Updated Post: Barros Quickest In Wet/Dry Friday Afternoon MotoGP Practice, Van Den Goorbergh Replaces Tamada At Le Mans

Updated Post: Barros Quickest In Wet/Dry Friday Afternoon MotoGP Practice, Van Den Goorbergh Replaces Tamada At Le Mans

© 2005, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

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Friday Afternoon MotoGP Practice Times From Le Mans: 1. Alex BARROS, Honda, 1:34.171 2. Sete GIBERNAU, Honda, 1:34.290 3. Max BIAGGI, Honda, 1:34.618 4. Colin EDWARDS, Yamaha, 1:34.721 5. Shinya NAKANO, Kawasaki, 1:35.067 6. Marco MELANDRI, Honda, 1:35.125 7. John HOPKINS, Suzuki, 1:35.127 8. Carlos CHECA, Ducati, 1:35.206 9. Nicky HAYDEN, Honda, 1:35.359 10. Loris CAPIROSSI, Ducati, 1:35.434 11. Kenny ROBERTS, Suzuki, 1:35.482 12. Toni ELIAS, Yamaha, 1:35.517 13. Valentino ROSSI, Yamaha, 1:35.627 14. Troy BAYLISS, Honda, 1:36.128 15. Olivier JACQUE, Kawasaki, 1:36.451 16. Ruben XAUS, Yamaha, 1:36.470 17. Roberto ROLFO, Ducati, 1:37.240 18. James ELLISON, Blata WCM, 1:38.730 19. Franco BATTAINI, Blata WCM, 1:39.176 20. Jurgen vd GOORBERGH, Honda, 1:40.289 21. Shane BYRNE, KTM Proton KR, 7:41.003 Friday’s Combined MotoGP Practice Times: 1. BARROS, Honda, 1:35.041 2. GIBERNAU, Honda, 1:34.892 3. BIAGGI, Honda, 1:35.583 4. EDWARDS, Yamaha, 1:34.701 5. ROSSI, Yamaha, 1:35.067 6. NAKANO, Kawasaki, 1:35.364 7. MELANDRI, Honda, 1:36.290 8. HOPKINS, Suzuki, 1:35.628 9. CHECA, Ducati, 1:35.285 10. HAYDEN, Honda, 1:35.625 11. CAPIROSSI, Ducati, 1:36.470 12. ROBERTS, Suzuki, 1:35.623 13. ELIAS, Yamaha, 1:35.637 14. BAYLISS, Honda, 1:36.595 15. JACQUE, Kawasaki, 1:37.462 16. XAUS, Yamaha, 1:36.817 17. ROLFO, Ducati, 1:37.977 18. BATTAINI, Blata WCM, 1:38.547 19. ELLISON, Blata WCM, 1:40.019 20. BYRNE, KTM Proton KR, 1:39.795 21. VD GOORBERGH, Honda, 1:40.289 More, from a press release issued by Kawasaki Racing Team: SUPER SHINYA SIXTH FASTEST AT LE MANS Kawasaki’s Shinya Nakano mastered a day of changeable weather conditions to finish sixth fastest after today’s free practice sessions at Le Mans. Nakano was easily in the top ten, both in the dry morning session and also in the one hour afternoon session, which was hit by rain halfway through. While Nakano was delighted with the confidence-boosting performance of his latest specification Ninja ZX-RR his temporary teammate, Olivier Jacque, was praying for rain. Following his superb second place podium in a water-logged Chinese Grand Prix two weeks ago, Jacque is now hoping for similar conditions for the remainder of the weekend. Jacque’s wish is based on his lack of dry track testing since he was ushered into the Kawasaki team to replace the injured Alex Hofmann. Even so, Jacque sliced one second from his time in the morning session during the early dry laps of afternoon free practice. The 31-year-old Frenchman, who will attract massive local support for his home race on Sunday, feels much more comfortable on a wet track. No surprise after he splashed his way to the podium just behind Valentino Rossi in China. Both of today’s sessions were conducted in cool and overcast conditions, with the constant threat of rain. The rain arrived 30 minutes into the afternoon session and is forecast to continue over the weekend. At the stop-go Bugatti circuit at Le Mans the factory Ninja ZX-RR machines continue to benefit from a new drive-by-wire throttle and injection system. Introduced for the Chinese race, the system includes revised electronics, plus throttle bodies, fuel injectors and injector pumps. Shinya Nakano: #56 – Sixth – (1’35.067) “It was a strange day with the weather, but I’m very positive about our dry track performance, especially in the morning session. The latest engine parts have improved acceleration and throttle response, which are critical on this track. The Ninja ZX-RR is now much improved over the bike I raced here one year ago. My main work tomorrow will be on throttle connection and front-end turn-in for all the slow corners at Le Mans. And I’m more comfortable in the wet here than I was in China.” Olivier Jacque: #19 – Fifteenth – (1’36.451) “I need more testing on a dry track, so I can more fully understand the bike and the set-up, that is clear after today. I am more comfortable in the wet, so now I’m hoping for rain over the weekend. In the wet the rider can make a big difference; in the dry the riders’ influence is important, but less than in the rain. My lap time is improving every time I go out, but with a four-stroke MotoGP bike engine braking, throttle and suspension settings are critical