MotoGP – The 2007 season is already starting! –

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The 2007 season is already starting !

MotoGP - The 2007 season is already starting! -

Only a few days after Nicky Hayden’s coronation, the 2007 MotoGP season is already ready to begin. Latest transfers, presentation and testing of the new mounts: the world of MotoGP now has almost no downtime. So much the better !

The breathtaking 2006 season ended in apotheosis last Sunday in a race that was once again unpredictable. But the teams are already preparing to set off again to attack the lap times !

Before returning to the first two days of testing of the 2007 season, it is necessary to take stock of a very topical early November….

In summary: Honda presents its new 800cc, Olivier Jacque celebrates its comeback in MotoGP and Sylvain Guintoli its arrival, Nakano and Tamada change structures, Edwards and Hofmann remain faithful to theirs and D’Antin and Gresini put on Bridgestone tires !

RC212V: the 800 cc "number one"

The Honda on which Nicky Hayden will try to defend his title has just been officially presented: it will be the RC212V! Powered by a brand new V4 – "the most efficient layout"according to Satoru Horiike, director of HRC -, the little sister of the now legendary RC211V (read), had already performed a few laps the day after the GP at Motegi, Dani Pedrosa at her handlebars.

But this time, the new RCV has been wisely approached in its 2007 livery. It’s hard not to notice the return of number "1" in the premier category, unused since the coronation of Roberts Jr in 2000. Suddenly. -Sure, Hayden will seek to keep the number one plate longer than his compatriot. And if the Repsol team resumed its rhythm of 10 years ago with Doohan ?

Especially since the Kentucky Kid will not be the only one to covet the 2007 crown for the official team! His little teammate Dani Pedrosa also delivers his main argument: "I will control the bike more easily. I will be able to touch my knees with my elbows while sitting on this bike, which I could not do on the RC211V. However, it is very useful when you pilot a racing motorcycle", already foresees the Spanish.

Same length (2050mm), same width (645mm), same weight (148kg minimum) and above all same wheelbase (1440mm) as the RCV 990cc, the new "pocketbike" 800 has a slightly smaller tank: 21 l instead of 22, regulation obliges. However, the format of the new Honda seems much smaller than that of the old one: Dani seems less lost when observed on board….

Armed with an imposing swing arm, the RC212V stands out above all by its particularly short and thin posterior. The absence of a pot placed in the seat backrest makes it possible to reduce the latter to its simplest expression, the famous "number one" even being forced to migrate to the large rear wheel arch. Likewise, the surface of the fairing sides decreases further: the "small" engine needs fresh air. !

Already yesterday and today, the 800 carried out its first official tests in the company of its colleagues Yamaha and Suzuki. So stay tuned to Moto-Net for all the results !

OJ at Kawasaki !

On the other hand, we will have to wait a little longer to see the ZX-RR 800 roll … Fortunately for us to be patient, the Greens have formalized excellent news: OJ is back! The pilot developer of the brand will therefore resume service in 2007 alongside his – our! – compatriot Randy de Puniet.

"To be honest, after my second place in Shanghai a year ago, I was hoping to start last season.", recalls Olivier. Discarded in favor of Randy, the Moselle is proud of his comeback:"after the young, it’s the return of the old blades", which hopefully have lost none of their edge !

In any case, it is not Kenichi Furuhashi, director of the racing department of Kawasaki, who will question the abilities of the French: "he worked tirelessly this year on the development of the current Ninja (the 990cc, editor’s note) and these developer skills will be essential for the competitiveness of the 800 next season", insists the Japanese.

"Insofar as MotoGP regulations change and limit the capacity of machines to 800cc, all the teams will start again with a clean sheet and I hope that the technical background that I have been able to acquire will allow Kawasaki to be quickly highest level", enthuses number 19, which we will follow very closely !

Guintoli and Tamada at Tech3 !

And good news never comes alone, another Frenchman will compete in the 2007 MotoGP season: Sylvain Guintoli! Riding a Yamaha Tech3 – a team he already knows well as a test pilot – Sylvain is about to join the world elite wearing Dunlop rubber, alongside Makoto Tamada.

It is therefore a very complementary duo which will prevail within the team of Herve Poncharal: a French newcomer and a Japanese experienced on all types of tires. "Tech3 will be the only team to race on Dunlop and we are delighted to have two such gifted riders to continue the great work we started in 2006", confirms Poncharal.

Sylvain himself is living a wide-awake dream: "Herve and I have known each other for years and having the chance to ride in a Yamaha team is a fantastic opportunity for me.", admits the n ° 50 which brings to three the number of riders entered in MotoGP, that is to say as much as the Italians !

As for Tamada, he welcomes his transfer: "I’m happy to find the Dunlop tires I have ridden in Superbikes in Japan again.", specifies the Japanese before adding that"I like the challenge of the Tech3 Yamaha team. Until recently, I could judge the motorcycle / tire potential at the last Grand Prix in Portugal as I was in a fight with the current team rider Carlos Checa". And if this new challenge gave him wings ?

Nakano at Jir Honda

Another rumor confirmed this week: Shinya Nakano will run well within Team Honda Konica Minolta! Team manager Gianluca Montiron explains very simply: "For us, he was the best choice for the rest of our MotoGP project, which we have been developing with a Japanese rider from the start.". Disappointed by Tamada’s poor results on Michelin tires, the Italian-Japanese team expects a lot from its new driver

. But it will be useless to look for a coach, as the motivation of Super Shinya seems important: "I felt the need to find new motivation elsewhere"Says the ex-ninja."I will work hard to reach the podium as many times as possible and plan the season in order to fight for the title", ignites the Japanese, tired of being relegated to the background since his arrival in MotoGP in 2001…

Edwards and Hoffman back up

At the factory Yamaha team, Valentino Rossi will share his box with Colin Edwards for the third consecutive year. "The good understanding between Colin and Valentino is one of our best assets", underlines – not without malice, would he think of the HRC? – Davide Brivio, director of the team.

For his part, Alex Hofmann will play a second season with the D’Antin team, which will have Bridgestone tires this year. During his freelance at Ducati Marlboro to replace Sete Gibernau, the German had not particularly impressed on Japanese tires. But with more practice, maybe Alex can "have a good season with a good motorcycle-tire package", as he hopes ?

D’Antin and Gresini change gums !

Finally, Luis D’Antin will not be the only one to switch to Bridgestone during this winter. Fausto Gresini will also equip his drivers – Melandri and Elias always – with new tires. Thus the manufacturer Honda will be able through this satellite team to compete on "equal terms" with Ducati which could sporadically benefit from better tires than the Michelin. "In the quest for the title, we decided to try to distinguish ourselves from other teams", assumes the Italian, whose drivers’ results were nevertheless excellent on Michelin: vice-world champions in 2003 and 2004 with Gibernau then 2005 with Melandri…

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