From a press release issued by Kawasaki Racing Team: KAWASAKI CONCLUDE SUCCESSFUL SEPANG TEST Kawasaki’s competition manager, Michael Bartholemy, declared himself satisfied with the progress made by the team’s four riders, as the season opening three day test at Sepang was brought to a successful conclusion this afternoon. After two days evaluating new chassis and engine components, John Hopkins and Anthony West were able to focus this morning on fine-tuning the base set-up of their Ninja ZX-RR machines, before embarking on a race simulation as the heat, and the track temperatures, headed skywards during the afternoon. While the two race pilots racked up the laps, test rider Tamaki Serizawa brought the paddock to a standstill when he debuted a screamer version of Kawasaki’s Ninja ZX-RR. The distinctive high-pitched scream of the development bike was enough to bring a crowd of people out of their pit boxes and onto the pit wall as Serizawa flashed across the start finish line to continue the bike’s first shakedown test. Olivier Jacque gave the screamer motor its second outing during the afternoon session, with positive results. Both test riders will continue the evaluation of the bike during the second Sepang test in early February. Hopkins and West now head for the second test of the season, which will take place at the Phillip Island circuit in Victoria, Australia, starting on 30th January and concluding on 1st February. John Hopkins 5th – 42 Laps – Best Time 2’01.198 “I’m happy with how things have gone, and I leave this test pretty motivated for the next. Overall I’m really pleased with the bike; we have a couple of small things to address, but we’ve now got a clear understanding of what our goal is and where we need to be, and I think we’re ready to make the next step. I was pretty pleased with the first race simulation on the bike; the traction control works really well, so I didn’t have to adapt my riding style so much to compensate for the drop off in grip as the tyres started to go off towards the end. This is a big positive. Now I’m looking forward to getting to Phillip Island. I followed Randy in the race there, and the Kawasaki looked to be working well, now we need to take it to the next level. It’s another new track for me on the Kawasaki, and I hope the test in Australia will turn out to be as positive as these last three days in Malaysia have been.” Anthony West 15th – 39 Laps – Best Time 2’02.978 “We tried a few more front tyres again today, working towards identifying the ones that give me the most confidence in the front, and that we can continue with during the next few tests. We also tried some different engine brake and traction control settings, before running a race simulation this afternoon. The idea of the endurance run was too give me a better feel for the bike when the tyre performance has started to drop off. The only problem today was that the track temperature was already quite high when we began, and that meant that the grip had already started to fall off. It was a bit weird, because I actually went faster towards the end, which we obviously weren’t expecting. One positive point is that the revised chassis components appear to have eliminated the chatter that plagued us during the race here last season although, because of the grip issues, we will need to confirm this at Phillip Island next week. It’s been a hard three days to be honest, because the heat and humidity really takes it out of you. Things should be a lot better at Phillip Island next week, although it was 40 degrees there when I was visiting my grandfather over Christmas. Hopefully it’s cooled down a bit now.” Michael Bartholemy Kawasaki Competition Manager “Overall I’m happy with the progress we’ve made during these three days in Sepang. Both riders have had the chance to get back up to speed after the long winter break, and John was quick to get to grips with the 2008 Ninja ZX-RR. Despite the tricky track conditions that caught out more than a few of the leading riders, John was consistently fast throughout the test and has provided Kawasaki’s engineers with both the necessary data and a clear direction for their development efforts over the coming weeks. John has also set the target for Anthony, who knows he has some work to do when we get to Phillip Island next week. He didn’t seem to settle as quickly as John, but his lap times improved throughout the second and third day at the test, so I’m sure he’ll be able to close the gap significantly at his home circuit. We’ve covered a lot of ground for the first test of the season, and the contribution of our two test riders shouldn’t be underestimated. Olivier Jacque and Tamaki Serizawa have completed individual test schedules equal in intensity to that of our two race pilots, and this will pay dividends for Kawasaki in terms of development. Now we must look to carry this momentum on to Phillip Island, where we’ll be looking for both riders to finish higher up the timesheet.” 1. Nicky Hayden (USA) Repsol Honda Team 2’00.326; 2. Casey Stoner (AUS) Ducati Marlboro Team +0.334; 3. Jorge Lorenzo (SPA) Fiat Yamaha +0.440; 4. Colin Edwards (USA) Yamaha Tech 3 +0.853; 5. John Hopkins (USA) Kawasaki Racing Team +0.872; 6. Valentino Rossi (46) Fiat Yamaha +1.099; 7. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA) JIR Team Scott +1.121; 8. James Toseland (GBR) Yamaha Tech 3 +1.419; 9. Chris Vermeulen (AUS) Rizla Suzuki MotoGP +1.422; 10. Loris Capirossi (ITA) Rizla Suzuki MotoGP +1.452; 11. Randy De Puniet (FRA) Honda LCR +1.547; 12. Shinya Nakano (JPN) Honda Gresini +1.706; 15. Anthony West (AUS) Kawasaki Racing Team +2.652 More, from a press release issued by Honda: Nicky Hayden Repsol Honda fastest on final day of Sepang MotoGP test. Repsol Honda factory rider Nicky Hayden put in another marathon stint of 77 laps making a total of 228 for the three-day test. The American, MotoGP World Champion in 2006, spent the day working hard on finding a perfect balance for the machine testing suspension and tyre combination. The team did a lot of work on the front forks but the rear link changes were restricted to spring rates. Gresini Honda riders Shinya Nakano and Alex De Angelis, had a relatively quiet final day of testing. Nakano decided to sit out a few hours of the day when the track temperature rose to an incredible 52 degrees making serious tyre development work for Bridgestone extremely difficult. Nakano returned to the track late afternoon but did not better his time and he did not try a race simulation test as hoped. The team will run a full race distance when the MotoGP teams return to Sepang early next month to continue pre-season testing. De Angelis worked diligently but in short bursts due to pain from a wrist tendon injury he sustained in a ‘Tank slapping’ incident yesterday. De Angelis has impressed with his calm measured approach to his MotoGP debut season. The young Sanmarines worked with the Nissin brake