Team SUZUKI MotoGP aims to get back to the front Team SUZUKI MotoGP travels to France this weekend looking to build on the exploits of the Chinese GP which saw both riders leading a race for the first time this season. Kenny Roberts Jr will be hoping that his recent run of bad luck will be behind him as he tackles the 4.1km Le Mans track in the Alice Grand Prix De France. Roberts Jr was leading the Chinese Grand Prix when a rare mechanical failure caused the former World Champion to retire. John Hopkins secured his best finish of the season so far at Shanghai and led a MotoGP race for the first time in his career, eventually scoring a creditable seventh place in atrocious conditions. Team Manager Paul Denning commented: “It was really exciting to have both the Suzuki GSV-R’s lead the race last week – a real bonus for all the team – but to see Kenny forced to retire was a massive kick in the teeth. “Having said that, the team has bounced back positively and we have been able to assess all the encouraging pointers that came from China. The GSV-R showed good potential in wet conditions and the performance from both Kenny and John was very strong. “We will be trying as hard as we can to make sure both the guys can be competitive this weekend. Shanghai showed that the bike has improved dramatically both in wet and dry conditions – John’s fourth place during qualifying in the dry and Kenny leading the race with ease in the wet proved that – but Le Mans is a track that requires high acceleration and we are under no illusions that we will have to work hard to find the optimum package. “Le Mans is very important for Team SUZUKI MotoGP as it is the home round for MOTUL – one of the Team’s major partners – so we will be aiming to give our lubricant supplier something to cheer about on their home soil. Team SUZUKI MotoGP will begin practice for the fourth round of the MotoGP World Championship on Friday morning followed by further practice session in the afternoon and on Saturday morning. The only qualifying practice will be held on Saturday afternoon in readiness for the main event to be staged at 14.00hrs CET on Sunday 15th May. As part of its development phase, Team SUZUKI MotoGP will remain in Le Mans for a further day after the Grand Prix to test newly developed parts for the prototype Suzuki GSV-R.