Hopkins shows Bridgestone potential as busy winter test schedule ends in Jerez BRIDGESTONE ended an intensive winter testing schedule in confident mood ahead of the start of the 2005 MotoGP world championship after a positive three-day test session at the Jerez circuit in Spain. American rider John Hopkins confirmed the huge strides made in the close season by Bridgestone when he finished an impressive third fastest with a lap of 1:40.418 on the final afternoon. The Suzuki GSV-R rider impressed throughout the weekend in what was a dress rehearsal for the first MotoGP of the season back at the Jerez circuit on April 10. He was fastest on the opening day, clocking a best of 1:40.893 on Bridgestone’s new race rubber. It looked like the 21-year-old would finish the test fastest until a late surge by Marco Melandri and Nicky Hayden dropped him to third overall as Hopkins, ecstatic with his weekend’s performance, opted to finish earlier than his rivals. On a rain-hit second day, conditions gave riders the perfect opportunity to assess the new range of Bridgestone wet weather tyres for the first time this winter. All noted a major step forward in performance from last season. That was reflected in the time sheets as Kenny Roberts Junior and Hopkins set the top two times on a soaked track. With barely an hour of dry track time available at the end of the second day, Japanese Kawasaki rider Shinya Nakano set the best time on the new Big Bang ZX-RR with a 1:42.112 lap. Loris Capirossi set the fifth fastest time overall, the Ducati rider posting a best of 1:40.550. Nakano eventually took eighth position, while German team-mate Alex Hofmann was 12th, two places ahead of Suzuki rider Kenny Roberts Junior. John Hopkins Team Suzuki MotoGP 3rd position “This test has given me a massive confidence boost before the first race. It’s been an excellent three days and I think we are ready for anything now. The first day was very exciting. With race tyres we spent the majority of the day at the top of the field and it was good. The improvements that Bridgestone and Suzuki have made during the winter are really starting to show. The Bridgestone rear tyre is just better in entire grip. Initial grip is so good when we first go out there it is like riding on a qualifier. It’s almost got to a point where when I go out in qualifying for the race, I’m not even sure yet if I need to use a qualifier. I might just need a new set of race rubber. The rate of improvement in the winter has been fascinating really. In just four or five tests Bridgestone has come back with a tyre that is exactly what we needed. I set my best time using a qualifying tyre that felt great. For the first part of the lap I was taking it easy just feeling where the grip was, and when we got to full throttle I could do that time no problem. Another big plus from this test is the chance we got to test some rain tyres. They seemed to be a major improvement on what we had last year, which is another positive sign for us with the season so close. I’m just ready to race now and can’t wait. Junichi Kawajiri Bridgestone Motorcycle Tyre Development Manager “We had three days of worthwhile testing here under several different weather conditions, and were able to confirm the positive progress we have made with our race tyres. John Hopkins and his team did a superb job and his consistently fast lap times proved just how fast he can ride on the GSV-R. We also had a chance to test our new wet tyres, and the progress we have made were evident as Kenny Roberts clocked the fastest time under heavy rain on the second day. Now we are looking forward to the opening race in just a couple weeks time, where we hope to achieve good results with our 2005 generation race tyres.” Bridgestone Results: 3. John Hopkins (USA) Suzuki, 1:40.418; 5. Loris Capirossi (ITA) Ducati, 1:40.559; 9. Shinya Nakano (JPN) Kawasaki 1:41.328; 12. Alex Hofmann, (GER) Kawasaki, 1:41.454; 14. Kenny Roberts Junior (USA) Suzuki, 1:41.913. More, from a press release issued by Camel Honda: Winter testing ends. In two weeks the return to Jerez for MotoGP 2005 Today in Jerez, the final winter test session for MotoGP teams came to a close, and they were able to make to most of a dry track. The next time the teams start their engines will be for the free practice at the Spanish GP, on Friday April 8th. The two Camel Honda team riders today perfected the set-up of their machines, picking out a good base set-up for the imminent grand prix. Ramon Forcada Camel Honda (Alex Barros’s crew chief) “We have done all the work we had scheduled, in