for maximum dry track performance. It’s my home race, but I’m focussed and not feeling any pressure.” Ichiro Yoda: Technical Director “In the dry Shinya’s position appears very good, and we still have some further adjustments to make to the new injection system for tomorrow. Olivier is more comfortable in the wet, so we are looking at the data from his bike to adjust the engine braking and throttle settings to improve his dry track performance. My main concern is the uncertain weather conditions, especially if it is half-dry and half-wet. Just as in China, it appears we have very good wet tyre options from Bridgestone for this race.” More, from a press release issued by Dorna Communications: Thunder strikes on first day of MotoGP action in France The adverse weather conditions that have followed the MotoGP World Championship for the past two rounds of the season continued today at the Grand Prix Alice de France, where afternoon thunderstorms interrupted the second free practice for the MotoGP class and turned the 250cc first qualifying session into a virtual flood. Alex Barros set the fastest time of the day just moments before the heavy grey clouds hanging over the Le Mans circuit finally burst, clocking a time of 1’34.171 to top the time sheets overnight ahead of Honda colleagues Sete Gibernau and Max Biaggi. “The weather conditions were really strange today, constantly changing,” said Barros. “We found a reasonable base setting in the dry, but once the track had been dampened, I also felt at ease in the wet, and I was able to lap well. The asphalt wasn’t totally wet, but I wanted to get an idea of the grip levels it offered with wet tyres. Now our only hope is that the weather decides one way or the other.” Whilst the rain quickly subsided and allowed the riders to return to the track, it proved impossible for them to improve their times any further and left them with the simple task of preparing their machines in readiness for more rain forecast for the rest of the weekend. Colin Edwards was unable to better his fastest lap from the morning session, when he topped the time sheets from Gibernau, and dropped to fourth fastest overall ahead of his Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi, who also failed to improved from the morning to the afternoon. The biggest mover on the time sheets in the limited dry track time in the afternoon was Honda rider Marco Melandri, who knocked over a second off his best lap from the morning to move up to seventh fastest behind Kawasaki’s Shinya Nakano. John Hopkins was eighth quickest on the Suzuki whilst Ducati rider Carlos Checa and Honda’s Nicky Hayden completed the top ten. Local favourite Olivier Jacque, making his second appearance for Kawasaki as a replacement for the injured Alex Hofmann, was fifteenth fastest. Makoto Tamada did not take part in the afternoon session after suffering extensive pain in his injured wrist on his return to action this morning. The Japanese rider missed the last round in China because of the injury and will again be replaced by Dutch rider Jurgen Vd Goorbergh. “I’m very sad that I am not able to compete here, but when the pain is too much there is nothing you can do,” explained Tamada. “Now I want to concentrate on the rehabilitation of my right hand because I want to be ready for the next round of the season at Mugello in three weeks’ time.” Anthony West made a sensational return to Grand Prix action with provisional pole position for the 250cc race after responding to a late call from Aprilia Germany to replace injured Colombian rider Martín Cardenas on Wednesday night. The Australian is contracted to KTM and hopes to ride the Austrian factory’s brand new quarter-litre machine for the first time at the next round in Italy but was given permission to ride the Aprilia by his team as he looks to recover his race sharpness. West showed that he had lost none of his edge as he charged to top spot through torrentially wet conditions, with the majority of riders deciding not to complete a single lap of the sodden circuit. Only four of the riders who took to the track were within the mandatory 107% limit of West’s lap, with local riders Arnaud Vincent and Hugo Marchand qualifying ahead of Alex de Angelis and Alex Debon. Reigning World Champion Dani Pedrosa, current series leader Andrea Dovizioso and the winner of the last two rounds, Casey Stoner, were among the riders who chose not to take part. The first qualifying session for the 125cc class had earlier taken place in dry conditions, with Mika Kallio again