PRESS RELEASE-SEPANG TEST

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MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2006
KAWASAKI RACING TEAM PRESS OFFICE
21 JANUARY 2006 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

KAWASAKI START THE SEASON WITH SEPANG TEST

The Kawasaki Racing Team will get their 2006 MotoGP World Championship campaign underway in Malaysia on Monday, when Shinya Nakano and Randy de Puniet take to the Sepang circuit for the first of three scheduled overseas tests.

The two regular Kawasaki pilots will be joined on track in Malaysia by Japanese test and development rider, Naoki Matsudo.

For all three riders, the Sepang test will provide them with the first opportunity to evaluate the latest specification Ninja ZX-RR engine, on which Kawasaki engineers have been working non-stop during the winter break.

Almost a year in development, the new Ninja ZX-RR MotoGP machine has been designed from the ground up by Kawasaki's engineers, based on the lessons learnt since the Japanese factory returned to top flight competition at the end of 2002.

The new bike features a 990cc, inline four-cylinder engine that is significantly more compact than previous versions, housed in a chassis that Shinya Nakano declared a major step forward in terms of handling when he tested it at Sepang back in November.

And while Nakano and de Puniet have both taken time out with family and friends during the winter break, they've also been hard at work preparing physically for what promises to be a punishing season.

Nakano completed a seven-day training camp in Japan with his personal trainer, while de Puniet travelled from his home in Andorra to spend a week working with the Kawasaki Racing Team's physical performance expert, Dr. Tony Head, at a training camp in England.

Both riders head for Malaysia fully fit, and keen to get started with the build up to the 2006 MotoGP World Championship season.

Shinya Nakano: #56
"I have spent the winter break at home in Japan with family and friends, which was great, but I'm looking forward to getting back on track aboard the new Ninja ZX-RR in Malaysia. I completed a seven day fitness camp at home in Japan in preparation for the new season, and now I'm raring to go. I was very impressed with the new bike when I tested it at the end of last year, as it was a major improvement over the old bike in terms of handling. Kawasaki engineers have been working hard on the engine, and the Sepang test will be my first opportunity to see what improvements have been made. All I need to do now is get to Malaysia. The snow in Japan has been really heavy this year, and it has caused us a few problems with our flights. I have been stuck at Tokyo Narita airport for six hours waiting for a delayed flight, but at least I am able to take it easy in the departure lounge. Poor Matsudo-san had his flight delayed as well, but he had to sit on the plane for five hours before it eventually took off! Hopefully the same won't happen to me once we've boarded the flight."

Randy de Puniet: #17
"I can't wait to get back on track after almost two months off the bike. We had a very positive test at Sepang back in November and I'm keen to start testing the new bike again. At the last test I only got a few laps aboard Shinya's 2006 bike, but this time I'll have my own bikes to prepare for the season ahead. We've got a busy test schedule between now and the first race, with two tests in Malaysia and one in Australia before we head back to Europe for the IRTA tests. It's going to be hard work, but I can't wait to get started. I spent a week with Kawasaki's fitness trainer in England before heading out to Malaysia, and that has certainly helped with my physical preparation for the season ahead, and also with my English."

 

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CAMEL YAMAHA TEAM TEST ? MALAYSIA 23-25/01/06 ? SEPANG 23/01/06

[QOUTE]ROSSI AND EDWARDS GET UNDERWAY AT FIRST TEST OF 2006

The Camel Yamaha Team launched its 2006 campaign today, with the first
of three-days of testing in Sepang, Malaysia. After a six-week holiday
the team is back at the its favourite testing venue alongside other
MotoGP Teams from Yamaha, Ducati, Honda, Kawasaki and Suzuki. A cloudy
morning with a few spots of rain at one stage gave way to a sunny
afternoon and Yamaha?s Factory Team riders Valentino Rossi and Colin
Edwards were able to complete a full day of testing on their new
2006-spec YZR-M1s.

Both riders concentrated on getting a feel for the new version of the
M1, which they first tested in November last year. According to the
unofficial lap times, Rossi was fastest with a time of 2?02.14, after
74 laps. Edwards meanwhile had a fall in the afternoon at turn nine,
but was unhurt and able to continue for the rest of the afternoon on
his second bike, setting a best lap of 2?02.61 after 69 laps.

VALENTINO ROSSI (2?02.14, 74 Laps)
?It?s always a little difficult to start again after the holidays, and
I am never sure if I will be able to ride well straight away! Today
however everything has felt good right from the start and I am already
quite fast. The new M1 is a good bike, I like it and I can see that
Yamaha has worked very hard over the winter. We had a few problems
with it today; some chattering, but in reality it is good for this
stage of the year. We still have a lot of work to do on it of course.
The new bike is not so different from the 2005 bike, but still we have
to understand completely its character and I have to get more
confidence in it, then we can begin to make the modifications needed in
order to improve it. Today has just been about understanding the bike,
tomorrow we will concentrate more on tyres with Michelin.?

