Post by BADGER on Jan 22, 2008 16:53:00 GMT
Tuesday, 22nd January 2008
2008 MotoGP track action began on Tuesday with the start of the second winter test session to be held at Sepang in Malaysia.
The three-day test marks the debut of the 2008 Yamaha YZR-M1 and the return of world champion Casey Stoner from a shoulder injury sustained at Jerez last November.
Of the provisional 2008 grid, only Team Roberts are not attending the test.
Pedrosa, fastest for most of the day, injured his hand during a late fall.
1. Randy de Puniet FRA Honda LCR (M) 2min 1.377 secs
2. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team (M) 2min 1.864 secs
3. Chris Vermeulen AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 2min 2.074 secs
4. Loris Capirossi ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 2min 2.416 secs
5. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 2min 2.457 secs
6. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team (B) 2min 2.490 secs
7. Colin Edwards USA Yamaha Tech 3 (M) 2min 2.549 secs
8. Nicky Hayden USA Repsol Honda Team (M) 2min 2.558 secs
9. Jorge Lorenzo SPA Fiat Yamaha Team (M) 2min 2.563 secs
10. Shinya Nakano JPN Honda Gresini (B) 2min 2.622 secs
11. John Hopkins USA Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 2min 2.628 secs
12. Andrea Dovizioso ITA JiR Team Scot (M) 2min 2.783 secs
13. James Toseland GBR Yamaha Tech 3 (M) 2min 3.264 secs
14. Alex de Angelis RSM Honda Gresini (B) 2min 3.301 secs
15. Anthony West AUS Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 2min 3.387 secs
16. Olivier Jacque FRA Kawasaki Test Rider (B) 2min 3.863 secs
17. Toni Elias SPA Alice Team (B) 2min 3.954 secs
18. Marco Melandri ITA Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 2min 4.414 secs
19. Nicola Canepa ITA Ducati Test Rider (B) 2min 5.580 secs
20 Sylvain Guintoli FRA Alice Team (B) 2min 6.000 secs
21 Tamaki serizawa JPN Kawasaki Test Rider (B) 2min 23.590 secs
Rossi back with a bump.
Former five-times MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi suffered a small, but spectacular, spill during the first day of 2008 testing at Sepang in Malaysia.
The unusual accident occurred when Rossi, testing alongside a full line-up of MotoGPrivals, was suddenly flicked from his new M1 on the exit of the tight first-turn hairpin, shortly after midday.
Despite being thrown into the air, the Italian got back onto his feet unaided before bump starting his bike and returning to the pits.
Rossi, who is aiming take his new Bridgestone-shod M1 to a sixth premier-class world crown - after two successive title defeats - went on to finish the day in sixth position, 1.1secs behind fastest man Randy de Puniet.
"It feels good to be back on the bike after the winter break, and me and all my team are feeling very motivated about the task ahead," began Rossi. "I still have some pain in my hand [from his Valencia accident] but I had it checked out again last week and the fracture is okay, so I know it's not a problem to ride.
"Today we continued where we left off with Bridgestoneand it seems we're making good progress, we did many laps with the same tyre and I'm pleased with things so far.
"Unfortunately I had a crash today; I was on an out lap and maybe I pushed a little bit too hard, too soon, with not enough temperature in the tyre and I lost the front. Luckily I was not hurt, my hand is okay and I was able to continue with the day's work!
"As well as tyres we tried a new-spec engine and I was quite pleased with this, as well as with some new electronics. The surface wasn't good today and it wasn't possible to go so fast but I hope tomorrow it will improve and we will be able to keep improving in all areas," he added.
The 'new-spec' engine Rossi referred to is rumoured to feature pneumatic valves, something Yamaha were thought to have abandoned after their setbacks with that type of engine during the second half of last season...
Pedrosa 'breaks hand' in fiery fall.
The opening day of 2008 MotoGP track action ended in dramatic style at Sepang on Tuesday, when Dani Pedrosa fractured his hand during a fiery fall.
The 2007 MotoGPrunner-up was fastest for almost the entire day, thanks to a 2mins 1.864secs lap set during the morning, but that was of little consolation after the Repsol Hondarider suffered an RCV-destroying accident during the final hour.
Speaking soon after the incident, a team spokesperson siad that Pedrosa's fall occurred when he lost the front of his machine between turns 10 and 11. The fuel tank was then ruptured as his bike rolled to a halt in a gravel trap, causing significant fire (and extinguisher) damage.
Pedrosa was immediately taken to hospital and the spokesperson later stated that the double 2007 race winner had "a small fracture in the second metacarpal". Dani will now fly back to Spain to see a specialist in Barcelona.
"I wasn't pushing so hard at the time of the crash," recalled Dani. "I lost the front going into Turn 11. It was quite a big crash – the bike caught fire and I hurt my right hand."
The estimated recovery time is still unknown, but Pedrosa is sure to miss next week's Phillip Island test and is highly unlikely to be fit for the final Sepang test from February 5-7.
"It's really tough to start the season out like that," commented team-mate Nicky Hayden, when told about Pedrosa's injury. "It's also going to be a problem in terms of developing the engine and tyres, even though our bikes and settings are quite different. It's bad for the team."
Pedrosa had previously escaped injury during a smaller morning fall
While Pedrosa was in hospital, satellite Honda rider Randy de Puniet bumped the Spaniard from the top by 0.487secs. Rizla Suzuki team-mates Chris Vermeulen and Loris Capirossi finished day one third and fourth, with reigning world champion Casey Stoner fifth on his return from injury.