demonstrating his authority. The series leader clinched provisional pole position with a time of 1’43.693 and is joined on the front row by Marco Simoncelli, Gabor Talmacsi and Héctor Faubel. Meanwhile Mattia Pasini, winner of the last round in China, looks certain to miss the rest of the weekend’s action after crashing and breaking his wrist. More, from a press release issued by Gauloises Yamaha: GAULOISES YAMAHA TEAM PLANS HIT BY RAIN IN FRANCE The Gauloises Yamaha Team’s preparations for the fourth round of the MotoGP World Championship in France were hit by rain on a typically gloomy first day of action at Le Mans this afternoon. Valentino Rossi and Colin Edwards had made a positive start to the weekend with consistently fast times in the first free practice in the morning, with Edwards topping the time sheets by 0.366 seconds from his team-mate, who was fourth fastest. However, the dense grey clouds hanging ominously over the legendary circuit finally gave way halfway into the afternoon session and the riders were forced to take shelter in the pit box. Whilst the rain quickly ceased and allowed the riders to return to action for the rest of the session, the track remained damp and prevented the riders from improving any further, with Edwards and Rossi both unable to better their morning times and completing just fourteen laps between them. The only option for the team was to concentrate solely on gathering information about the performance of the Yamaha YZR-M1 in the damp conditions, with the unpredictable weather expected to continue for the rest of the weekend and a very real possibility of a third wet race in succession. Alex Barros (Honda) holds the quickest time overnight after posting a lap of 1’31.171 on his ninth lap of the afternoon session, just before the rain struck, with Colin Edwards fourth and Valentino Rossi fifth overall. The action continues with the third free practice and single qualifying practice on Saturday. COLIN EDWARDS (1’34.701, 36 laps) “I get along with this track and so does the bike. This morning I was turning out 1’34 after 1’34 and I was comfortable, the bike felt great. We began the afternoon session testing out a couple of tyres for Michelin but they weren’t really what we were looking for; then we returned to the same tyre we had in the morning and it started raining. We don’t know what to expect for the rest of the weekend in terms of the weather but whether it’s rain, hail, snow or sunshine, I’ll be ready.” VALENTINO ROSSI (1’35.067, 30 laps) “I was also trying a different tyre for Michelin at the start of the afternoon session and we stayed out there maybe a bit too long as it wasn’t right. I came in to change but then it started raining and we ended up further down the time sheets than we would like to be. It’s only free practice, though, so it doesn’t matter. After that the conditions were very difficult as it was drying in some areas but very wet in others so we didn’t really learn anything. This morning things went well and I was confident of a good session in the afternoon. We used the base we had found for a dry race in China and it was working well. The weather is not looking good and if it rains I’m just hoping we can find a good setting, like in China, although I’d prefer it to be dry. I’m a bit fed up actually, it seems as though the bad weather is following us around. Where is summer?” DAVIDE BRIVIO TEAM DIRECTOR “In the dry conditions this morning both riders were consistently fast so that’s a good sign for the rest of the weekend, regardless of the weather this afternoon. I think it’s important to set the record straight about some comments reported in the Italian media this morning as they seem to have appeared elsewhere now. I said that we are going to start working on an extension to Valentino’s contract and we will be discussing it after Mugello. I was then asked about any plan Valentino might have to drive in Formula One and I said that would be Valentino’s decision and it might happen. I certainly did not say that he would be in F1 from 2007. From Yamaha’s side we hope that he will still be riding for us but I cannot predict Valentino’s future!” More, from a press release issued by Camel Honda: Barros fastest in both wet and dry in France The rain seems to be a constant threat to the 2005 championship, and once again it made its presence felt on the first day of practice at the French Grand Prix. Alex Barros is seemingly not too bothered by the weather conditions however, as he was fastest in the first half-hour of the afternoon session