COLIN EDWARDS (2?02.61, 69 Laps)
?I came out this morning and felt good immediately. Straight away I
felt happy on the bike and could notice all the improvements that
Yamaha has made. I?m so accustomed to the 2005 bike at this track, but
it was clear today that the new one is better in many ways. I am a bit
out of practice after the holiday but once I got going I felt very
comfortable to be back on the bike. After a few laps we began to play
around with some fork settings and spring rates and in doing so we lost
a little bit of feel. Then after lunch I had the crash?it was at turn
nine and I just lost the front on the brakes. It all happened pretty
slowly and I was fine, luckily. After that we didn?t have time to go
back to our good fork setting but anyway the times were still okay.
Despite the mishap today I feel like I want to go faster and faster, so
I?m looking forward to tomorrow.?

DAVIDE BRIVIO ? CAMEL YAMAHA TEAM DIRECTOR
?We begin this test with many new things, but the most important is
that the new bike is at a good starting point and the riders have been
able to do good work straight away. Of course we have many jobs ahead
of us to work on the set-up and to test tyres for Michelin, but it has
been a good start. Colin?s crash was unfortunate and also something
new, since he doesn?t do it very often! Despite this we have had a
more than satisfactory day and we hope to get more important work done
over the next two days.?

Unofficial Lap Times:

VALENTINO ROSSI (ITA) Yamaha 2?02.14
Marco Melandri (ITA) Honda 2?02.21
Nicky Hayden (USA) Honda 2?02.23
Dani Pedrosa (SPA) Honda 2?02.46
Loris Capirossi (ITA) Ducati 2?02.55
COLIN EDWARDS (USA) Yamaha 2?02.61
Sete Gibernau (SPA) Ducati 2?02.77
Casey Stoner (AUS) Honda 2?03?57
Shinya Nakano (JPN) Kawasaki 2?03.77
Toni Elias (SPA) Honda 2?03.80
Randy de Puniet (FRA) Kawasaki 2?03.90
Alex Hoffman (GER) Ducati 2?04.63
James Ellison (GBR) Yamaha 2?06.40
Jose Luis Cardosa (SPA) Ducati 2?07.70

Sepang Lap Record: Nicky Hayden (Honda) 2005 ? 2?02.993
Sepang Best Lap: Loris Capirossi (Ducati) 2005 ? 2?01.731[/QOUTE]

 

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MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2006
KAWASAKI RACING TEAM PRESS OFFICE
23 JANUARY 2006 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

POSITIVE FIRST DAY FOR KAWASAKI IN SEPANG

The Kawasaki Racing Team got the 2006 MotoGP season off to a flying start during the opening day of a planned four-day test at Malaysia's Sepang circuit.

Shinya Nakano and Randy de Puniet started the day with shakedown tests aboard the latest version of Kawasaki's Ninja ZX-RR MotoGP machine, which features a completely redesigned inline, four-cylinder engine and chassis.

With the shakedown tests completed successfully in the morning, Nakano and his crew switched their attention to set-up and refinement of the all-new bike, as well as testing new suspension components from ?hlins. The Japanese rider quickly identified a number of areas where improvements could be made, and these changes will be made by his crew overnight.

A newcomer to the MotoGP class, Randy de Puniet impressed with his consistency and speed aboard his Ninja ZX-RR, during a 15-lap race simulation late in the afternoon test session.

The 24-year-old Frenchman may still be adapting his riding style to the additional power and weight of a MotoGP bike, but his fastest lap today was just 0.2s behind his more experienced teammate, Nakano.

Both riders will continue the set-up and development of the new Ninja ZX-RR during tomorrow's test, when they will also complete a scheduled tyre test with Bridgestone.

Shinya Nakano: #56 - 2'03.7 (43 Laps)
"I was in and out of the pit box a lot this morning, but this is normal when you bring a brand new bike to the racetrack for the first time, as there are always a lot of small things that need adjusting or changing. This afternoon I was able to put in more laps on the bike and, overall, my first impression is very good. The handling is a big improvement, and I can feel that the new engine has more power then the old. I need to spend more time on the bike to get a better understanding of the engine characteristics, but already I think this new bike has a lot of potential. There is still some work for us to do in terms of set-up, both the chassis and the engine, but we will continue with this process tomorrow, when we will also be running some important tyre tests with Bridgestone."

Randy de Puniet: #17 - 2'03.9 (58 Laps)
"Today was a good day for both myself and the team. I managed to put in a lot of laps aboard the new bike and my feeling was very good. At the end of the afternoon session I completed a 15-lap race simulation, with my fastest time of the day coming on the 11th lap. I had a good rhythm on the bike, the tyres and the bike were working well, and my lap times were consistent throughout. We will not make any major changes to the bike overnight ahead of the planned Bridgestone tyre test tomorrow. Overall, I'm pleased with today's test and I'm looking forward to getting back out on track tomorrow."

Naoya Kaneko: Technical Manager
"Today was really a first shakedown test for the new bike, as this is the first time we've run the new engine on the track. For a first outing the results have been very positive. Shinya and Randy were able to gain a better understanding of the characteristics of the new engine, and both riders have already started suggesting changes that will lead to further improvements tomorrow. We also tested new front and rear suspension from ?hlins and, again, the results have been mainly positive."