technicians successfully finding a good balance of stopping power and brake management. The Gresini team also worked on tyres in a bid to reduce a front end chatter problem and were partially successful before high temperatures changed the track surface grip. LCR Honda teamster Randy de Puniet, who had been fastest man on the opening two-days of the test, worked like a slave all day. In the morning the Frenchman worked on tyres before moving on to evaluate various chassis and Ohlins suspension settings on the LCR Honda RC212V. As the curtain came down on the first test of 2008 De Puniet was “Very happy with both my performance and the way the team have worked over the three-days.” Honda rider lap times and quotes. Nicky Hayden, Repsol Honda: 2m 00.326s 77 laps. “Today’s gone a lot better than the last couple and we’re feeling positive, I feel like I’m a lot closer than I was a year ago here. This morning we checked the pneumatic valve engine, then we just focused on the standard engine and this year’s chassis, working on the general set-up. I used qualifiers for my fastest lap and they worked well. After that we did a batch of front tyres because one of my weak points here is that sometimes I struggle when this track gets hot. So I did a batch of tyres at the hottest part of the day to improve on that. “We hadn’t really tested any tyres for Michelin here until today and we wanted to do a long run. That run was decent, probably the best thing I’ve done all week. I did the best lap I’ve ever done round here on race tyres on lap 18, a 2m 01.6s. At the end of three long days that wasn’t too bad. I used a 16.5 on that run but I’ve also been trying some 16 rears here. “Now we go to Phillip Island which is quite a different track with some long corners, some high-speed stuff and a lot of changes of direction. The big thing there is tyres so it’ll be really important to do some more tyre work with Michelin there. We will also do some more work with the pneumatic-valve engine. I’ve got faith in Honda, so hopefully they can make us proud. I think it’s going to be a good season, there’s a lot of guys going fast, a lot of guys motivated. It’s an exciting time, everyone’s at zero.” Andrea Dovizioso, JiR Scot Honda: 2m 01.447s – 51 laps. “The long run I made today was very interesting we made some small setting changes to the RCV and I also changed my style a little, hanging off the bike more than normal and this helped ease the chatter problems I have experienced here. Before the long run I tested a few Michelin tyres even a qualifier that was very good, particularly the 16 inch rear. If you look at the lap times set at the last GP here at Sepang we are not slow, my times are fast. So I leave here quite happy with the results of the test.” Randy De Puniet, LCR Honda: 2m 01.873s – 56 laps. “I worked on the range of tyres that Michelin brought here for me to try then on the overall balance of the bike with suspension settings and a different off-set on the front forks. Then, when I was happy with the set up in the early afternoon I worked on front tyres. I crashed today at the same place as yesterday, the same time and the same speed. The front turned in on me very quickly – very strange as I was of the gas. Maybe it was a combination of the high track temperature and a too soft front tyre. I ran my race simulation test yesterday afternoon and it was very good. I am very happy I have been fast on every day and was ?? fastest overall. “ Shinya Nakano, Gresini Honda: 2m 02.032s – 38 laps.”Today we did some testing with brake and tyre combinations just to confirm we are working in the right direction. We started working with the Nissin brakes at the Jerez test over three-days and now at Sepang. I am happy with the performance finally I have found a good feeling because I can brake as I need to and they perform consistently. I tried a qualifying tyre but my best lap times were set with race tyres. We are working towards the first race at Qatar and we have a lot of work to do but we are getting good support from Honda and Bridgestone so I am very happy.” Alex De Angelis, Gresini Honda: 2m 02.196s – 37 laps.”This morning my wrist was much better after the Doctor had given me a pain killing injection and everything was OK. The afternoon was not so good and I had a lot of pain so I stopped testing. We worked on the engine braking system and I ran with less engine brake, I was sliding just a little too much yesterday. We changed the ride height and this also helped reduce the chatter a lot but not completely. I also worked with the Nissin technicians and was impressed with the performance possibilities. I am very happy with the work we did here but not happy with the condition of my wrist. Now we go to Phillip Island and that’s my favourite track. Much different to Sepang so I will learn more about the bike next week.” The MotoGP teams now move on to the Phillip Island circuit in Australia for a three-day test on January 30 31 and February 1. Dani Pedrosa. Repsol Honda rider Dani Pedrosa, who crashed at the Sepang test yesterday, January 23, went into the USP Institut Universitari Dexeus de Barcelona hospital straight from an overnight flight from Malaysia. Upon arrival and after the relevant diagnostic tests it was confirmed, by the team of doctors directed by Dr. Xavier Mir, Head of the Hand Surgery and Microsurgery Unit, that Pedrosa has; “a fractured second metacarpal on his right hand with three diaphysary fragments, which are the bones found in the middle section of the metacarpian.” The operation, which began at 14:00, consisted of, according to the statement made by Dr. Mir himself; “First reducing the fracture and then fixing the fracture with a seven holed titanium plate”. Dr. Xavier Mir later said that the operation proceeded without any untoward happening and was completed according to plan, he also indicated that if there are no post-operation complications, “the recovery of the hand`s functions will start within the next 72 hours”. Finally the surgeon emphasised the fact that; “Just when the rider will rejoin training and his usual sporting activities is unknown since in this type of case it is surprising how quickly top level professional sportsmen recover their abilities compared to the minimum period of the 6 weeks that are needed by most patients with the same kind of injury”. Pedrosa should be allowed to leave the hospital tomorrow Thursday, 24th January at 12.30, and so that is when the press are invited to the press conference which the rider Dani Pedrosa himself will attend, he will be accompanied by Dr. Xavier Mir, Jefe de la Unidad de Cirugía y Microcirugía de la Mano de USP Institut Universitari Dexeus. More, from a press release issued by Fiat Yamaha: ROSSI CONTENT WITH PROGRESS AT CLOSE OF FIRST SEPANG TEST Valentino Rossi rounded off the third day of testing in Malaysia with another day’s solid progress in Sepang today, the Fiat Yamaha Team rider