10 replies to this topic

[elgo]

As the three-day MotoGP Official Test got underway at Spain’s Circuito de Jerez today, Repsol Honda’s Nicky Hayden was the fastest rider with an eye-catching 1’39.200 lap on his Michelin qualifiers in the final hour of the session of the day, onboard the rapidly-evolving RC212V.

The popular American, who hopes to regain the World title this season, was also the man with the most laps to his name, as has become something of a trademark throughout his MotoGP career. Today he put in 107 turns of the Spanish circuit as he continued to work on preparing every variable of his updated 800cc machine
The result was a boost for Hayden ahead of the first real ‘head-to-head’ event of the year on Sunday, as all the confirmed 2008 MotoGP riders and their test rider counterparts compete for a BMW Z4 M Roadster in a 40-minute BMW M Award ‘qualifying session’.

Commenting on his day’s work Hayden stated: “Everything went pretty smooth. I’d say it’s definitely the best first day of a test we have had this year and things were pretty good. The few changes made to the bike were positive and the Michelins work well at Jerez.”

Meanwhile, continuing what has been a fine preseason, Honda satellite rider Randy de Puniet was also up amongst the business end of the timesheets. He saved his fastest run on Michelin qualifiers for his very last lap of the day, riding round just over two tenths of a second slower than Hayden. LCR Honda’s sole rider, like the rest of the Japanese factory’s satellite contingent, has been awaiting a new engine for this latest test after working with the 2007 model during much of the preseason and made good use of his updated machine.

Victorious in the past two 250cc races in Jerez, Jorge Lorenzo is proving equally at home at his home circuit onboard his 800cc Fiat Yamaha YZR-M1. The MotoGP rookie headed a trio of Michelin-shod Yamaha riders in the opening day’s top five, ahead of Tech 3 Yamaha satellite duo Colin Edwards and James Toseland.

The Tech 3 Anglo-American partnership were debuting a new yellow and blue livery on Saturday, but would have stood out anyway with Edwards’ testing renaissance continuing unabated and Toseland’s upward progression in preparation for his rookie season in MotoGP.

The top five were the only riders to go round with times under the 1’40 mark, although with discrepancies in the use of qualifiers or race tyres and focus of work there is not too much cause for concern for the trailing pack.

Valentino Rossi set his quickest time on day one comparatively early in proceedings, on lap 32 of 92, to conclude the day in eighth position. The Italian was modelling a special edition look; a cake-themed helmet designed to celebrate his 29th birthday. He may be one of the hot tips to take home the BMW at the end of the test, but as of yet ‘The Doctor’ has not come close to his 1’38.394 time from last year and views Hayden as the man to watch on Sunday.

Rossi commented: “Well, I have been working on track on my birthday and maybe tonight I will have a quiet meal with the team before another important day tomorrow. I think Nicky (Hayden) is favourite to win the BMW session, but Casey (Stoner) has shown how fast Bridgestone qualifying tyres can go, so I think it will be possible to fight for the car.”

Indeed just below Rossi on the timesheet was 2007 MotoGP World Champion Casey Stoner, who returned to the scene of a late November shoulder-damaging crash onboard his Ducati Desmosedici GP8, and ended the day in ninth place.

Also riding injured in Jerez were testing returnees Dani Pedrosa and John Hopkins, two men still sore from respective hand and groin injuries picked up over the course of the preseason. Neither was able to crack the top ten, with Pedrosa 12th fastest and Hopkins 17th, although for both riders a return to race condition is the more immediate aim of this latest three day testing stint. Pedrosa clocked 37 laps with Hopkins only managing 28.

Fans seemed to share the competitors’ enthusiasm for the first day of testing, with the paddock and grandstands welcoming a healthy turnout of MotoGP aficionados.

The MotoGP Official Test 2008 continues today at Jerez, with the 40-minute timed session taking place at 2.05pm local time.