Harald Eckl: Team Manager
"Overall, today has been a good start to the new season for the Kawasaki Racing Team. I was surprised at just how quickly Randy has adapted to the Ninja ZX-RR in such a short space of time. During his race simulation today he was posting consistent lap times that were very close to Shinya's fastest lap. This is good for the team, to have two riders that are close enough on track to push each other, and also to develop the bike together. Over the next three days the riders and mechanics will concentrate on providing Kawasaki engineers with the data they need to continue the development process, as well as completing an important tyre testing schedule for Bridgestone."

 

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FIRST DAY OF MOTOGP TESTING IN MALESIA

Marco Melandri scores the third fastest time while Toni Elias continues his apprenticeship on the RC211V. MotoGP action resumes at Sepang, Malesia for the first testing session of the 2006 season that will start officially on March the 26th at Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. All the MotoGP protagonists, together with their technical staff, gathered at Sepang for a three day testing session in preparation of a demanding championship. Today, the two Fortuna Honda riders went on track with the RC211V ? 2006 version. Marco Melandri, 2005 Vice World Champion, concentrated on the setting of the bike. He made 69 laps to recover the rhythm after the winter break and scored the thirds fastest time of the day. While his team mate, the Spaniard Toni Elias, carried on his apprenticeship on the RC211V. He tried different setting solutions in order to find a good feeling with the bike.


MARCO MELANDRI ( 69 laps, 2?02?29 ):

?I really looked forward to go back on my RC211V. This morning I lapped to recover the rhythm after the winter pause. Then I concentrated on the bike setting and finally I could make some tyre testing. I?m happy with the feeling of the bike and I like the bike. I?m quite confident.?

TONI ELIAS ( 60 laps, 2?03?8 ):

?Today it was the first time for me that I could ride a bike after the operation I had at the left hand one month ago. Today my left hand hurt a little bit but I could manage to complete 60 laps. At this moment, for me it?s very important to lap in order to understand and know the bike. I am not pushing too much and I?m not looking for the fast time. Today we tried some different setting solutions and tomorrow we will carry on working with this method. I?m very happy to be back at work .?

 

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CAMEL YAMAHA TEAM TEST ? MALAYSIA 23-25/01/06 ? SEPANG 24/01/06

RAIN CUTS SHORT SECOND DAY OF TESTING IN SEPANG

Camel Yamaha Team riders Valentino Rossi and Colin Edwards both made
progress on the development of the 2006-spec YZR-M1 in Malaysia today,
despite the day being cut short by rain. The morning saw high
temperatures and building humidity at the Sepang track before it gave
way to a rainstorm in the mid-afternoon. Both riders decided not to
carry on testing and now hope for good weather tomorrow in order to
make the most of the final day.

Ducati riders Sete Gibernau and Loris Capirossi both set fast times
under the 2?02 marker today, but Edwards was close behind with a best
lap of 2?02.00 after 58 laps. Rossi, who set a lap of 2?02.14
yesterday, was ninth fastest today with a best time of 2?02.62 after 41
laps

COLIN EDWARDS (2?02.00, 58 Laps)
?Today went really well and I?m excited about the progress we?re making
already. Usually with a new bike you have to compromise in some areas
to improve others, but it seems that with this bike they?ve improved it
all over. Yamaha has done a really great job on it over the winter.
The traction especially is much better. The crash yesterday has
actually helped us to make progress and now we?ve found a setting that
I really like. We?ve still got a tiny bit of chatter, but only in
about three corners so we?re not so worried and I am confident we can
find a way to fix it.?

VALENTINO ROSSI (2?02.62, 41 Laps)
?Today was not perfect because the rain interrupted everything this
afternoon and we didn?t do as much work as we wanted to. Up to then we
had concentrated mostly on fixing the chatter that we experienced
yesterday and in the end we were successful. We realised that the
problem was in the rear shock and now it?s okay. I ran a lot on old
tyres today and then it started to rain so we weren?t able to try any
of the new race tyres Michelin had brought. Tomorrow we will probably
do a long run and hopefully we will also get the chance to try some of
these new tyres.?