finishing the test sixth overall out of 22 riders testing. Rossi had time to complete a full race simulation of 21 laps and recorded a general improvement compared to last year’s race, despite slowing down for a lap in the middle in order to give himself a breather as temperatures topped 34 degrees. Rossi’s best time after 48 laps, a lap of 2’01.425, was posted on a Bridgestone qualifier but the Italian admits there is more work to do in order to maximise bike set-up when using the softer qualifying tyres. Overall it was an extremely positive test for Rossi and his crew, who managed to complete everything on the schedule thanks to good weather throughout. Rossi’s young team-mate Jorge Lorenzo had an equally promising three days and finished the test in third, with a best time of 2’00.766. The Team will return to Sepang again in ten days time for the second pre-season test of 2008, with another three day’s work planned for 5th, 6th and 7th February. Valentino Rossi Position: 6th Time: 2’01.425 Laps: 48 “The overall balance of the three day test has been very positive and we’ve worked in many different areas. We’ve tested the pneumatic-valve engine and I have a good feeling from it, plus we’ve improved our top speed compared to the race here. I’m happy about the engine so far, although we want to make as much mileage as possible with it in order to check its reliability and performance. We’ve continued to work with the new electronics in braking and acceleration and the new system is helping us to have more control and make less mistakes. Of course we’ve also done a lot of work with Bridgestone on tyres, and we have found some positive things here. We need to improve our performance with the qualifying tyre; we need more time to better understand how to set-up our bike with the soft tyres and so we will continue to work on this next time. We’ve given a lot of information to Bridgestone this week and we look forward to more work together next time. Finally I was able to complete a good race simulation and overall my pace was better than in the race last year, even though I had to slow down for a bit in the middle because it was so hot! Anyway I really wanted to finish so I kept going and in the end I was very happy with my performance. It’s been a good test for us and now we’re looking forward to next time.” Davide Brivio Team Manager “This has been a very positive test and it’s clear that Yamaha have worked very hard during the winter, so I would like to say a big thank you to all the engineers. To everyone involved now it looks like we’re on our way to fixing some of the issues and weak points which we had last year and we hope that at every test we will be able to make the same amount of progress. Valentino’s level is already high but it’s only the first test after the long winter break and so I am sure he will continue to improve as well. Now we look forward to coming back in ten days time to continue our programme.” Results 1. Nicky Hayden – Repsol Hrc 2:00.326 2. Casey Stoner – Ducati Marlboro 2:00.660 3. Jorge Lorenzo – Fiat Yamaha Team 2:00.766 4. Colin Edwards – Yamaha Tech3 2:01.179 5. John Hopkins – Kawasaki Racing 2:01.198 6. Valentino Rossi – Fiat Yamaha Team 2:01.425 7. Andrea Dovizioso – Jir Team Scot 2:01.447 8. James Toseland – Yamaha Tech3 2:01.745 9. Chris Vermeulen – Rizla Suzuki 2:01.748 10. Loris Capirossi – Rizla Suzuki 2:01.778 11. Randy De Puniet – Honda Lcr 2:01.873 12. Shinya Nakano – Honda Gresini 2:02.032 13. Alex De Angelis – Honda Gresini 2:02.198 14. Marco Melandri – Ducati Marlboro 2:02.725 15. Anthony West – Kawasaki Racing 2:02.978 16. Toni Elias – Alice Team 2:02.995 17 Olivier Jacque – Kawasaki Racing 2:03.030 18 Sylvain Guintoli – Alice Team 2:03.628 19 Niccolò Canepa – Ducati Test 2:03.703 20 Tamaki Serizawa – Kawasaki Racing 2:04.354 21 Nobuatsu Aoki – Rizla Suzuki – 22 Kousuke Akiyoshi – Rizla Suzuki – Sepang Lap Record Casey Stoner (Ducati) 2007 – 2’02.108 Sepang Best Lap Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) 2006 – 2’00.605 More, from another press release issued by Fiat Yamaha: LORENZO ROUNDS OFF SEPANG TEST IN FORCEFUL FASHION New Fiat Yamaha Team signing Jorge Lorenzo finished what was just his fourth test on a MotoGP bike in fine form today, rounding off testing in Malaysia in third place overall. The Spanish rookie posted his best lap from 63 on a Michelin qualifying tyre but also put in a string of consistently fast laps on race tyres, despite a fall cutting short his long run. The youngster set out for his race simulation in sweltering conditions this morning and was posting some consistently fast times when he crashed on lap 17. He was unhurt however and was able to continue with Michelin tyre testing for the rest of the day, rounding off with an impressive time of 2’00.766 on a qualifying tyre, just 0.440 seconds off fastest man of the day Nicky Hayden and only 0.161 seconds off the existing Sepang pole record. Lorenzo’s team-mate Valentino Rossi meanwhile was sixth today with a best lap of 2’01.425. The Fiat Yamaha Team will now head to their respective homes for a week before returning to Sepang for another three-day test on 5th, 6th and 7th February. Jorge Lorenzo Position: 3rd Time: 2’00.766 Laps: 63 “Today was another positive day for me and it’s been an encouraging three days overall: I’m pleased with what we’ve achieved. I had a little problem this morning because I felt like I had a bit less grip than usual, so we had to work on this. Then I started my race simulation and unfortunately I crashed about three-quarters of the way through; I was a bit out of the line and when I accelerated I lost control of the bike. Before that my pace was not so bad and we had time to gather a lot of information before it happened, so it wasn’t the end of the world. I wasn’t hurt and so after that we started again with Michelin tyre testing and at the end I tried a qualifying tyre which was very good; I improved my time quite a lot. I’m really happy with the team’s work and now we’re waiting for the next test so we can continue improving.” Daniele Romagnoli Team Manager “Despite the crash in his long run we got some good information and his pace up to that time was good. Overall it’s been a very good test and we’ve had some good improvement from the engine side. We’ve continued to progress with regards to the bike set-up and also with tyres, where we’ve found some good new material. Thanks to the rider and the team for their hard work and of course we’re looking forward to coming back again in ten days to continue our preparation for the season ahead.” More, from a press release issued by Marlboro Ducati: STONER LEAVES MALAYSIA SATISFIED AS MELANDRI EYES IMPROVEMENTS The third and final day of MotoGP tests ended early at Sepang for Casey Stoner, who completed his 27th and final lap of the Malaysian circuit with his GP8 at precisely 12:26pm. With his test programme complete and some extremely fast laps under