[elgo]

Jerez: Saturday's MotoGP Test Times

1. Nicky Hayden (USA) Repsol Honda 1'39.200

2. Randy De Puniet (FRA) LCR Honda MotoGP 1'39.444

3. Jorge Lorenzo (SPA) Fiat Yamaha Team 1'39.528

4. Colin Edwards (USA) Tech 3 Yamaha 1'39.629

5. James Toseland (GBR) Tech 3 Yamaha 1'39.678

6. Alex De Angelis (RSM) San Carlo Honda Gresini 1'40.165

7. Shinya Nakano (JPN) San Carlo Honda Gresini 1'40.192

8. Valentino Rossi (ITA) Fiat Yamaha Team 1'40.641

9. Casey Stoner (AUS) Ducati Marlboro 1'40.651

10. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA) JiR Team Scot MotoGP 1'40.767

11. Loris Capirossi (ITA) Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1'40.843

12. Dani Pedrosa (SPA) Repsol Honda 1'41.352

13. Marco Melandri (ITA) Ducati Marlboro 1'41.392

14. Toni Elias (SPA) Alice Team 1'41.703

15. Chris Vermeulen (AUS) Rizla Suzuki 1'41.763

16. Anthony West (AUS) Kawasaki Racing 1'41.821

17. John Hopkins (USA) Kawasaki Racing 1'41.901

18. Olivier Jacque (FRA) Kawasaki Racing 1'42.557

19. Niccolò Canepa (ITA) Ducati Test 1'42.652

20. Sylvain Guintoli (FRA) Alice Team 1'42.698

Jerez: Lap Record V. Rossi (Yamaha) 2005, 1'40.596

Jerez: Best Lap L. Capirossi (Ducati) 2006, 1'39.064

[elgo]

OK,and the winner is..........
CASEY STONER!!!Absolute domination from the Aussie,only 9 laps!and he only needed 5 to set a fantastic time that no one could come close to.
2nd Valentino Rossi
3rd Nicky Hayden
4th Anthony West
5th Andrea Dovizioso (Great start by Dovi)

So Hayden,Rossi and Stoner (and Pedrosa,who couldn't race because his hand still hurts) are undoubtedly top 4.
J. Lorenzo,the promising superstar...16th.

[JayStorm]

^Agree with above.

But that wasn't really surprising.

Should be another good season, as long as Stoner, or any other rider doesn't dominate it in such a way.

[Rainmaster]

Unbelievable stuff from Casey Stoner today...

[aussief1]

      Go Casey you good thing       

Good effort by Ant West I must say. The word goes out to all MotoGP team managers if you want quick riders sign Australians!!!

Casey for the 2008 Championship!!!!!

Ok i'll settle down again now

[Rainmaster]

I think Stoner will beat his 10 wins from last year this season.

[JayStorm]

I really hope not, or that if he does, the action is still very close.

Wasn't the best season last time because he was so dominant but I suppose the 06 season was just fantastic, and difficult to follow.

Australians have always been very competitive in most sports really. Nothing new.

[aussief1]

JayStorm, on Feb 19 2008, 01:04 AM, said:

Australians have always been very competitive in most sports really. Nothing new.

So very very true

[Rainmaster]

JayStorm, on Feb 18 2008, 03:04 PM, said:

I really hope not, or that if he does, the action is still very close.

Wasn't the best season last time because he was so dominant but I suppose the 06 season was just fantastic, and difficult to follow.

Australians have always been very competitive in most sports really. Nothing new.

Same here, it's not what I want to happen either, if it were up to me, Rossi would be on one of those Ducati's alongside Stoner! That would be very nice...

[elgo]

Rainmaster, on Feb 19 2008, 06:01 PM, said:

Same here, it's not what I want to happen either, if it were up to me, Rossi would be on one of those Ducati's alongside Stoner! That would be very nice...

Yeah...
I hope Rossi's change to Bridgestone was a god one