DAVIDE BRIVIO ? CAMEL YAMAHA TEAM DIRECTOR
?Unfortunately it rained this afternoon so we couldn?t finish the day?s
work. Despite this both riders made some progress and Colin?s times
especially were quite fast. Tomorrow we hope that we have good weather
and that we can complete everything that we need to do.?
1. Sete Gibernau, Ducati Marlboro - 2'01.66
2. Loris Capirossi, Ducati Marlboro - 2'01.83
3. Colin Edwards, Camel Yamaha - 2'02.00
4. Nicky Hayden, Repsol Honda - 2'02.02
5. Dani Pedrosa, Repsol Honda - 2'02.26
6. John Hopkins, Suzuki MotoGP - 2'02.40
7. Randy de Puniet, Kawasaki Racing - 2'02.55
8. Casey Stoner, LCR Honda - 2'02.57
9. Valentino Rossi, Camel Yamaha - 2'02.62
10. Shinya Nakano, Kawasaki Racing - 2'02.65
11. Marco Melandri, Fortuna Honda - 2'02.70
12. Toni Elias, Fortuna Honda - 2'03.20
13. Shinichi Itoh, Ducati TTT - 2'03.49
14. Naoki Matsudo, Kawasaki Racing - 2'04.08
15. Kenny Roberts Jr, Team KR - 2'04.10
16. James Ellison, Yamaha Tech3 - 2'04.15
17. Chris Vermeulen, Suzuki MotoGP - 2'04.23
18. Alex Hofmann, D'Antin Pramac - 2'04.49
19. J. Luis Cardoso, D'Antin Pramac - 2'06.60


Lap Record: Nicky Hayden (Honda) 2005 ? 2?02.993
Best Lap: Loris Capirossi (Ducati) 2005 ? 2?01.731

 

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Monday Jan 23 2006
Testing in Sepang

THE DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM RETURNS TO THE TRACK AT SEPANG

From the snows of Madonna di Campiglio to the oppressive heat of Malaysia: the Ducati Desmosedici GP6 takes to the track for the first time in 2006.

Sepang (Malaysia), Monday 23 January 2006: After a week of relaxation, skiing and training on the snows of Madonna di Campiglio during the Wroom 2006 - MotoGP press Ski Meeting, Loris Capirossi and Sete Gibernau are now in Sepang, Malaysia for their first 2006 test session today with the Desmosedici GP6.

The Malaysian circuit, where Loris set pole and won in 2005 and Checa finished third, is well-suited for the Ducati/Bridgestone pairing, and as a result is an important starting-point for the new season.
Despite a harmless fall for Loris half-an-hour into today`s first session, the Italian rider worked according to schedule, concentrating mainly on the search for the best set-up for the new Desmosedici GP6 which proved to be quick straight out of the box.

Sete Gibernau continues to get to know his new team and his new bike and is gradually finding the right feeling with the Desmosedici GP6.

Loris Capirossi (38 laps - 2m02.54s)
"Things are still not 100% right but I`m pretty pleased with the first day of testing after the winter break. Today we worked a lot on the bike set-up and on the new GP6 engine and I`m happy with the progress we made. We still have to improve the bike`s stability in the quick sections and we are working mainly to get that right, but for a first time out things are going well".

Sete Gibernau (56 laps - 2m02.86s)
"I thought there would be a lot of work to do and that proved to be the case, and that`s a big motivation for me. Today for the first time we searched for adjustments that allowed me to get a better feeling with my Ducati and the team is working well to understand exactly what I need to make me have the best possible feeling with the new bike. We`ll need a bit more time but things have got off to a good start and I`m feeling really confident".

Temperature: air 31?/track 53.8? C

DUCATI AND BRIDGESTONE MAKE PROGRESS ON DAY 2 IN SEPANG


Development work continues on the Desmosedici GP6 in Sepang: Sete Gibernau and Loris Capirossi immediately on the pace.

Sepang (Malaysia), Tuesday 24 January 2006 - The second day of testing in Sepang saw all teams and riders continue development work on the machines that will line up for the opening round of the 2006 MotoGP World Championship at Jerez on March 26th. Shortly after 4 o`clock local time, hot sunny conditions gave way to a tropical rainstorm that cut short scheduled testing at the Malaysian track. Despite the early end to the session, the Ducati Marlboro Team continued to make progress with the 2006 version of the Ducati Desmosedici.

Sete Gibernau and Loris Capirossi both had a positive second day of three scheduled at Sepang and ended the session at the top of the timesheets.

The Spanish rider continued to work on getting the best feeling with his Ducati and set a good pace throughout the day.

Sete Gibernau (49 laps, best time of 2m01.66s)
"Today we began to make the most of the work that we`re doing on suspension and engine set-up. The times that I set, but above all the pace that I did during the day, are good but I mustn`t get too excited! There are still lots of things that we can improve and we`re doing everything to get them done as quickly as possible. The team is doing a great job: Juan`s experience and mine are fitting in nicely with Ducati`s and we are getting a good base set-up with which we can work. It`s a pity that the rain interrupted the work we began with the tyres".

Loris carried out back-to-back tests between the GP5 and the GP6 and was able to give clear indications about the development of the new project.

Loris Capirossi (45 laps, best time of 2m01.83s)
"Despite the rain, today was positive. I started to lap with the GP6 and after a while we did another back-to-back test with the GP5 to check on a few things we had seen at Jerez. We had the confirmation that the GP6 is already at the level of last year`s bike but it has greater potential, so tomorrow we`ll concentrate only on the new bike. Hopefully tomorrow it won`t rain because we`ve got some new tyres to test".

Temperature: air 31? / track 45? C

 

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Team Suzuki Press Office ? January 24, 2006.