his belt – clocking a best time on race tyres of 2’00.964 and a 2’00.660 on qualifiers – the World Champion and his team decided to draw a line under the first session of 2008 and also give Stoner’s recovering shoulder a well-earned rest. Marco Melandri started the day with a good pace, improving almost immediately by around half a second on yesterday, before trying a variety of new ideas, none of which came up with the desired result. The Italian youngster is, however, developing a good feeling with the team and remains confident that the solutions to his current difficulties will be resolved with continued hard work. The Ducati Marlboro Team now head to Phillip Island, Australia, for another three days of testing from January 30 to February 1 inclusive. Casey Stoner (Ducati Marlboro Team), best time on race tyres: 2’00.964; best time on qualifiers: 2’00.660 (27 laps) “We couldn’t have started the year better! My shoulder feels better every day and now I know I can get back to full training. This morning we tried some qualifying tyres on only our second run out. We set a good lap time although I think if we’d have tried them a little later, when the track was warmer, we could have broken the two-minute mark. In fact, at the end of the morning we set a 2’00.964 on race tyres, which is over a second inside the lap record we set in September. It shows that we are working well and that both the bike and tyres are improving. I’m leaving Sepang feeling really happy – partly because my shoulder hasn’t given me too many problems and partly because I feel even more competitive than last season. Now we have to focus on this season and on getting the best possible start, so I can’t wait to continue testing at Phillip Island. I also want to send my best wishes to Dani! I’m sure this injury won’t affect him too much. Back in 2006 I missed most of the winter tests and I still started the season competitive so I’m sure he will too because he was looking really strong out here.” Marco Melandri (Ducati Marlboro Team), best time: 2’02.725 (58 laps) “This morning we started out on the right foot and my lap times weren’t bad. Then we decided to experiment with a few new avenues to try and improve my feeling but we got a bit lost! It’s a shame but at least I’m getting to understand the bike and the way the team works more and more each day. I feel really comfortable with my chief engineer and I’m sure that we’ll find the solutions to the problems we’re having right now. I didn’t use a qualifier because if you’re not ready for them there’s no point. I did try a new race tyre though and in my opinion it’s a good step forward. I can’t say I’m happy but we’ll keep working to find the best way forward for me.” Sepang Circuit Circuit Record: Casey Stoner (Ducati – 2007) 2’02.108 Pole Record: Valentino Rossi (Yamaha – 2006) 2’00.605 Unofficial lap times 24/01/2008 1. Nicky HAYDEN (Honda) 2:00.326 2. Casey STONER (Ducati) 2:00.660 3. Jorge LORENZO (Yamaha) 2:00.766 4. Colin EDWARDS (Yamaha) 2:01.179 5. John HOPKINS (Kawasaki) 2:01.198 6. Valentino ROSSI (Yamaha) 2:01.425 7. Andrea DOVIZIOSO (Honda) 2:01.447 8. James TOSELAND (Yamaha) 2:01.745 9. Chris VERMEULEN (Suzuki) 2:01.748 10. Loris CAPIROSSI (Suzuki) 2:01.778 11. Randy DE PUNIET (Honda) 2:01.873 12. Shinya NAKANO (Honda) 2:02.032 13. Alex DE ANGELIS (Honda) 2:02.198 14. Marco MELANDRI (Ducati) 2:02.725 15. Anthony WEST (Kawasaki) 2:02.978 16. Toni ELIAS(Ducati) 2:02.995 17. Olivier JACQUE (Kawasaki) 2:03.030 18. Sylvain GUINTOLI (Ducati) 2:03.628 19. Niccolo CANEPA (Ducati) 2:03.703 20. Tamaki SERIZAWA (Kawasaki) 2:04.354 More, from a press release issued by Rizla Suzuki: Rizla Suzuki MotoGP confident after positive first test Rizla Suzuki MotoGP has completed its first 2008 pre-season test at Sepang in Malaysia, confident that all the items tested and evaluated will give it a clear indication of the direction to take in forthcoming tests. Chris Vermeulen and new-signing Loris Capirossi completed three exhausting and comprehensive days of testing in high temperatures at the 5.5km Malaysian track, and both riders were impressed with the performance of the new-spec engine they tried for the first time in the Suzuki GSV-R. Following on today from in-depth evaluations of tyres, brake components and many other electronic and mechanical strategies over the previous two days, the Rizla Suzuki riders completed race-distance runs on their respective machines to gather as much data as possible for the Factory Technicians present at trackside. Vermeulen completed 70 laps today over 380kms of race-pace riding in temperatures approaching 35°C – with Capirossi just behind on 62 laps. The Australian was ninth quickest overall with a fastest time of 2’01.748 that was recorded on Bridgestone race-tyres during the hottest part of the day, as he simulated what is likely to be race conditions for the Malaysian Grand Prix later this year. Capirossi was immediately after his new team-mate on the timesheets, with a fastest time of 2’01.778 to give him 10th position. However, when lap times are adjusted to exclude the use of qualifying tyres, the Rizla Suzuki duo placed fourth and fifth respectively. Rizla Suzuki MotoGP now moves south to Phillip Island in Australia for the second test of a busy pre-season schedule in readiness for the first race of the 2008 MotoGP World Championship season at Losail in Qatar on Sunday 10th March. Chris Vermeulen: “After all the intensive testing of the first two days it was good to get a long run and simulate a race distance on the new GSV-R today. The conditions were really hard as it was the hottest part of the day, but what was pleasing was that I did the best lap-time I’ve ever recorded at Sepang during that, so it shows that the reliability and durability of the bike is similar to what we had last year but a bit quicker! Bridgestone has given us a step up in rear tyre performance, now we need to work together to find the best front solution. We now head off to Australia to continue with the testing programme, we still have a long way to go before the first race, but this has certainly been a good start.” Loris Capirossi: “This is only the fourth time I have been on the bike at a test, but I already feel like I have been here for a long time and I am one of the family! The bike is getting better all the time and we are learning not only what is working well, but also what isn’t! The bike is really good, I like the feedback it gives me, it’s amazing under hard braking – my confidence is really starting to grow! We have to go to Australia now and I know that that has been a difficult track in the past for Suzuki, but I am sure with all the testing developments and the new parts that the factory are giving us we can make the bike more competitive there than is has ever been. We did a long run today and it was good for me to see how the bike behaved over full race distance and what I can expect when we start racing for real in March.” Paul Denning Team Manager: “This has been a very positive test and a good start to the season. Chris and Loris were on the pace from day one and have got through an enormous amount of work. Suzuki has really done a great job with the bike, especially the new engine, and it’s great to be so close to the best pace when we still have some clear areas to improve upon. The crew also did a fantastic job, after almost seven weeks away; they were on it right from the start and worked tirelessly over the three days and nights! “We still have a lot of work to do but everyone is super-motivated and we are all focussed on doing the very best we can. We have a good base package and two great riders. Our only goal is to as competitive as we can come race-time!” Sepang Test Day Three Classification: 1. Nicky Hayden (Honda) 2’00.320: 2. Casey Stoner (Ducati) +0.334: 3. Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha) +0.440: 5. Colin Edwards (Yamaha) +0.853: 5. John Hopkins (Kawasaki) +0.872: 9. CHRIS VERMEULEN (RIZLA SUZUKI MOTOGP) +1.422: 10. LORIS CAPIROSSI (RIZLA SUZUKI MOTOGP) +1.452 More, from a press release issued by Yamaha Racing: Lorenzo rounds off Sepang test in forceful fashion New Fiat Yamaha Team signing Jorge Lorenzo finished what was just his fourth test on a MotoGP bike in fine form today, rounding off testing in Malaysia in third place overall. The Spanish rookie posted his best lap from 63 on a Michelin qualifying tyre but also put in a string of consistently fast laps on race tyres, despite a fall cutting short his long run. The youngster set out for his race simulation in sweltering conditions this morning and was posting some consistently fast times when he crashed on lap 17. He was unhurt however and was able to continue with Michelin tyre testing for the rest of the day, rounding off with an impressive time of 2’00.766 on a qualifying tyre, just 0.440 seconds off fastest man of the day Nicky Hayden and only 0.161 seconds off the existing Sepang pole record. Jorge Lorenzo – Position: 3rd Time: 2’00.766 Laps: 63 “Today was another positive day for me and it’s been an encouraging three days overall: I’m pleased with what we’ve achieved. I had a little problem this morning because I felt like I had a bit less grip than usual, so we had to work on this. Then I started my race simulation and unfortunately I crashed about three-quarters of the way through; I was a bit out of the line and when I accelerated I lost control of the bike. Before that my pace was not so bad and we had time to gather a lot of information before it happened, so it wasn’t the end of the world. I wasn’t hurt and so after that we started again with Michelin tyre testing and at the end I tried a qualifying tyre which was very good; I improved my time quite a lot. I’m really happy with the team’s work and now we’re waiting for the next test so we can continue improving.” Daniele Romagnoli Team Manager “Despite the crash in his long run we got some good information and his pace up to that time was good. Overall it’s been a very good test and we’ve had some good improvement from the engine side. We’ve continued to progress with regards to the bike set-up and also with tyres, where we’ve found some good new material. Thanks to the rider and the team for their hard work and of course we’re looking forward to coming back again in ten days to continue our preparation for the season ahead.” Rossi content with progress at close of first Sepang test Valentino Rossi rounded off the third day of testing in Malaysia with another day’s solid progress in Sepang today, the Fiat Yamaha Team rider finishing the test sixth overall out of 22 riders testing. Rossi had time to complete a full race simulation of 21 laps and recorded a general improvement compared to last year’s race, despite slowing down for a lap in the middle in order to give himself a breather as temperatures topped 34 degrees. Rossi’s best time after 48 laps, a lap of 2’01.425, was posted on a Bridgestone qualifier but the Italian admits there is more work to do in order to maximise bike set-up when using the softer qualifying tyres. Overall it was an extremely positive test for Rossi and his crew, who managed to complete everything on the schedule thanks to good weather throughout. The Fiat Yamaha Team will now head to their respective homes for a week before returning to Sepang for another three-day test on 5th, 6th and 7th February. Valentino Rossi – Position: 6th Time: 2’01.425 Laps: 48 “The overall balance of the three day test has been very positive and we’ve worked in many different areas. We’ve tested the pneumatic-valve engine and I have a good feeling from it, plus we’ve improved our top speed compared to the race here. I’m happy about the engine so far, although we want to make as much mileage as possible with it in order to check its reliability and performance. We’ve continued to work with the new electronics in braking and acceleration and the new system is helping us to have more control and make less mistakes. Of course we’ve also done a lot of work with Bridgestone on tyres, and we have found some positive things here. We need to improve our performance with the qualifying tyre; we need more time to better understand how to set-up our bike with the soft tyres and so we will continue to work on this next time. We’ve given a lot of information to Bridgestone this week and we look forward to more work together next time. Finally I was able to complete a good race simulation and overall my pace was better than in the race last year, even though I had to slow down for a bit in the middle because it was so hot! Anyway I really wanted to finish so I kept going and in the end I was very happy with my performance. It’s been a good test for us and now we’re looking forward to next time.” Davide Brivio Team Manager “This has been a very positive test and it’s clear that Yamaha have worked very hard during the winter, so I would like to say a big thank you to all the engineers. To everyone involved now it looks like we’re on our way to fixing some of the issues and weak points which we had last year and we hope that at every test we will be able to make the same amount of progress. Valentino’s level is already high but it’s only the first test after the long winter break and so I am sure he will continue to improve as well. Now we look forward to coming back in ten days time to continue our programme.” Edwards concludes Sepang stay with fourth fastest time The opening chapter in the 2008 MotoGP campaign for the Yamaha Tech3 team was brought to a close with the third and final day of testing at a sweltering Sepang circuit in Malaysia this afternoon. After clocking the second best effort yesterday there was further good news for Colin Edwards and the French crew as the American rested fourth in the Day 3 standings with a circulation just eight tenths of a second off the top slot. New team-mate James