From a press release issued by Team Suzuki:

3 DAY TEST BUILDS ON SUZUKI’S RESULTS

Team Suzuki regular riders Kenny Roberts Junior and John Hopkins led a five-strong team through a rigorous three-day testing programme in blazing Spanish sunshine, with tests ending yesterday adding valuable development miles to the all-new 2003 GSV-R MotoGP racer.

Fresh from the machine’s best result so far at last Sunday’s Spanish GP, the expanded squad came away from Catalunya with a report of positive and promising progress.

The all-American MotoGP pair were joined not only by Japanese factory riders Ryo and Akioshi, but also by French two-wheel legend Jean Michel Bayle.

The five-man team more than doubled rider input, and helped pile up test laps. Three races into the season, the all-new V4 MotoGP Suzuki has improved to a best of seventh at Jerez, after a gritty ride by team new boy Hopkins. The potential is there to do much better; the target is to get the Suzukis fighting for victory again.

The tests took place in bright sunshine at the Montmelo circuit outside Barcelona, starting on the Monday after the Spanish GP.

For the GP regulars and factory riders, the test was a chance to assess new chassis and engine management developments. The seasoned quartet also compared notes, and discussed with senior race-department engineers, including engine designer Kunio Arase, ideas and opportunities to unleash the maximum potential from Suzuki’s fastest ever racing motorcycle.

“We had five riders over three days, so while we didn’t have a large number of items to test, what we did have we were able to do in great detail, and establish a lot of important information,” said team manager Garry Taylor.

“Some of our ideas proved useful, and others didn’t work out. That’s why you go testing … to refine directions of development, and to see how to keep on improving the machine.”

Bayle’s three days were the first time the multiple off-road champion and former 250 and 500cc GP rider had ridden a MotoGP four-stroke. His usual mount is the ultra-successful Suzuki GSX-R1000, for the Suzuki Endurance Racing Team (SERT). Bayle came to the tests fresh from placing second in a SERT Suzuki one-two at the Le Mans 24-Hour race.

The 33-year-old racer brings a fresh but hugely experienced eye to bear on the new GSV-R. Deeply analytical and technically fluent, Bayle lapped fast, and spent down time in the pits, “as an extra member of our electronic data analysis crew,” said Taylor.

Bayle’s enthusiasm for the project was redoubled by the experience. “It was very interesting and enjoyable to ride the bike. It’s so powerful. You can really feel the potential. I’ll be studying the Suzukis’ performance at Le Mans, and I’m looking forward to riding the bike again the day after the GP,” he said.

Taylor confirmed that JMB would be joining Roberts and Hopkins again on the day after next weekend’s Le Mans race for more tests in Suzuki’s fast-forward programme to get the best out of their new high-tech racer.

“Jean Michel’s input is very valuable,” said Taylor. “He was running lap times that proved he can analyse the bike’s performance at the limit. But he’s not there for lap times. He’s there to isolate various aspects of the machine, and give the factory engineers feedback to help improve the weak points.

“Perhaps the biggest advantage is that Jean Michel doesn’t have the pressure of racing, and having to think about the GP to come and the season ahead. He can concentrate his mind purely on analysis and development,” concluded Taylor.

Bayle will have the role of observer for Suzuki at the fourth round of the season, before resuming tests with Roberts and Hopkins on Monday. With 24 hours of the Bugatti circuit fresh in his mind, he has the advantage of very intimate track knowledge.