on a completely dry track, and then also when it started to rain and the riders had to fit the wet tyres. Troy Bayliss worked on the set up of his RC211V and had improved his time from the morning session by around half a second when the rain set his position as 14th fastest. Sito Pons Camel Honda “We have done quite well considering the variable weather conditions today. Alex was quickest both in the wet and the dry, but obviously we have to wait until tomorrow to see what conditions we’ll come up against. We haven’t had too much time to set the bike up for the race, but we made the most of every minute. It’s all good for the time being, and we hope to stay like this throughout the whole weekend.” Alex Barros Camel Honda 1’34.171 1st position “The weather conditions were really strange today, constantly changing. We found a reasonable base setting in the dry, but once the track had been dampened, I also felt at ease in the wet, and I was able to lap well. The asphalt wasn’t totally wet, but I wanted to get an idea of the grip levels it offered with wet tyres on: well, at least until it dried up a bit too much for the wet tyres to work properly. Now our only hope is that the weather decides one way or the other.” Troy Bayliss Camel Honda 1’36.128 14th fastest “We were starting to ride a bit harder in the afternoon when the rain began. It could have been the perfect occasion to test the grip on the wet asphalt, given that Le Mans notoriously doesn’t offer too much grip in those conditions, but it didn’t rain enough, at least during our session anyway. Then the downpours really hit! We just have to wait for tomorrow now, and hope for more concrete conditions.” More, from a press release issued by Telefonica Movistar Honda: GIBERNAU, READY FOR THE DRY OR WET Marco Melandri solves set-up problems in the afternoon and laps seventh fastest at Le Mans FRENCH GP – MOTOGP FREE PRACTICE Sete Gibernau ended the first day of practice for the French Grand Prix in second place after clocking a fastest lap of 1’34″290, whilst Marco Melandri started off the weekend with seventh place, 0.9 seconds off pole. The Spaniard returns strongly to a circuit where he has celebrated victory for the past two seasons and is hopeful this can be the turning point of his season. Marco Melandri is aiming to defend second place in the championship standings, although his weekend began with some set-up problems at Le Mans. Both riders began working this morning using their set-up from last season, gradually changing their base settings throughout the session and adapting them appropriately to the updated RC211V 2005. The riders had just one and a half hours of dry track time today, with rainfall interrupting their programme some 30 minutes from the end of the afternoon session. Lap times are already close to the circui! t record established by Max Biaggi last season but are still a long way off Gibernau’s pole record of 1’33″425. SETE GIBERNAU (2nd, 1’34″290): “After the problems we had in China we’ve arrived here feeling very motivated and we have started the Grand Prix in positive fashion. The weather hasn’t helped but I’m ready to race in any conditions. We’ve been competitive in the wet and the dry.” MARCO MELANDRI (7th, 1’35″125): “It was a difficult day because the weather prevented us from completing everything we had planned. We started off with a few problems this morning which we analysed at lunchtime. The setting was better in the afternoon but we didn’t have much time to adjust it because it started raining about half an hour from the end of the session. I completed a few laps in the wet and tomorrow we can continue working with a few clearer ideas”. More, from a press release issued by Ducati Corse: DUCATI MARLBORO MEN GET WET AT LE MANS This year’s MotoGP series is fast becoming the wet weather World Championship – rain dominated the first day of practice here at Le Mans, making this the third of four events so far this year to have been affected by rainfall. This morning’s first practice session got underway in the damp, and though the track had almost dried by the end of the hour, the rain returned during this afternoon’s session. Some riders were fastest this morning, others this afternoon, suggesting that today’s lap times don’t count for much. Ducati Marlboro Team riders Carlos Checa and Loris Capirossi ended the day ninth and 11th. “At the moment the weather seems to be the main player in this championship,” grinned Ducati MotoGP project manager Livio Suppo. “The conditions changed throughout today, which