Toseland was eighth and upbeat after just his third run with the YZR-M1. Colin Edwards racked up 34 laps in pursuit of his quickest time of the three day session, which he managed on his 12th attempt and snipped two tenths of a second away from Wednesday’s impressive feat. The 33 year old was buoyed after the technical crew solved a small matter of chatter with the front end of the motorcycle and he maintained a steady presence in the 2:01 bracket with Michelin race tyres; underneath the fastest lap setting of the 2007 Grand Prix at Sepang. Herve Poncharal had reason to feel content with the results and progress of his rider line-up as well as the overall usefulness of the test. Colin Edwards Position: 4th: 2:01.179, 34 laps “We got a little bit of a late start today; man I was sore! I am getting old! After six weeks off the bike your hands and butt gets soft and it takes time to build up the calluses. After three days of riding I just have blisters at the moment. We made some improvements again today with the M1. My crew chief and suspension technician had an idea for the front end because we were having some chatter. It was something I had never tried before, but they fixed the problem. It was such a simple thing but they did really well, so a big thanks! We did not do anything new today but played around with tyres. Michelin came up with the goods. I did my best times on the new race tyre and it was phenomenal. Onto Phillip Island now and more of the same I hope.” After speeding up through both previous days of action James Toseland hit his stride throughout a stuffy afternoon run. The 27 year old concentrated on familiarising himself with new electronic and traction control systems but still managed a batch of laps in the ’01 and low ’02s. Toseland is Britain’s sole representative in the ’08 MotoGP championship and comes into the Tech3 set-up hot from winning eight from twenty-six races and grabbing thirteen podiums on the way to a second World Superbike title. James Toseland Position: 8th: 2:01.745, 45 laps “In November I managed a 2:03.5 lap; just one. So to do a 2:02 on a race tyre and then an ’01 with a qualifier let me finish eighth overall today, which I quite pleased with. We have had quite bad chatter that we have struggled to get rid of, although I am told that this place is one of the worst circuits for this and maybe in Australia I might not have it. I am really happy with how the team is working. I finally got the traction control and the engine system, and this gave an improvement but it is really something that you need to get used to and be confident with to improve your times. It is something I can build-on for the next test. I know Phillip Island very well and it is a much cooler place so I am looking forward to starting again next week.” Herve Poncharal, Team Principal, Tech3 Yamaha: “I am very pleased with how things have gone for the first 2008 test. It was important that both riders were quicker every day and the new bike and the tyres from Michelin have let us make a big step. Colin has impressed me with how he was instantly in the good lap-times; I think he has been the fastest on race tyres which is a positive sign. We have been testing a lot of things and for sure the new Yamaha is an improvement over last year. I would also like to thank Michelin for their application and the products that they have brought. Colin feels that there is a huge difference and James is continuing to learn, improve and surprise us; I think you have to go step-by-step in MotoGP otherwise we know how things can end up. We leave Sepang after many laps and with a lot of data for Michelin and Yamaha. We are eager to get to Phillip Island now because we will find some new conditions. Overall it is great to show we are competitive and thanks to the team for their good work.” With their 2008 schedule now active, a busy sequence of work for the Tech3 team lays ahead. Logistical staff were busy Thursday afternoon loading the motorcycles and equipment into crates in preparation for the trip to the Phillip Island circuit in Australia next week and the second stint of testing for both riders. Further outings at the two IRTA dates in February (Jerez and Qatar) are then pencilled in. A little over six weeks remain before the first Grand Prix of eighteen takes place at the Losail circuit in Qatar; the first ever world championship night event. Results 1. Nicky Hayden – Repsol Hrc 2:00.326 2. Casey Stoner – Ducati Marlboro 2:00.660 3. Jorge Lorenzo – Fiat Yamaha Team 2:00.766 4. Colin Edwards – Yamaha Tech3 2:01.179 5. John Hopkins – Kawasaki Racing 2:01.198 6. Valentino Rossi – Fiat Yamaha Team 2:01.425 7. Andrea Dovizioso – Jir Team Scot 2:01.447 8. James Toseland – Yamaha Tech3 2:01.745 9. Chris Vermeulen – Rizla Suzuki 2:01.748 10. Loris Capirossi – Rizla Suzuki 2:01.778 11. Randy De Puniet – Honda Lcr 2:01.873 12. Shinya Nakano – Honda Gresini 2:02.032 13. Alex De Angelis – Honda Gresini 2:02.198 14. Marco Melandri – Ducati Marlboro 2:02.725 15. Anthony West – Kawasaki Racing 2:02.978 16. Toni Elias – Alice Team 2:02.995 17 Olivier Jacque – Kawasaki Racing 2:03.030 18 Sylvain Guintoli – Alice Team 2:03.628 19 Niccolò Canepa – Ducati Test 2:03.703 20 Tamaki Serizawa – Kawasaki Racing 2:04.354 Sepang Lap Record Casey Stoner (Ducati) 2007 – 2’02.108 Sepang Best Lap Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) 2006 – 2’00.605 More, from a press release issued by Repsol Media Service: HE REPSOL HONDA TEAM RIDER NICKY HAYDEN, THE FASTEST AT SEPANG The practice sessions in Malaysia ended today. There will be another three days practice starting on 30th January, this time in Australia, on Philip Island Nicky Hayden completed the first MotoGP tests of 2008 with the fastest lap at Sepang today. The Repsol Honda man rode a stunningly fast lap on qualifiers to top the three-day session. He also set an impressive pace in race tri m, riding his best-ever Sepang lap on race tyres at 2m 01.6s. The 2006 MotoGP World Champion spent most of the day riding his RC212V equipped with conventional valves after testing Honda’s new pneumatic-valve engine this morning. The Sepang weather was typically tropical today, with ambient temperature at 33 degrees and track temperature at 51 degrees. Team-mate Dani Pedrosa underwent surgery yesterday in Barcelona to fix the right hand injury he suffered when he crashed here at Sepang on January 22. The Spaniard was diagnosed to have suffered a fracture in the second metacarpal and three diaphysary fragments, the bones in the middle section of the metacarpian. The operation, which fixed the damage with a titanium plate and seven screws, was carried out by Dr Xavier Mir at the USP Institut Universitari Dexeus. The usual recovery period for such an injury is six weeks, but Dr Mir believes Pedrosa should be a ble to return to riding sooner than that, if all goes well with his recuperation. Hayden resumes testing at Phillip Island, Australian