the end we found a good solution for the bike’s suspension both on the front and back. We are ready for the race, in the sense that we have a good basis from which to start from, because we mustn’t forget that Jerez is a track that is affected by even the slightest change in weather. After yesterday and today for example, and by yesterday I mean when the track was dry, the conditions were completely different.” Alex Barros Camel Honda 1:40.569 (laps) 6th fastest “In these Jerez tests we have really worked hard, especially today when I did over a hundred laps. We have honestly explored every avenue: electronics, front tyres, rear tyres, suspension, various geometries and at the end we managed to improve the bike where I wanted. Friday I was very nervous, today meanwhile I was able to ride cleaner, with a used tyre over 15 laps old I did a 1:41 and a half. With the qualifier I rode a 40.5 but I used my spare machine, so I think we can safely say things have gone well.” Santiago Mulero Camel Honda (Troy Bayliss’s crew chief) “With a beautiful day today we were able to do some good work. We have tried a variety of settings on the bike which were completely different to yesterday, and also we tested a lot of different tyre types. By the end, Troy has found a reasonably satisfying set-up and improved his time by a half-second compared to Friday.” Troy Bayliss Camel Honda 1:41.529 (92 laps) 13th fastest “All the tests are now finished, so the next time we get out on track will be for the race. I honestly can’t wait. Compared to the first test we had in Jerez, I rode slower today, but what counts is that during all the tests we have done throughout the winter there has been a constant improvement in my feeling with this bike.” Today’s official Lap times 1. Hayden (Honda) 1’39.983; 2. Melandri (id.) 1’40.291; 3. Hopkins (Suzuki) 1’40.418; 4. Rossi (Yamaha) 1’40.539 ; 5. Capirossi (Ducati) 1’40.559 ; 6. Barros (Honda) 1’40.569; 7. Gibernau (id.) 1’40.662; 8. Edwards (Yamaha) 1’41.284; 9. Nakano (Kawasaki) 1’41.328; 10. Tamada (Honda) 1’41.380; 11. Biaggi (id.) 1’41.431; 12. Hoffman (Kawasaki) 1’41.453; 13. Bayliss (Honda) 1’41.529; 14. Roberts (Suzuki) 1’41.913; 15. Aoki (Suzuki test) 1’42.121; 16. Elias (Yamaha) 1’42.387; 17. Xaus (Yamaha) 1’43.961; 18. Ellison (Proton WCM) 1’44.041; 19. Byrne (1’44.272); 21. Rolfo (Ducati) 1’44.395; 22. Guareschi (Ducati test) 1’44.447; 22. Battaini (Blata WCM) 1’45.379 More, from a press release issued by Telefonica Movistar Honda: Sete Gibernau and Marco Melandri finish at Jerez a very good pre-season Third and last day of testing at Jerez for the MotoGP teams gathered at jerez for the last test of the pre-season. In two weeks in fact the 2005 will start here with the Spanish GP. After a long and demanding pre-season the riders of the team Movistar are nor ready for the 2005 challenge. Sete Gibernau worked today on the set up of the bike, lapping 73 laps. He run in 1:40 with race tyres and left Jerez satisfied with the work done. His team mate Marco Melandri did a race simulation today lapping on a pace of 1:41 high. He also practised with qualifying tyres, finishing with the second fastest time of the day. SETE GIBERNAU (1:40.662 73 laps): “Today we worked in preparation of the race. Here in Jerez we found more problems than we expected and yesterday the rain spoiled our programme. Today I couldn’t make a long run because there was not enough time. All in all I am happy, we found a good balance of the bike and the our pace was good. In fact we ran on 1:40 with race tyres. This test session was very important to verify all the work done so far and I’m very happy, I’m stronger mentally and physically, at every test we have improved al lot.” MARCO MELANDRI (1:40″291 93 laps): “I’m very satisfied of these 3 day of testing because my race rhythm has improved, moreover I could test on wet and practice on a fast lap. Today I tested many tyres for Michelin and I’m very happy that they trust me. In the afternoon I did a long run (27 consecutive laps) on a pace of 1:41 high and finally I tested three qualifying tyres. Now I feel ready for the first race, I’m confident and concentrated on me and my team.” Lap times 1. Nicky Hayden (USA/Honda) 1’39″983 2. Marco Melandri (Ita/Honda) 1’40″291 3. John Hopkins (USA/Suzuki) 1’40″418 4. Valentino Rossi (Ita/Yamaha) 1’40″539 5. Loris Capirossi (Ita/Ducati) 1’40″559 6. Alex Barros (Bra/Honda) 1’40″569 7. Sete Gibernau (Esp/Honda) 1’40″662 8. Colin Edwards (USA/Yamaha) 1’41″284 9. Shinya Nakano (Jap/Kawasaki) 1’41″328 10. Makoto Tamada (Jap/Honda) 1’41″380