Team SUZUKI MotoGP racers John Hopkins and Chris Vermeulen were able to trial a number of in-depth changes during the second day of the MotoGP test at Sepang in Malaysia today.

Both riders made significant alterations to their brand new Suzuki GSV-Rs. Clocking over 40 laps, Hopkins was able to record a time of 2?02.40, which is over a second quicker than his fastest race lap from last year.

Vermeulen (2?03.80) continued to impress and was able to take almost three seconds off his quickest time from the first day, despite only completing 15 laps.

Team test rider Kousuke Akiyoshi also made excellent use of the test and posted a best time of 2?03.30 during his 40-laps.

 

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MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2006
KAWASAKI RACING TEAM PRESS OFFICE
24 JANUARY 2006 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NAKANO AND DE PUNIET FASTER IN SEPANG

Kawasaki riders, Shinya Nakano and Randy de Puniet, both improved their lap times during the second day of testing at Sepang today, before the onset of rain brought the test to a premature end.

Despite the weather, both Nakano and de Puniet managed to complete their planned test schedule, which included tyre testing with Bridgestone and the evaluation of revised engine and chassis components on their Ninja ZX-RR machines.

Nakano tested four different rear tyres on his Ninja ZX-RR during the morning session, with one new tyre in particular offering an advantage around the twists and turns of the 5.548 km Sepang circuit, and allowing the Kawasaki rider to improve on his lap time from yesterday by over a second.

Nakano also evaluated revised engine and clutch components, before testing a redesigned, more aerodynamic fairing on his 2006 Ninja ZX-RR.

De Puniet also tested a number of rear Bridgestone tyres today, as he worked to identify a suitable tyre for his race simulation tomorrow. The 24-year-old Frenchman walked away uninjured from a crash whilst testing a new fairing, before going on to improve on his previous best lap time by more than a second.

The Kawasaki Racing team will return to Sepang tomorrow for the third, and penultimate, day of testing.

Shinya Nakano: #56 - 2'02.65 (50 Laps)
"Today we focused mainly on an important tyre test with Bridgestone. They had a number of rear tyres for us to test, and one in particular definitely offered an advantage in terms of traction. The tyre uses a different drive compound, and it was on this rear tyre that I set my fastest time, over one second quicker than my best time from yesterday. We also tested some new components on the bike, including a modified chassis designed to improve stability. We will continue testing with this chassis tomorrow, as we work to improve overall set-up of the new bike. It's been a busy, but productive, day."

Randy de Puniet: #17 - 2'02.55 (50 Laps)
"Our main aim today was to test some new tyres from Bridgestone, and to identify the best tyre for my race simulation tomorrow afternoon. We also tested some modified components on the bike, including a redesigned, more compact fairing. It was during this part of the test that I had my first crash in MotoGP. I'm not sure what caused it, the rear just came round on me as I got off the throttle and down I went. It was a fairly big crash, but I walked away uninjured, and we were able to complete the rest of our test schedule before the rain appeared at four o'clock. I improved my lap time by more than one second, so I'm happy with the way things have gone today."

Naoya Kaneko: Technical Manager
"Both riders were kept busy with tyre testing today, as it is important that we supply Bridgestone with the test data they need to continue their development for the season ahead. On the chassis front we tested a new fairing on bikes. Designed to be more compact and aerodynamic, Shinya's comments on the new fairing indicate that it offers the same level of protection as the old. This is an area we will look at again in future tests. Finally, we also managed to evaluate some revised engine components and completed our test schedule despite the onset of rain in the late afternoon."

 

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MALAYSIA, SECOND DAY OF TESTING

Second day of testing for the Fortuna Honda riders gathered at Sepang together with the teams and riders from the leading MotoGP squads. The second day was characterized by sunny sky and hot temperatures in the morning and rain in the afternoon that spoiled the second part of the work scheduled for the late afternoon. Aboard their red and yellow liveried RC211Vs Marco Melandri and Toni Elias spent the day working on the setting of the bike, evaluating each part of the new machine. Italian Melandri worked with the second bike while his team mate, the Spaniard Toni Elias, was testing different set up solutions and completing as many kilometres as possible in order to know the bike and to adjust to it.


MARCO MELANDRI ( 54 laps, 2?02?70):

?We keep on working on the set up of the new bike. Today I went on track with the second bike and I found more difficult to find the right feeling. Fortunately in the end we understood the reasons of the different feeling and tomorrow we will do a comparative test using both bikes. It was a pity that it started to rain at 04.00 p.m. The rain spoiled my race simulation that was scheduled for today. I don?t know if there will be enough time tomorrow to do a long run.?

TONI ELIAS (42 laps, 2?03?26):

?Today we made a step forward in the set up of the bike. We are working in the right direction, testing different solutions in order to create a good base.
For me is very important in this moment to complete as many kilometres as possible as I need to adjust to the new bike. Unfortunately the afternoon rain spoiled the two last hours of work that were very important to confirm the work done today. Tomorrow we will continue working in this direction. I?m happy both with the bike and my team. The atmosphere is relaxed and stimulating so that I can work in the best conditions.?

