FAST PACE AT PHILLIP ISLAND TESTS PREPARATIONS GOING WELL: New machinery modifications and the latest Pirelli control tyres contributed to the high pace set by the leading runners in the most recent pre-season tests, at the Phillip Island circuit in Australia. Three main teams were in attendance, the Alstare Corona Extra Suzuki squad, Yamaha Motor France and Petronas, in what was scheduled to be a full four-day test. CHAMPION STAMPS HIS AUTHORITY: Current SBK™ World Champion Troy Corser (Alstare Corona Extra Suzuki) was once more the master of not only his home circuit, but of his peer group, as he set the fastest times of the test in both single lap sprints and race simulations. His absolute best was 1’32.79 but he put in a race simulation time almost 30 seconds faster than last year’s race times. The 1996 and 2005 champion put that level of performance down to improvements in his Suzuki GSX-R1000 and a great leap forward in the control Pirelli tyres, particularly the newest rears. He did not opt to run on the final day, such were the high winds an unpredictable factor which frequently affects this particular track, located so close to the seashore. Corser’s team-mate Yukio Kagayama was one of only three regular SBK pilots to ride on the final day of testing. He nonetheless improved his best time to 1’33.5, for third fastest overall. MARTIN MAGNIFICENT FOR PETRONAS: Despite comparatively recent kidney surgery and feeling only 95% fit, Petronas FP-1 rider Steve Martin went over two seconds faster in race conditions than he managed last year, with a best of 1’33.4 coming on day three. His plan to complete a final race simulation on the last day fell foul of the high winds, but both he and his rookie team-mate Craig Jones can leave Phillip Island with a feeling of satisfaction at their progress. It was a particular boost to the Foggy Petronas team for Martin to record a best single lap time inside that of Suzuki rider Kagayama. Jones, the young Briton drafted into the team for the 2006 season, set a personal best of 1’35.6. YAMAHA MOTOR FRANCE FINISHES TESTING EARLY: The three man Yamaha Motor France IPONE squad ended their test with one day left to run, having satisfied themselves of the efficacy of their new front forks and engine electronics systems. Norick Abe set a best time on race tyres – of 1’34.5, only a tenth of a second faster than his 2005 team-mate Sebastien Gimbert. Each was reported to have gone faster on qualifying rubber. New inductee to the team, Shinichi Nakatomi, scored a best of 1’35.1 on his last day of testing. SEASON BUILD UP CONTINUES: Preparations continue for the vast array of teams intent on SBK™ glory in 2006, with tests in Spain the most popular choices for many, in the run-up to the start of the year at Losail, Qatar, on Saturday 25 February. Phillip Island itself becomes the venue for the second round of the series, on Sunday 5 March. Unofficial Times Troy Corser (Alstare Suzuki): 1’32.79 Steve Martin (Petronas): 1’33.40 Yukio Kagayama (Alstare Suzuki): 1’33.5 Norick Abe (Yamaha Motor France): 1’34.5 Sebastien Gimbert (Yamaha Motor France): 1’34.6 Shinichi Nakatomi (Yamaha Motor France): 1’35.1 Craig Jones (Petronas): 1’35.6 More, from a press release issued by Foggy Petronas Racing: FPR Completes Successful Phillip Island Test Forceful winds across the Phillip Island circuit affected Foggy PETRONAS Racing’s testing efforts on the fourth and final day of its Australian test. Despite track time being cut slightly short due to the wind, the team comes away from the test very satisfied with the progress made with the comprehensive pre-season testing schedule and, further development of the PETRONAS FP1. Throughout his debut outing at the costal circuit, Craig Jones made strides forward with the set-up of his FP1 and familiarisation of the fast and flowing track, as experienced team-mate Steve Martin was able to consistently lap an impressive two seconds faster than at the race in Phillip Island last year, and finish second overall in the test timesheet. A race simulation had been planned for Steve Martin today, with further bike set-up and fine-tuning work scheduled for Craig Jones, in preparation for the second round of the 2006 Superbike World Championship at the costal Australian circuit in six weeks. But Steve and Craig, along with other riders present at the test, finished the day’s running at lunch time as the forceful winds significantly affected the handling of their bikes and created dangerous high speed riding conditions. Steve commented, “As soon as I woke up this morning and saw the white caps of the waves breaking, I had a feeling our plans for the day would be scuppered. The plan was to do to a race simulation this morning, which I started, but the wind was so strong that I had a bit of a ‘moment’ on Lukey Heights and we thought it best not to continue. Overall it’s been a really good test and we’ve achieved a great deal and gathered a lot of very useful data.” Craig said, “I would have liked to run a lot more laps today to continue with the good set-up direction we found yesterday, so it’s disappointing that the wind was so strong. But at least we’ve got a good base setting for this circuit now so have a good starting point at the race here in a few weeks. I’m feeling totally at home on the FP1 and around this circuit and have just really enjoyed testing these last four days.” Team Manager, Jack Valentine, commented, “Overall this test has been very successful and we’ve achieved some very positive results with the different elements tested. Steve, Craig and the team have done a really great job all week, and we’re very pleased that Steve has been able to run such consistent and fast laps – highlighting the development progress already made over the year – and that Craig is now confident with the circuit and