makes it really hard to make progress on bike set-up. Also, the lap times don’t mean much. But both Carlos and Loris are happy with the grip they’ve got in the dry. We hope for better weather tomorrow but the forecast suggests more of the same.” RAIN IS A PAIN FOR CHECA Carlos Checa needs dry track time more than most because he’s in his first season with the Ducati Marlboro Team, getting to know a new bike and new tyres. Nevertheless, the Spaniard made the best of today’s weather, using the tricky conditions to fine tune his Desmosedici. “This weather is the worst thing for us because we start each weekend from zero, so we need consistent weather to build up data,” said Checa, ninth quickest in a closely packed top ten. “But anyway it’s also good to test in the wet because you can learn stuff, especially on engine set-up, which can also help you in the dry. We need to work at improving wet-weather grip but I’m happy with the bike in the dry – I can feel that it has good balance.” CAPIROSSI MAKES PROGRESS Loris Capirossi made steady progress throughout the first day of practice at Le Mans, making improvements to his Ducati Marlboro Team Desmosedici despite the ever-changing weather conditions. He ended the day 11th quickest, just two tenths behind his team-mate. “We improved the bike this afternoon after fixing a few things that had troubled me in morning practice,” explained Capirossi. “Unfortunately we only got 15 minutes dry track time this afternoon. Despite the weather I’m really happy with the way things are going with the bike and the tyres. Of course we need more dry weather if we are to continue working on race-distance performance but I’m much happier than I usually am at this stage.” More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki: Team SUZUKI MotoGP collect important data at changeable Le Mans Team SUZUKI MotoGP successfully used the first day of testing for the Grand Prix Alice de France to gather crucial settings information on the Suzuki GSV-R prototype race bike. This morning’s test was held on a drying surface but with many damp patches covering the 4.18km historic Le Mans racetrack. The afternoon session was disrupted by a heavy rainstorm that left the track very wet for the majority of the hour-long practice. Kenny Roberts Jr’s technicians used the sessions to try a new geometry setting for the GSV-R and had a successful result from the test. Roberts Jr (1’35.623 FP1, 1’35.482 FP2) was still left a bit frustrated with the day. He said: “The weather controlled the day. We wanted to test a different dry setting this afternoon but because of the weather we were unable to that so we will try and do it tomorrow morning. “We still need to do some more tyre tests to make sure we can get the correct compounds for the race because grip will certainly be an issue here.” John Hopkins (1’35.628 FP1, 1’35.127 FP2) was using a completely new chassis set-up and was pleased with the result. He commented: “I’m quite happy with today’s test. This is not a track I like a lot as it doesn’t really suit my riding style, but I’m actually quite pleased with the day. “We were able to get through a lot of tests and changes. We were lucky to have a mostly dry session this morning and then to start this afternoon in the dry and confirm a few things. “It was good as well to get out in the rain because the last time I rode at Le Mans in the wet I had three concussions in a weekend, so it was important for me to get rid of a lot of ghosts and I can now go out there and perform whatever the conditions.” Team Manager Paul Denning was happy with the two practice sessions. He said: “Both riders pushed hard in the different conditions we had today. John was trying a new chassis set-up and both his Chief Technician Stuart Shenton and John are pleased with the results. “Kenny was looking to get the best out of the GSV-R and the Bridgestone tyres but was hampered by the weather as his plans for a new dry setting were quashed when the rain came down. “We will now use tomorrow’s final test session to get in as much work as we can before qualifying starts tomorrow afternoon.” The fastest time of the day was set by Alex Barros on a Honda, with less than a second separating the top eight riders. Team SUZUKI MotoGP will have a final practice session on Saturday morning before qualifying gets underway at 14.00hrs CET. The Grand Prix Alice de France is the fourth round of the MotoGP World Championship and racing will begin at 14.00hrs CET on Sunday 15th May.

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