STONER INSIDE BRNO LAP RECORD, CAPIROSSI SATISFIED WITH TESTS On the final day of post-race testing at Brno, Ducati Marlboro Team Casey Stoner and Loris Capirossi worked on machine set-up and tested some new Bridgestone race tyres. This morning the track was damp after yesterday’s downpour but it improved during the day, allowing both riders to successfully complete the work planned for the tests. Stoner lapped consistently at a very good pace, then bettered his own fastest race lap and broke the lap record which had been unbeaten on Sunday. Capirossi, among other things, tested two new Bridgestone 16-inch rears that he found promising but in need of further development. Casey Stoner, 27 laps, fastest lap: 1m 57.924s (race tyres) “I’m pretty happy. Today we made a further step forward on bike set-up, similar to what we did in the post-race tests at Catalunya. I’m also happy with the new fairing because conditions were a bit windy this afternoon but I could still lap fast at a very good rhythm. I think these two days have been really positive for us”. Loris Capirossi, 22 laps, fastest lap: 1m 59.616s (race tyres) “Today we did a few laps, focusing on tyre tests and set-up tests. We also tried two Bridgestone 16 rears which aren’t bad but need more work in order to be well balanced with the front, in order to be as competitive as the 16.5-inch rear. It has nevertheless been a positive day and now I look forward to racing at Misano next week”. Brno data Brno lap record: 1m 58.157s (Capirossi – 2006) 2007 Brno GP fastest lap: 1m 58.301s (Stoner) Brno best pole: 1m 56.191s (Rossi – 2006) More, from a press release issued by Repsol Honda: REPSOL HONDA TEAM WRAPS UP BRNO TEST The Repsol Honda Team completed its two-day test at Brno on Tuesday with Nicky Hayden and Dani Pedrosa winding up a useful programme of engine, chassis set-up and Michelin tyre evaluations. With overnight rain slow to clear, the track remained damp in the morning, but once the surface dried the assembled MotoGP field could begin work. With conditions less favourable than yesterday very few riders improved their times today, though both Repsol Honda men deemed the day’s testing profitable. Hayden completed 72 laps, making shock and fork adjustments before trying a batch of new Michelin tyres. After yesterday’s engine and chassis tests, Pedrosa focussed on tyre testing today, completing 59 laps of the 5.403km (3.357-mile) Brno circuit. The factory Honda squad now heads for the revised Misano World Circuit in Italy which hosts round 13 of the 2007 MotoGP series on September 2. The renowned venue is making a return to the Motorcycle World Championship calendar for the first time since 1993. Nicky Hayden Best lap time: 1m 58.70s 72 laps “It’s been a positive test and a decent weekend as a whole for us. We’ve been towards the sharp end most of the time and, considering where we’ve been at times this year, that’s a definite improvement. Today we tried some shock and fork settings, a few little changes in the engine and also did quite a lot of tyre testing with Michelin. We didn’t find any major breakthroughs but it was worth our time here and I’d like to say a big thanks to the team because it’s been five days in a row and the boys have been working really hard.” Dani Pedrosa Best lap time: 1m 59.23s 59 laps “Today we were mainly testing tyres for Michelin some variations in construction and compound to try to improve our performance and endurance, especially towards the end of the race distance. It was damp in the morning and also quite windy so we lost a little testing time today, although the forecast was for rain and we had a dry afternoon so we were lucky. It was useful to test these tyres. We didn’t find anything that made a huge difference but the information we got today should be useful to Michelin and help them with their development ahead of the next race in Misano. I’m looking forward to going there because I have never been to this track.” More, from a press release issued by Kawasaki Racing Team: DEVELOPMENT CONTINUES FOR KAWASAKI AT BRNO The Kawasaki Racing Team today concluded a successful two-day test at the Brno circuit, with Randy de Puniet and Anthony West both completing an extensive assessment programme despite rain bringing a premature end to testing yesterday. The focus of the two-day test was on evaluating the latest evolution of the Ninja ZX-RR engine, designed to improve the top speed of Kawasaki’s ever more competitive MotoGP machine without losing any of the