The second Sepang winter test continues on Wednesday and concludes on Thursday.
2008 MotoGP track action began on Tuesday with the start of the second winter test session to be held at Sepang in Malaysia.
The three-day test marks the debut of the 2008 Yamaha YZR-M1 and the return of world champion Casey Stoner from a shoulder injury sustained at Jerez last November.
Of the provisional 2008 grid, only Team Roberts are not attending the test.
Pedrosa, fastest for most of the day, injured his hand during a late fall.
1. Randy de Puniet FRA Honda LCR (M) 2min 1.377 secs
2. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team (M) 2min 1.864 secs
3. Chris Vermeulen AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 2min 2.074 secs
4. Loris Capirossi ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 2min 2.416 secs
5. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 2min 2.457 secs
6. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team (B) 2min 2.490 secs
7. Colin Edwards USA Yamaha Tech 3 (M) 2min 2.549 secs
8. Nicky Hayden USA Repsol Honda Team (M) 2min 2.558 secs
9. Jorge Lorenzo SPA Fiat Yamaha Team (M) 2min 2.563 secs
10. Shinya Nakano JPN Honda Gresini (B) 2min 2.622 secs
11. John Hopkins USA Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 2min 2.628 secs
12. Andrea Dovizioso ITA JiR Team Scot (M) 2min 2.783 secs
13. James Toseland GBR Yamaha Tech 3 (M) 2min 3.264 secs
14. Alex de Angelis RSM Honda Gresini (B) 2min 3.301 secs
15. Anthony West AUS Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 2min 3.387 secs
16. Olivier Jacque FRA Kawasaki Test Rider (B) 2min 3.863 secs
17. Toni Elias SPA Alice Team (B) 2min 3.954 secs
18. Marco Melandri ITA Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 2min 4.414 secs
19. Nicola Canepa ITA Ducati Test Rider (B) 2min 5.580 secs
20 Sylvain Guintoli FRA Alice Team (B) 2min 6.000 secs
21 Tamaki serizawa JPN Kawasaki Test Rider (B) 2min 23.590 secs
Rossi back with a bump.
Former five-times MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi suffered a small, but spectacular, spill during the first day of 2008 testing at Sepang in Malaysia.
The unusual accident occurred when Rossi, testing alongside a full line-up of MotoGPrivals, was suddenly flicked from his new M1 on the exit of the tight first-turn hairpin, shortly after midday.
Despite being thrown into the air, the Italian got back onto his feet unaided before bump starting his bike and returning to the pits.
Rossi, who is aiming take his new Bridgestone-shod M1 to a sixth premier-class world crown - after two successive title defeats - went on to finish the day in sixth position, 1.1secs behind fastest man Randy de Puniet.
"It feels good to be back on the bike after the winter break, and me and all my team are feeling very motivated about the task ahead," began Rossi. "I still have some pain in my hand [from his Valencia accident] but I had it checked out again last week and the fracture is okay, so I know it's not a problem to ride.
"Today we continued where we left off with Bridgestoneand it seems we're making good progress, we did many laps with the same tyre and I'm pleased with things so far.
"Unfortunately I had a crash today; I was on an out lap and maybe I pushed a little bit too hard, too soon, with not enough temperature in the tyre and I lost the front. Luckily I was not hurt, my hand is okay and I was able to continue with the day's work!
"As well as tyres we tried a new-spec engine and I was quite pleased with this, as well as with some new electronics. The surface wasn't good today and it wasn't possible to go so fast but I hope tomorrow it will improve and we will be able to keep improving in all areas," he added.
The 'new-spec' engine Rossi referred to is rumoured to feature pneumatic valves, something Yamaha were thought to have abandoned after their setbacks with that type of engine during the second half of last season...
Pedrosa 'breaks hand' in fiery fall.
The opening day of 2008 MotoGP track action ended in dramatic style at Sepang on Tuesday, when Dani Pedrosa fractured his hand during a fiery fall.
The 2007 MotoGPrunner-up was fastest for almost the entire day, thanks to a 2mins 1.864secs lap set during the morning, but that was of little consolation after the Repsol Hondarider suffered an RCV-destroying accident during the final hour.
Speaking soon after the incident, a team spokesperson siad that Pedrosa's fall occurred when he lost the front of his machine between turns 10 and 11. The fuel tank was then ruptured as his bike rolled to a halt in a gravel trap, causing significant fire (and extinguisher) damage.
Pedrosa was immediately taken to hospital and the spokesperson later stated that the double 2007 race winner had "a small fracture in the second metacarpal". Dani will now fly back to Spain to see a specialist in Barcelona.
"I wasn't pushing so hard at the time of the crash," recalled Dani. "I lost the front going into Turn 11. It was quite a big crash – the bike caught fire and I hurt my right hand."
The estimated recovery time is still unknown, but Pedrosa is sure to miss next week's Phillip Island test and is highly unlikely to be fit for the final Sepang test from February 5-7.
"It's really tough to start the season out like that," commented team-mate Nicky Hayden, when told about Pedrosa's injury. "It's also going to be a problem in terms of developing the engine and tyres, even though our bikes and settings are quite different. It's bad for the team."
Pedrosa had previously escaped injury during a smaller morning fall
While Pedrosa was in hospital, satellite Honda rider Randy de Puniet bumped the Spaniard from the top by 0.487secs. Rizla Suzuki team-mates Chris Vermeulen and Loris Capirossi finished day one third and fourth, with reigning world champion Casey Stoner fifth on his return from injury.
The second Sepang winter test continues on Wednesday and concludes on Thursday.