 

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MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2006
KAWASAKI RACING TEAM PRESS OFFICE
25 JANUARY 2006 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

KAWASAKI CONCLUDE SUCCESSFUL SEPANG TEST

The Kawasaki Racing Team concluded their final day of testing at the Sepang circuit today, with Shinya Nakano and Randy de Puniet both setting their fastest lap times of the test during the afternoon session.

Both Kawasaki riders were subjected to a heavy workload over the three-day test, completing a combined total of more than 300 laps around the 5.548km Sepang circuit, as they continue the development of Kawasaki's new Ninja ZX-RR MotoGP machine.

Nakano started this morning's session by running comparison tests on different set-ups, before switching bikes to evaluate a revised chassis. He then ran an 18-lap race simulation in the afternoon, in which he saw a significant improvement in his average lap time compared to this same test last year.

Nakano's Kawasaki teammate, de Puniet, also concentrated today on comparing suspension settings, as he worked with his crew to refine the set-up of his Ninja ZX-RR. In the afternoon the 24-year-old Frenchman improved upon his lap time by 0.5s, before having to abandon a planned race simulation due to a minor technical problem.

Nakano and de Puniet also tested a revised exhaust system on their Ninja ZX-RR machines, which both riders agreed offered better throttle response at the bottom end of the rev range.

The Kawasaki Racing Team will travel directly from Malaysia to Australia, to participate in a further three-day test at Phillip Island, starting on Tuesday 31 January.

Shinya Nakano: #56 - 2'01.27 (72 Laps)
"Today was very demanding because we did a lot of laps, but we also managed to complete our test programme, which is very important at this stage with a new bike. We tested some different settings and components this morning, with positive results, before running an 18-lap race simulation during the afternoon. My lap times on race tyres were consistent, and very close to Loris Capirossi's race times from last year, so we ended the test on a positive note. We still have some work to do during the next tests in Australia and Malaysia, but we have already made a lot of progress with the new bike and we definitely have a clear direction for future development."

Randy de Puniet: #17 - 2'02.18 (62 Laps)
"We tested a lot of different suspension components, both front and rear, today to identify the best set-up on the bike. We also ran a race simulation in the afternoon, but I had to cut this short due to a small problem on the bike. I improved on my previous best lap time by almost 0.5s, so today has been very positive for us. Overall, this has been a successful test. We've completed a lot of work and seen an improvement in lap times every day. Hopefully we can continue the same trend at Phillip Island next week."

Harald Eckl: Team Manager
"This has been a successful first test for the new bike, and I'm confident that the information we have collected will be converted by Kawasaki's engineers into further improvements to the engine before we return to Sepang in February. Both riders were very positive about the chassis and the handling of the bike, and I think we've made a definite step forward in this area. Shinya's fastest lap today was almost 0.5s faster than Loris Capirossi's pole position time from the race here just four months ago, and I think this indicates best of all the progress we've made over the winter. Randy has also impressed during this test with his consistency, and also how close his lap times are to Shinya's. I'm confident that with the new ZX-RR and our two riders we will see a clear improvement in our championship standing during the 2006 season."

1 Loris Capirossi- Ducati 2'01.04
2 Sete Gibernau-Ducati 2'01.06
3 Marco Melandri-Honda 2'01.09
4 Daniel Pedrosa-Honda 2'01.51
5 Valentino Rossi-Yamaha 2'01.60
6 Nicky Hayden-Honda 2'01.69
7 Shinya Nakano-Kawasaki 2'01.70
8 Randy De Puniet-Kawasaki 2'02.18
9.Toni Elias-Honda 2'02.23
10.Chris Vermulen-Suzuki 2'02.37

 

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LAST DAY / MELANDRI LEAVES SEPANG AS THE FASTEST HONDA RIDER

Third and last day of testing for the MotoGP teams, busy at Sepang in the preparation of the 2006 Championship . The Fortuna Honda riders spent their day working at the set up of the bike in order to get the best out of the five-cylinder 990cc. Italian Marco Melandri set the third fastest time of the day and was the fastest Honda rider, despite the difficulties found in getting a good set up. Positive day for the Spanish Toni Elias, who improved his lap time and his feeling with the bike.


MARCO MELANDRI ( 81 laps, 2?01.12):

?Today we worked with only one bike and we struggled quite a bit to find a reasonable set up. During lunch time my mechanics did an incredible job and in the afternoon my feeling with the bike improved. Unfortunately the research of a good setting took a lot of time and in the end I couldn?t do a race simulation
At the moment we are not using all the potential of the RC211V. I?m happy that we have another test next week so that we can continue working on the bike. I?m confident and I look forward to test in Australia.?

TONI ELIAS (70 laps 2?02.26):

?I?m happy because every day we do a step forward. Today I improved my lap time with race tyres while I still have to work with qualifying tyres. In fact, this afternoon I didn?t succeed to use the qualifying tyre at his best,
As far as my adaptation to the bike, I can say that my feeling with the bike improves day by day. I?m confident and I look forward to next test session. In Australia we will continue working in the same direction, completing as many kilometres as possible.?