next week, on January 30, 31 and February 1. Quotes MotoGP Nicky Hayden, fastest lap: 2m 00.326s (lap 25 of 77) “Today’s gone a lot better than the last couple and we’re feeling positive, I feel like I’m a lot closer than I was a year ago here. This morning we checked the pneumatic valve engine, then we just focused on the standard engine and this year’s chassis, working on the general set-up. “I used qualifiers for my fastest lap and they worked well. After that we did a batch of front tyres because one of my weak points here is that sometimes I struggle when this track gets hot. So I did a batch of tyres at the hottest part of the day to improve on that. We hadn’t really tested any tyres for Michelin here until today and we wanted to do a long run. That run was decent, probably the best thing I’ve done all week. I did the best lap I’ve ever done round here on rac e tyres on lap 18, a 2m 01.6s. At the end of three long days that wasn’t too bad. I used a 16.5 on that run but I’ve also been trying some 16 rears here. “Now we go to Phillip Island which is quite a different track with some long corners, some high-speed stuff and a lot of changes of direction. The big thing there is tyres so it’ll be really important to do some more tyre work with Michelin there. We will also do some more work with the pneumatic-valve engine. I’ve got faith in Honda, so hopefully they can make us proud. I think it’s going to be a good season, there&rsq uo;s a lot of guys going fast, a lot of guys motivated. It’s an exciting time, everyone’s at zero.” More, from a press release issued JiR Team Scot Racing: JiR Team Scot pleased with final day’s work in Sepang Today was the third and final day of the first test of 2008, in preparation for the up-coming MotoGP season. JiR Team Scot rider Andrea Dovizioso secured the 7th fastest time of the day with a best lap-time of 2m 01.447 during another very intense day of work. Dovi spent his time devouring the miles and the Michelin tyres in a bid to get maximum feedback and feeling from his four-cylinder RC212V Honda, which is proving to be a potent package for the season ahead. Today was spent testing a number of different tyres from Michelin, in a range of compounds, profiles and dimentions evaluation work, which is vital if the 21-year-old Italian is to gain the maximum potential from his new 800cc MotoGP bike. Andrea was also able to do a long run race simulation in the afternoon, which was the culmination of all the work completed so far in the last three days. During the simulation, Andrea put in some good consistent lap times. The team now fly to Australia for more testing between 30th January and 1st February. Luca Montiron JiR Team Scot Director “At the end of the first session of 2008 we can say it’s been very positive for the team and our whole work schedule been successfully completed. The whole team has displayed a synergy with Honda, HRC and Michelin technicians and this gives us a lot of satisfaction. Thanks to all our hard work we were able to run very fast and consistent in our race simulation. We will now continue this good way of working together and we look forward to the Australian test next week where we are optimistic that we will move further forward with the development of the bike that we started here in Sepang this week.” Andrea Dovizioso Rider, JiR Team Scot MotoGP (Time 7th: 2′ 01.447″) “We ended the three-day test at Sepang doing a race simulation which was the logical way of finishing all the hard work we’ve been doing over the last week. Before the run we did some small modifications, which gave to the bike improved handling after experiencing vibrations from rear of the bike yesterday. It was good to make this improvement. At the very end of the day I tried once more a qualifying tyre, which for the moment I’m not able to use at the maximum. I also tried two 16-inch rear race tyres from Michelin. Looking at our pace in the simulation compared to last year’s race, you can see that we are not going slow, so that gives me so much hope! For this reason I am hungry to improve the bike still further at Phillip Island and find that elusive perfect set-up for the bike!” Gianni Berti – Technical Coordinator, JiR Team Scot “The race simulation gave us the perfect chance to understand better how this new bike will behave in race conditions, especially when we have to deal with a loss of grip in hot conditions like these, where you can have around 50 degrees of ground temperature. Despite this, Andrea was able to maintain a consistent rhythm and this fact is our strongest point in starting to move further forward at the next test. One thing we do need to improve is our use of the qualifying tyres. We need to go step-by-step to learn how to make the maximum effort on these soft compounds. Andrea was able to better his time by six-tenths of a second though, so the next step in Australia will be to push harder in this direction.” More, from a press release issued by Alice Team Ducati: The Alice Team has concluded the first 2008 MotoGP test on the Sepang circuit in . Both riders have done well, improving their lap times day by day. The hot and humid weather has characterized all three days spent in the country located in South East Asian, in fact, also today the air temperature has reached 35 degrees at the highest moment. The Alice Team will now move to Phillip Island where it will have the opportunity to use three more day of testing on the spectacular Australian circuit. This morning we made it to be pretty consistent and we were really happy about it. Our riders, as we can also see on the timesheet, are beginning to become more confident with the bike, but they still need some time to use in the best way the Desmosedici GP8 Sat potential. We have worked on the total package and we also tried some new rear tyres. In addition, today we have used for the first time the new front fork and from the first few laps we made it to improve our lap times by some tenth of a second. We are really happy about this, but we know we still have a lot of work to do. Toni Elias – Alice Team Rider (16th – best lap time 2:02.995 – Total laps 67) “Also today we made it to improve. We are happy; we have to take a step at the time. We know we have much work to do, but we are confident. The bike is so powerful, I really like it and we only need to find the right set-up for my riding style. Other Teams had more opportunities to test before, while for us is basically the first time. But now we will go to for three more days of work and it is really important for us. The Phillip Island circuit is one of the most beautiful and difficult circuits, it will be interesting to see how it will go.” Sylvain Guintoli – Alice Team Rider (18th – best lap time 2:03.628 – Total laps 39) “Three days with this heat aren’t so easy to manage, but we gave all we could and the all Alice Team staff has worked really well. We are happy also because today we have done