can do more kilometres, and it is quite fast.

“Yamaha has worked very well over the winter. Now we need to spend time on setting some electronics and other things. This is only the start but it seems we're already in good shape."

Rossi's nearest rival was 2007 world champion Casey Stoner, who also set his best lap time early in the day, the Ducati star's best coming on lap 12 of 42. Stoner will be seeking a cure for chatter tomorrow.

Third fastest was satellite Tech 3 Yamaha rider Colin Edwards, who claimed to be delighted with the latest edition of the YZR-M1, with which he lapped just 0.03sec slower than Stoner and 0.170sec ahead of Suzuki's Loris Capirossi.

Fifth fastest and the final rider within one second of Rossi was the Italian's team-mate and 2009 title runner-up Jorge Lorenzo.

Repsol's Andrea Dovizioso was the top Honda rider in sixth, while Nicky Hayden (Ducati Marlboro), Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda) and Mika Kallio (Pramac Ducati) occupied places seventh to ninth.

Hector Barbera caused a surprise by being the fastest of the 2010 rookies in tenth place. The Spaniard steered his Aspar Ducati around the Malaysian Grand Prix circuit in a best time 1.6sec slower than Rossi.

A visibly jet-lagged Ben Spies was twelfth fastest (+1.732sec) and the World Superbike champion claims a good night's sleep, rather than any radical set-up changes, will take him nearer to the front.

Thursday saw intensive heat and humidity at Sepang, with rain finally arriving 20-minutes before the eight hours of scheduled track action had concluded.

Testing continues on Friday.

1. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team 2min 1.411 sec (54 laps)
2. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team 2min 1.902 sec (42 laps)
3. Colin Edwards USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 2min 1.932 sec (48 laps)
4. Loris Capirossi ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 2min 2.102 sec (58 laps)
5. Jorge Lorenzo SPA Fiat Yamaha Team 2min 2.165 sec (57 laps)
6. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Repsol Honda Team 2min 2.630 sec (51 laps)
7. Nicky Hayden USA Ducati Marlboro Team 2min 2.792 sec (46 laps)
8. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team 2min 2.866 sec (52 laps)
9. Mika Kallio FIN Pramac Racing 2min 2.987 sec (70 laps)
10. Hector Barbera SPA Aspar Ducati 2min 3.030 sec (59 laps)
11. Aleix Espargaro SPA Pramac Racing 2min 3.133 sec (54 laps)
12. Ben Spies USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 2min 3.142 sec (55 laps)
13. Randy de Puniet FRA LCR Honda MotoGP 2min 3.456 sec (62 laps)
14. Alvaro Bautista SPA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 2min 3.558 sec (51 laps)
15. Marco Simoncelli ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini 2min 3.563 sec (54 laps)
16. Marco Melandri ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini 2min 3.609 sec (28 laps)
17. Hiroshi Aoyama JPN Interwetten Honda MotoGP 2min 3.651 sec (66 laps)

Si. :)

[DarthRider]

Wahoo...go Colin!

[Tassie Devil]

Nice seeing four different manufacturers in the first six....

Cheersm

JQ.

[Sir Limpsalot]

Interesting to see that Vale and Jorge are no longer sharing set up information.

Even more interestingly Rossi said:

“I think that Jorge - already in 2008 but especially last year - demonstrated great speed and also a good attitude to fix and set-up the bike,” replied Rossi. “Now Jorge has two years in MotoGP so everybody in the team are agreed that it is possible to make his own way".
(Or, to put it another way "Learn to set your own bike up you little f***er")

While Jorge said:

“I don't have anything to comment on this.”

Si.

[panthercity]

Some speculate that this is Vale's last move before leaving Yamaha for an Italian ride (2 or 4 wheel) next season.

[DarthRider]

WooHoo...Go Ben, you Rookie Boy, you!
I see Colin & Nicky are picking up right where they left off.
Only 17 of them...pathetic.

From Crash.net;
http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/156580/1/sepang_motogp_test_times_-_end_of_day_three.html

1. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team 2min 0.925 sec (32 laps)
2. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team 2min 1.320 sec (36 laps)
3. Jorge Lorenzo SPA Fiat Yamaha Team 2min 1.680 sec (60 laps)
4. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team 2min 1.822 sec (50 laps)
5. Ben Spies USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 2min 2.266 sec (31 laps)

6. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Repsol Honda Team 2min 2.272 sec (56 laps)
7. Colin Edwards USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 2min 2.479 sec (42 laps)
8. Nicky Hayden USA Ducati Marlboro Team 2min 2.493 sec (55 laps)
9. Aleix Espargaro SPA Pramac Racing 2min 2.647 sec (33 laps)
10. Loris Capirossi ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 2min 2.763 sec (48 laps)

11. Marco Melandri ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini 2min 2.810 sec (55 laps)
12. Hector Barbera SPA Aspar Ducati 2min 3.032 sec (51 laps)
13. Randy de Puniet FRA LCR Honda MotoGP 2min 3.043 sec (48 laps)
14. Hiroshi Aoyama JPN Interwetten Honda MotoGP 2min 3.195 sec (56 laps)
15. Marco Simoncelli ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini 2min 3.245 sec (49 laps)

16. Alvaro Bautista SPA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 2min 3.274 sec (37 laps)
17. Mika Kallio FIN Pramac Racing 2min 3.359 sec (53 laps)

"Why you Monkey Boy! I'll...I'll..."
http://pix.crash.net/motorsport/710/PA688683.jpg

[panthercity]

My how quickly Spies adapts to the new surroundings and culture.

http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/...?article=39319

He's already sayin' "tyres" instead of "tars"...

[DarthRider]

From Crash.Net:
http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/156584/1/a_great_start_-_rossi_leaves_sepang_on_top.html

Despite still feeling jet-lagged, World Superbike champion Ben Spies turned heads with an impressive performance on day two. The Texan vaulted from twelfth to fifth place to be both the highest placed rookie and satellite rider.

The Monster Tech 3 Yamaha star lapped 1.3sec behind Rossi - but ahead of Andrea Dovizioso (Repsol Honda), Colin Edwards (Tech 3 Yamaha), Nicky Hayden (Ducati Marlboro), Aleix Espargaro (Pramac Ducati) and Loris Capirossi (Rizla Suzuki).



From the on-board helmet recorder:
"Holee Macaronees!"
http://pix.crash.net/motorsport/710/PA688625.jpg

[Deans BMW]

Good grief, give Ben just a little more practice and he will podium no later than the second race.

[DarthRider]

Good grief, give Ben just a little more practice and he will podium no later than the second race.

He should be just about right for the lead rider on the BMW M-GP team when it comes along in a few years...:028:

[Sir Limpsalot]

Might be closer than you think. The 2012 return to 1000cc could well become a bit like the old TT F1 regs, that is to say tuned road engines in full race chassis. By all accounts the new Beemer will fit right in..

Si.