Today it was the third and last day of the 2006 first test session. Tomorrow the Fortuna Honda Team will fly to Australia, where the second test session is scheduled starting from Tuesday , the 31st of January.

 

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Frustration but high potential for Team SUZUKI MotoGP at Sepang

Team SUZUKI MotoGP completed a frustrating third and final day of the first MotoGP test of 2006 but still have some positive results to take forward into the new season.


John Hopkins and Chris Vermeulen were joined at Sepang in Malaysia by team test rider Kousuke Akiyoshi. All riders were testing the all-new Suzuki ?XRE4? GSV-R prototype race bike for the first time and all three Suzuki racers showed a noticeable improvement over the test.
Hopkins? best time during the test ? on normal race tyres - was 2?02.40, over a second faster than his best 2005 race lap. The hard charging Anglo-American pushed the new GSV-R to its limits throughout the test and although he was unable to complete any meaningful testing on the third day ? due to an electrical control fault - he was able to give his crew invaluable feedback as they seek to get him the best racing package possible. Vermeulen bettered his times during the test and was able to complete 75 laps on day three. His best time of 2?02.30 was a massive four seconds quicker than his time from day one. Akiyoshi recorded a quickest time of 2?03.00 as he gave the GSV-R a thorough chassis evaluation to assist the team in getting as much data for the new bike as possible.

Team SUZUKI MotoGP will next be in action at Doha in Qatar on Sunday 5th February for a further three day test. The 2006 MotoGP World Championship begins at Jerez in Spain on Sunday 26th March.


John Hopkins:
?I am obviously frustrated after what happened today. I really don?t like sitting in the garage and watching all my competitors go quicker and quicker. I feel like I now have a bit of catching up to do but I am certainly ready for that. However, despite the teething problems I still managed to go quicker at this test than I did last year and the bike showed good potential. If I can lap at those speeds with one hand tied behind my back, things will really pick up once this new bike is fully refined. I feel I?ve improved myself in terms of fitness, riding technique and mental strength. All the crew worked really hard ? especially today ? and we are leaving Sepang with a very positive feeling because we know what the bike, the team and I am capable of this year.?


Chris Vermeulen:
?It was great to have the new bike here to test. Over the three days we lost a bit of time due to various little things but today I really got a chance for a long run on the GSV-R. It felt great to be out there on track again with all the other riders and I was able to learn a lot from them about how to ride a GP bike. I was pleased with my times as this is only the third test I?ve done and I got down to the low 2?02s. I know I can go a bit quicker but I also now that races aren?t won or lost at the first test of the season. There?s a lot more to come from me and from the bike, so I am very satisfied with how things are going.?


Paul Denning ? Team Manager:
?To say that the test was frustrating would be an understatement. The new GSV-R is very innovative in a number of areas and has shown huge potential during the factory?s winter development programme - certainly the bike is very capable of massively improved results. We did suffer a number of niggling issues here that we were unable to fully resolve at the track, but Suzuki is fully committed to quickly solving these issues.


?We were very pleased with the attitude and performance of both riders. John had to sit out most of today but he was very committed to helping his technicians find a solution. When he was out on the track he comfortably posted times in the mid 2?02s on race tyres and if he?d had a solid final day there is no question that his final best lap time would have been extremely competitive. Chris impresses me every time he goes out. He is still very much in the learning stage, but his feedback and improvements are great and he has immediately become an integral part of the team. Akiyoshi san worked tirelessly for us throughout the whole test and the extra information that he has supplied will prove invaluable, he also managed to post some very competitive times and we are grateful for his help this week.
?We now move onto Qatar for the next test knowing that the basic package of the GSV-R is massively improved, and the team cannot wait to move onto the next stage in the development of the bike.?

 

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CAMEL YAMAHA TEAM TEST ? MALAYSIA 23-25/01/06 ? SEPANG 25/01/06

CAMEL YAMAHA TEAM HAPPY WITH PROGRESS IN SEPANG

The Camel Yamaha Team completed their three-day test in Sepang,
Malaysia today with more promising work on the new 2006-spec YZR-M1.
Both Valentino Rossi and Colin Edwards concentrated mainly on work for
Michelin in the morning and made some important progress in this area
with the tyre manufacturer. After lunch both riders then completed a
long run in order to gather information about the new M1 in race
conditions, and were both pleased with the performance of the bike and
the improvement in times from the race in September.

Sete Gibernau (Ducati) was fastest today with a time of 2?01.03.
Rossi, who captured his seventh World Championship title at this track
in September, set a fastest lap of 2?01.60, which puts him fifth
fastest over the three days according to the unofficial times.
Edwards? best lap of the day was 2?02.54 but his fastest time from the
three days remains the 2?02.00 that he set yesterday.

The Camel Yamaha Team now has a 12-day break before heading to Doha,
Qatar for their next test on February 6th, 7th and 8th.