driveability that is so important to fast lap times in the new 800cc era. The feedback from the two riders was that Kawasaki’s engineers in Japan had achieved their aim, and both de Puniet and West have opted to run the latest specification motor in the next race at Misano. The two Kawasaki pilots also evaluated a number or chassis component combinations on their Ninja ZX-RR machines, as they worked to improve the overall balance of the bike. The data collected during the two-day test will be utilised by the race department in Japan, where the next generation chassis is already in development. Bridgestone will also benefit from the test at Brno, with the Japanese tyre manufacturer securing important development data from an extensive tyre testing programme completed by de Puniet and West over the course of the two days. The Kawasaki Racing Team will return to action in just 10 days time at the revised Misano circuit in San Marino, which is a new track for all the MotoGP teams. Randy De Puniet Best Time – 1’58.5 (123 Laps) “It’s been hard work both days, because we’ve had a lot of different things to test, but it’s been worthwhile. The latest engine specification is definitely an improvement, as is the revised clutch that we also tested. From the tyre test we managed to find a combination of front and rear race tyres that allowed me to improve upon my best race lap time from Sunday, so that is also a positive point. Some of the improvements we’ve made today won’t give us such a big advantage for the next race, because Misano is quite a tight track from what I’ve seen of it, but I think we’ll definitely see an improvement in performance when we get to the fast circuits like Motegi and Sepang. So, overall it’s been a positive two days.” Anthony West Best Time – 1’59.3 (144 Laps) “There’s just something about this track that I can’t seem to get on with, so it’s been good to get so much time on the circuit, but it’s also made it more difficult to evaluate things like the tyres and the changes to the chassis that we were testing. I think I did more than 800 km on the bike over the two days, which was hard work, but I definitely have a better understanding now about how changes to the chassis and different tyres affect the bike and my lap time. I also got to try out quite a few qualifying tyres without having the pressure of a normal qualifying session, which was good. The grip they have is unbelievable; if you opened the throttle that early on a race tyre you’d be over the bars before you knew it. But, while I definitely have a better idea of how hard I can push on the qualifiers now, I also know there’s still quite a lot of room for improvement, but that this will only come with more experience.” Naoya Kaneko Kawasaki Technical Manager “Overall it’s been a very productive two days, with both riders completing a lot of laps to ensure we completed our planned test schedule. Our main aim over the two days was to evaluate the latest version of the Ninja ZX-RR engine, and also different combinations of chassis components. Our two riders were very positive about the revised engine, and both were able to improve upon their lap times from Sunday’s race. From evaluating different combinations of chassis, swinging arm and suspension settings, we’ve identified a clear direction for future development in order to improve the overall balance of the bike. Finally, we’ve also completed quite a heavy test schedule for Bridgestone, with positive results. The data that will be fed back to Bridgestone’s development programme will benefit all their MotoGP teams, not just Kawasaki, but that’s what a technical partnership is all about.” More, from a press release issued by Fiat Yamaha: FIAT YAMAHA COMPLETE TESTING PROGRAMME IN BRNO Valentino Rossi and Colin Edwards rounded off two days of intensive work at Brno today, following Sunday’s Czech Grand Prix. After heavy rain yesterday evening the track was still damp this morning, which delayed the start of action, but conditions improved throughout the day and both Rossi and Edwards managed to complete their planned testing programmes. Once again both riders concentrated mainly on tyre testing, trying a variety of new material with Michelin. Rossi also put in laps with the new-specification engine, which he tried for the first time yesterday. The team now have a week’s break before they head to Misano for the San Marino Grand Prix. Colin Edwards Position: 7th Time: 1’58.86 Laps: 50 “It was all about tyres again today and we actually