his bike set-up. Now it’s back to base in order to fully prepare for the start of the racing season next month.” Unofficial Overall Test Times (race tyres) 1. Troy Corser (Alstare Suzuki) 1:32.79 2. Steve Martin (Foggy PETRONAS Racing) 1:33.40 3. Yukio Kagayama (Alstare Suzuki) 1:33.5 4. Norick Abe (Yamaha France) 1:34.5 (1:34.0 qualifying tyre) 5. Sebastien Gimbert (Yamaha France) 1:34.6 (1:34.2 qualifying tyre) 6. Shinichi Nakatomi (Yamaha France) 1:35.1 7. Craig Jones (Foggy PETRONAS Racing) 1:35.6 More, from a press release issued by Troy Corser’s publicist: TROY READY TO RACE! Troy concluded the four day test at Phillip Island in a happy frame of mind and ready to race! If anything, the tests were even more positive then last year and the improvements to the 2006 GSX-R1000 made Troy a happy man. As usual the wind played a part during the four days and was so strong on the final day that Troy only completed about fourteen laps. But before then Troy had done a race simulation ending up twenty-eight seconds quicker then last year! TROY I’m very happy with how the tests went – in fact I think I’m even more happy then last year. We’ve done a lot of really good work here during the four days. All I can say is that I’m ready to race this 2006 bike tomorrow! There are no major changes to the bike – why would there be ‘cos it was good enough to take the title – just little modifications here and there to improve the overall package. The engine feels stronger throughout the range and Pirelli have made a good step forwards with the tyres. We tried some new swing-arms and other bits and pieces and I feel very comfortable on the bike. We worked on the electronics a lot and got the anti-spin working very well and that is a major step forward for us. Last year we had the anti-spin but we didn’t have enough time to get it dialled in properly, but now we it’s working well and it’s a big improvement. I can adjust the the bike so much more easily then last year and that’s a good feeling. The first day of the test felt a bit strange because I had been riding my Harley a lot with my OZ friends before I got to Philip Island. So when I jumped on the Alstare GSX-R1000, it felt pretty short and fast! But I soon got into the swing of things and then it felt like home again. There were no problems at all during the tests apart from seeing a yellow flag at Honda corner one day and then finding a kangaroo on the track a little further on! This year, I didn’t even have any trouble with seabirds, so I guess it was a very successful test all round. The race distance simulation went really well and my slowest lap was faster then my best race lap last year, so that’s an idea of how well we are going. After these four days, I feel pretty confident about the first race and pretty sure I can make a good start to the season – just like last year! More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki Press Office: Double World Superbike Champion Troy Corser and six-time AMA Superbike Champion Mat Mladin topped this week’s four-day WSB Tests at Phillip Island in Australia. The two Australians Corser on World Superbike-specification Pirelli tyres and Yoshimura factory rider Mladin on race Dunlops dominated from the start; Corser smashing both his 2005 test time and also his 2005 race time under a full-race simulation as his Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra team-mate Yukio Kagayama finished fourth in the unofficial timings. Unlike Corser, Kagayama was only able to do his race simulation on the final day – in extremely windy conditions, which the other riders described as ‘scary’. Troy Corser: “I was happy with our pre-season tests at Phillip Island last year and I’m even happier this year! These four days have been very positive for all of us and we’ve done a lot of very useful work. The 2006 bike feels better than last year’s bike already and although there are no major changes, a lot of things are working better and I feel very comfortable on the bike straight away. “The engine feels better – both in mid-range and top-end – and, thanks to all the work we’ve done, the electronics are working better as well. I can easily adjust more things on the bike and that’s a great feeling to have at this stage. The 2005 GSX-R1000 Alstare Suzuki was a great bike, so there was no need to make any radical changes, but this year’s bike feels really good. I’m also pleased with the progress Pirelli have made and looking forward to even more improvements. “Overall, I’m very happy how the tests have gone and I feel ready to race this bike tomorrow!” Yukio Kagayama: “The tests were very good and very positive for our team. There were no problems and no crashes, though the last day was a little dangerous because of the strong winds. There was a very big tail-wind when I was doing my race distance simulation and going into turn one was a little scary – but no big problem for me. ” There were a couple of other turns on the track where I had to be careful but I was determined to do the race distance so I stuck it out. I just couldn’t push as hard as I wanted to because I did not want to crash. I think the 2006 bike is an improvement over last year’s bike. For me, the engine feels a little stronger and I’m happier with the front suspension now. “We tried many things over the four days, including spending a lot of time on the electronics. It’s an area where you need to spend time away from a race weekend so it was good to make progress there also. Like Troy-san, I am happy and feel ready for the first race.” Unofficial Test Times: 1 Mat Mladin (Yoshimura Suzuki – Dunlop) 1:32.2. 2 Troy Corser (Alstare Corona Extra Suzuki) 1:32.79. 3 Steve Martin (Petronas) 1:33.40. 4 Yukio Kagayama (Alstare Corona Extra Suzuki) 1:33.5. 5 Norick Abe (Yamaha) 1:34.5. 6 Sebastien Gimbert (Yamaha) 1:34.6.