VALENTINO ROSSI (2?01.60, 60 Laps)
?This morning we worked 100% on tyres with Michelin. Last year at the
race here we had some problems in this area but Michelin have brought a
lot of new tyres here and they seem to be very good. We?ve been
working with them to find a better grip. This afternoon I did the race
simulation which was also promising. In general I am happy with this
first test and with the evolution of the new bike; I already have a
good feeling with it. It?s not so different from the 2005 version but
it?s better in many areas. Yamaha is working especially hard on
improving the stability of the bike and making it easier to find the
right setting. The engine is also better. Now it?s important that we
try the bike at a different track and I think it will be interesting in
Qatar. Last year I was able to win the race there, one of the best
races of the season, but we had some problems throughout the weekend.
It will be good to see how the new bike performs there.?

COLIN EDWARDS (2?02.54, 62 Laps)
?This morning we worked a lot on tyres and setting, and made some
progress to get rid of the chatter we had yesterday. This afternoon I
did a long run and was quite pleased with it. It was much faster than
I was in the race last year, so that?s proof that we?ve made some
progress. The tyre I used is maybe not the one I would have chosen for
the race, but it worked okay all the same and we?ve found some other
good new stuff with Michelin. Overall I think it?s been a good first
test. It?s helpful to have the chance to get used to the new bike at a
track we know well and I?m pretty excited about it. Everything has
improved and the package seems to work. We?ve had a few problems this
week, and we need to understand why they happened, but we?ve got plenty
more time before the first race. I?m looking forward to going to
Qatar, a track I really like, and seeing how the bike goes there.?

DAVIDE BRIVIO ? CAMEL YAMAHA TEAM DIRECTOR
?It has been a good first test and we have some positive results for
both riders. They both managed to complete many laps and made some
excellent progress with the new bike. It?s been very important to test
the new bike here to check that everything is okay and it was also
useful to end with the long run. Now we go to Qatar where it will be
interesting to see our bike at a different circuit.?

UNOFFICIAL LAP TIMES

1. Sete Gibernau (SPA) Ducati 2?01.03
2. Loris Capirossi (ITA) Ducati 2?01.08
3. Marco Melandri (ITA) Honda 2?01.12
4. Dani Pedrosa (SPA) Honda 2?01.51
5. VALENTINO ROSSI (ITA) Yamaha 2?01.60
6. Nicky Hayden (USA) Honda 2?01.69
7. Shinya Nakano (JPN) Kawasaki 2?01.78
8. Randy de Puniet (FRA) Kawasaki 2?02.18
9. Toni Elias (SPA) Honda 2?02.30
10. Chris Vermeulen (AUS) Suzuki 2?02.43
11. COLIN EDWARDS (USA) Yamaha 2?02.54
12. Casey Stoner (AUS) Honda 2?02.67
13. K. Akiyoshi (JPN) Suzuki 2?02.80
14. John Hopkins (USA) Suzuki 2?03.05
15. Alex Hofmann (GER) Ducati 2?03.20
16. Kenny Roberts (USA) KR Honda 2?03.37
17. Jose Luis Cardoso (SPA) Ducati 2?03.50
18. S. Ito (JPN) Ducati 2?03.60

19. James Ellison (GBR) Yamaha 2?04.17

 

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Tech 3 Yamaha Team

The Tech 3 Team have completed the three-day test in Sepang despite an
ill James Ellison.
Being the first chance for Ellison to ride the 2006-spec YZR-M1, the
focus was mainly on gathering data for Dunlop and getting a feel for the
new version of the M1.

Herve Poncharal - Tech 3 Yamaha Team Director
"It's been a hard test, but in the end it's been quite important for
us. We've done a lot of tyre testing, which was our main aim for the week
and we are quite happy with the directions we've found for the front
and rear. James has done a really good job, especially considering that
he's been ill, and it hasn't been easy for him. Our main mission for
this year is to develop with Dunlop and this has just been the start of a
long year's work. We're very happy with the new M1, it seems that
Yamaha has done an excellent job over the winter and this new bike is a big
step forward from the old one.

Obviously the main thing is for Dunlop to get as much data and laps
done as possible. With this in mind and as everyone knows, we are still
hoping to have a second rider and we are working as hard as possible to
try to find a solution and a way to attend the test in Qatar with two
riders."

James Ellison (2'04.17)
"I got sick over a week ago and I really hoped it would be okay by now
but I was at my worst on Monday for the first day of the test! It was
really disappointing because we had so much to do! Yesterday and today
were better and we managed to get a lot of laps done and make some
progress. I am pretty knackered after the three days! The bike is really
good, the main difference I can see from the one I rode last year is in
the power.there's more of it! This circuit is not one of my favourites
and I find it quite hard, but I am a little disappointed with my times
over the days. Obviously I am much faster than I was in the race last
year but I am still off the pace a bit - I thought I could be a bit closer
to the main group. I am definitely not fast enough considering that I
am on a factory Yamaha. With Dunlop the main problem is traction - with
qualifying tyres it's great but with race tyres we have some problems
and some chatter in the rear. I hope that in Qatar - a track I really
like and where Dunlop performs well - we can do better and make more
progress."