found a front that I’m pretty happy with. It’s something of a different theory to what we’ve been using before but it seems to work so I think we’ve gained something in that area. We also found something for the rear which we think could be good if we have a little more time to work on it and evolve it. Based on that I think we’ve definitely made some progress today. It’s not going to change overnight but we’ve just got to go step-by-step, put in the laps and see how we go. I tried a couple more starting maps as well which I’m really happy with. I’m heading home now for a few days rest before Misano and we’ll see how we get on there!” Valentino Rossi Position: 11th Time: 1’59.35 Laps: 69 “We continued today to test many tyres with Michelin, different components and different compounds. We haven’t found a miracle tyre yet but we gave a lot of information to Michelin which will hopefully help them in their work for the next races. We used the new engine again for some of the day and found it a little bit better, although we need more time to work on it. Anyway we’ve given some important information to our engineers so they can continue with the development for the future. We’ve done a lot of work these two days and I know that Yamaha and Michelin will now do as much as possible with what we’ve found out here, and we will be ready to try again next week in Misano.” Davide Brivio Team Director “We’ve worked a lot these two days and both riders have done a lot of laps, which is hard after an intensive race weekend. This is always a very important test, before the last part of the season, and this year has been no different. We’ve checked many options, especially with Michelin, and we hope that this information will help them to continue to improve the situation in the near future. We know that both Yamaha and Michelin will be working very hard over the next week and we will see how we get on in San Marino!” Test Times 1. Casey Stoner (AUS) Ducati Marlboro Team 1’57.92 2. John Hopkins (USA) Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1’58.40 3. Randy de Puniet (FRA) Kawasaki Racing Team 1’58.49 4. Nicky Hayden (USA) Repsol Honda Team 1’58.70 5. Chris Vermeulen (AUS) Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1’58.74 6. Alex Barros (BRA) Pramac d’Antin 1’58.84 7. Colin Edwards (USA) Fiat Yamaha Team 1’58.86 8. Carlos Checa (SPA) Honda LCR 1’59.13 9. Dani Pedrosa (SPA) Repsol Honda Team 1’59.23 10. Anthony West (AUS) Kawasaki 1’59.28 11. Valentino Rossi (ITA) Fiat Yamaha Team 1’59.35 12. Loris Capirossi (ITA) Ducati Marlboro Team 1’59.62 13. Sylvain Guintoli (FRA) Dunlop Yamaha Tech 3 2’0.80 14. Makoto Tamada (JPN) Dunlop Yamaha Tech 3 2’1.92 Brno: Lap Record L. Capirossi (Ducati) 2006, 1’58.157 Brno: Best Lap V. Rossi (Yamaha) 2006, 1’56.191 More, from a press release issued by Rizla Suzuki: Good form continues for Rizla Suzuki MotoGP at Brno test Rizla Suzuki MotoGP has concluded its two-day test at Brno in the Czech Republic with promising results, following on from the team’s excellent GP performance. John Hopkins and Chris Vermeulen were both eager to get back on track after their impressive displays in last Sunday’s race, which saw them finish second and fifth respectively, and the pair got down to a lot of hard work to improve their machines in readiness for the rest of the season. Hopkins and Vermeulen were joined at the test by Team Test Rider Nobuatsu Aoki, as the three of them put the 800cc Suzuki GSV-R through numerous tests and evaluations of engine specifications, suspension settings and a thorough and comprehensive Bridgestone tyre test in preparation for improving performances at specific circuits later on in the season. The team were very pleased with the test in general and has acquired valuable data that will be evaluated in Japan before the next race at Misano in Italy on Sunday 2nd September. Paul Denning Team Manager: “After the excitement of Sunday it was straight back to work for the riders and the rest of the team. The whole test has been very encouraging and we have certainly got a clear indication of the direction to take for the rest of the season. It was great to have Nobu present as he was able to give us another viewpoint on the different items we were testing. We will now look at these results and come back even stronger over the rest of the year, we have shown that the bike and riders are very much in-form at the moment and we are determined to stay that way and make further steps up in the remaining races!”