a race simulation and the bike has answered well. I have ridden for 21 consecutive laps and I improve my last year’s performance. I also feel good, with this heat it’s never easy to work.” More, from a press release issued by Dorna Communications: Three days of testing at the Malaysian circuit of Sepang, the opening test of 2008, concluded today with Nicky Hayden experiencing a positive finish to his riding return. The 2006 MotoGP World Champion clocked the fastest time of the week, a 2’00.326 lap over three tenths of a second quicker than any other rider, to lower his previous best by nearly two seconds. As is customary for the final day of testing, the American undertook both a race simulation and small run-outs on Michelin qualifiers, putting a fearsome 77 laps on the board. Hayden’s successor as MotoGP World Champion, Casey Stoner also showed some speedy form onboard the Desmosedici GP8. The Australian was already packed and ready to leave as the riders took a break for lunch, having established a matutinal working schedule that included just 27 laps (the fewest of any rider). Stoner’s comparative lack of track time on day three means that he is still to perform a race simulation in 2008, owing to a combination of minor technical issues with his new bike and his not being at peak fitness after a winter break spent recovering from a shoulder injury. Jorge Lorenzo was once again impressive in Malaysia, a track at which he won his second 250cc World Championship last season. The 20 year-old yesterday had the opportunity to try the Fiat Yamaha team’s new pneumatic valve engine, and today had both his longest run at Sepang in addition to breaching the 2’01 barrier for the first time. He also had the honour of being the highest placing rider for the Japanese factory, with Tech 3 satellite team member Colin Edwards fourth fastest. Lorenzo suffered a crash during his race simulation, to put a dampener on an otherwise perfect day for the Spaniard. Kawasaki’s John Hopkins cut nearly a second off his previous best with the ZX-RR, at what has been a progressive test for ‘Team Green’. The Anglo-American and team-mate Anthony West, who suffered a minor crash early on in the day, have been joined by test riders Olivier Jacque and Tamaki Serizawa in south east Asia as Kawasaki look to develop a series of upgrades to what will not be a completely new 2008 bike. Serizawa played the principal role in the biggest swerve of the year so far, with a high-pitched engine noise on his opening laps revealing that Kawasaki have been secretly developing a ‘screamer’ motor with an even firing order. There are no immediate plans to pass said engine on to the full-time riders. Valentino Rossi was sixth fastest behind Hopkins, undertaking more work with Bridgestone following his switch to the tyre manufacturer at the end of last season, whilst MotoGP rookies Andrea Dovizioso and James Toseland both showed steady progression in the their adaptation to 800cc riding. Suzuki lined up both Nobuatsu Aoki and Kousuke Akiyoshi in their first testing appearance of 2008, working at times with the GSV-R machines of regular riders Chris Vermeulen and Loris Capirossi. The fastest rider of the opening two days, Randy de Puniet, finished just outside the top ten on the timesheets and experienced another small crash before the final day in Sepang drew to a close. Whilst his Repsol Honda team-mate Hayden could be happy with the conclusion of the test, 2007 World Championship runner-up Dani Pedrosa has experienced a less positive turn in fortunes. The Spaniard crashed in the final hour of the first day of 2008 testing, and was immediately flown to Barcelona for assessment and operation on a fractured second metacarpal in his right hand. The procedure was deemed a success but, as he explained in a hastily-assembled press conference today, Pedrosa will be playing a waiting game to see if he can return to testing before the start of the season. Nicky Hayden “The long run was decent, probably the best thing I’ve done all week. I was using the old engine with the new chassis. I did the best lap I’ve ever done round here on race tyres on lap 18. At the end of three long days that wasn’t too bad. I used a 16.5 on that run but I’ve also been trying some 16 rears here. The first time I tried the 16 last year I liked it. I’m the one who really pushed Michelin to keep going and stay with it and I’m pretty happy they did. Now we go to Phillip Island which is quite a different track with some long corners, some high-speed stuff and a lot of changes of direction. The big thing there is tyres so it’ll be really important to do some more work with Michelin there.” Casey Stoner “We couldn’t have started the year better! My shoulder feels better every day and now I know I can get back to full training. This morning we tried some qualifying tyres on only our second run out. We set a good lap time although I think if we’d have tried them a little later, when the track was warmer, we could have broken the two-minute mark. In fact, at the end of the morning we set a 2’00.964 on race tyres, which is over a second inside the lap record we set in September. It shows that we are working well and that both the bike and tyres are improving. I’m leaving Sepang feeling really happy – partly because my shoulder hasn’t given me too many problems and partly because I feel even more competitive than last season. Now we have to focus on this season and on getting the best possible start, so I can’t wait to continue testing at Phillip Island. Dani Pedrosa “I am very eager to recover and I have the hope of being physically fit very soon. The state of the injury will decide when I return to riding, and we will assess from day to day whether I will be able to take part in any tests. “Compared with my previous ankle injuries, this is not so serious, although in that instance I had more time to recover.” MotoGP Sepang Test Times Day Three 1. HAYDEN, REPSOL HRC – 02’00.326 / 77 laps 2. STONER, DUCATI MARLBORO – 02’00.660 / 27 3. LORENZO, FIAT YAMAHA – 02’00.766 / 63 4. EDWARDS, YAMAHA TECH3 – 02’01.179 / 34 5. HOPKINS, KAWASAKI RACING – 02’01.198 / 42 6. ROSSI, FIAT YAMAHA – 02’01.425 / 48 7. DOVIZIOSO, JiR TEAM SCOT – 02’01.447 / 51 8. TOSELAND, YAMAHA TECH3 – 02’01.745 / 45 9. VERMEULEN, RIZLA SUZUKI* – 02’01.748 / 70 10. CAPIROSSI, RIZLA SUZUKI* – 02’01.778 / 62 11. DE PUNIET, LCR HONDA – 02’01.873 / 56 12. NAKANO, HONDA GRESINI – 02’02.032 / 38 13. DE ANGELIS, HONDA GRESINI – 02’02.198 / 37 14. MELANDRI, DUCATI MARLBORO – 02’02.725 / 58 15. WEST, KAWASAKI RACING – 02’02.978 / 39 16. ELIAS, ALICE TEAM – 02’02.995 / 67 17. JACQUE, KAWASAKI RACING – 02’03.030 / 40 18. GUINTOLI, ALICE TEAM – 02’03.628 / 39 19. CANEPA, DUCATI TEST – 02’03.703 / 49 20. SERIZAWA, KAWASAKI RACING – 02’04.354 / 27 21. AOKI, RIZLA SUZUKI* 22. AKIYOSHI, RIZLA SUZUKI* *Aoki and Akiyoshi’s times recorded using bikes pertaining to Chris Vermeulen and Loris Capirossi.