MotoGP – Hayden dominates final IRTA test –

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Hayden dominates final IRTA test

MotoGP - Hayden dominates final IRTA test -

Hayden set the fastest time in the final winter testing at Jerez de la Frontera, where the Grand Prix of what will be a bloody season in less than two weeks !

After a first day led by John Hopkins (Team Suzuki) and a rainy Saturday, Sunday ended with an unprecedented top 3: first Nicky Hayden (Repsol Honda), second Marco Melandri (Movistar Honda) and third… John Hopkins! And to think that these tests took place on the circuit where the first GP of the season will take place in less than two weeks…

On the Honda side, business is going well with its two youngest children in the lead. Nicky Hayden reaffirms his excellent form by setting the best time of the weekend in 1’39.983 when Rossi, in 2004, achieved pole in 1’40.818 …. The work of his new team, his two years in experience (and its constant progress) allow the young American to lead the dance. He who has never particularly shone on this track will tackle the first GP in optimal conditions: "the team worked really hard and I did my best to do what they asked me to do. I still have to improve in the race configuration, we fixed the problem I had on the third section of the circuit where I was losing a lot of time. We still have some work to do on this passage for the race in two weeks".

Hayden is followed by Marco Melandri (Movistar Honda), who also reinforces our impressions of Barcelona (read) by not only signing a very good second time (1’40.291), but also a promising race simulation since he chained 27 laps in 1’41. "I am very satisfied with these three days of testing, because my race pace has increased. In addition, I was able to test the bike in the rain and to practice the qualifying laps ’", says Melandri without forgetting to thank Michelin, which allowed him to test new qualifying tires with performances which he himself described as"impressive".

John Hopkins also made a name for himself by finishing at the top of the fastest times list on Friday: he finished third in those tests in 1’40.418, improving his 2004 qualifying time by more than 2.5 seconds … and is 4 tenths below the doctor’s pole! : "I have proven that I can go as fast as anyone with race tires and we have also shown that we can cope in the rain, being in the best places there".

Valentino Rossi (Gauloises Yamaha) sets the fourth fastest time in 1’40.539. The Doctor, however, had some difficulties: "this afternoon we tried a few new things and it didn’t go as well as we hoped". Once again, the Italian was hampered by a motorcycle slightly."nervous"when braking, but he’s not overly concerned:"We have already fixed this problem in BarcelonaThe biggest concern seems to be the lack of rear grip after several laps (note that Vale turned on race tires). But nothing seems to dent the optimism of the reigning world champion: "I feel ready for the first race, the bike has good potential and I expect a great battle this year !"Because if you can easily imagine your opponents winning a battle, will they really be able to win the war? ?

Loris Capirossi (Ducati Marlboro) was quite alone this weekend, his teammate Carlos Checa having had to rest (read): "I am really disappointed not to be able to take part in the last tests. My leg is fine for me, but my shoulder has not yet healed: when it is at rest it doesn’t bother me, but as soon as I move it I feel great pain. I will continue physiotherapy every day to be perfectly in shape on April 10Capirex has nonetheless succeeded in restoring the image of Ducati, slightly tarnished since February. He mainly concentrated on tires of different types: the qualifying ones he particularly liked – and his time of 1’40.559 on confirm! "Even the front tires are fine here and the rear racing tires are already very good". We salute the good performance of Bridgestone, which thus manages to place two of its drivers in the first 5 places (Capirossi and Hopkins).

Alex Barros (Camel Honda) completed his winter preparation in 6th position, 1 hundredth behind Capirossi. Its chief engineer, Ramon Forcada, is satisfied with the results of his pilot but keeps his head on his shoulders: "We are ready for the race, in the sense that we have a good starting point, because we must not forget that Jerez is a circuit very sensitive to the slightest climatic changes.". In any case, the Brazilian was not idle: he completed more than 100 laps on Sunday and took into account each of the settings of his RCV: electronics, front tires, rear tires, suspension, geometry, etc."In the end, we managed to improve the bike where I wanted. Friday I was nervous, so today I was able to ride more cleanly, with a worn tire from about 15 laps I even did a lap in 1’41.5. On soft rubber, I shot in 1’40.5 but with my second machine, so I can say that things are going well"So his tire concerns seem to be resolved (read), and that’s good for the show. !

At first glance, Sete Gibernau’s (Movistar Honda) 7th fastest time could look like a poor performance. However, it is not, because a time of 1’40.662 in race tires is more than acceptable! The rain on Saturday having disturbed him a little in his schedule, the Catalan preferred to keep his race tires in order to prepare for the GP in 2 weeks. "This session was very important to check all the work done so far and I am very happy, I am stronger mentally and physically, with each try we have improved a lot", explains Sete more upbeat than ever…

Colin Edwards (Gauloises Yamaha) offers us some interesting info: "I’m happy, because apart from Valentino, the seven drivers above me have all put on qualifying rubber ’". If his speech is at odds with that of Sete, the fact remains that the Texan Tornado put together many laps in the 1’41 and attests to its happy Honda-Yamaha conversion."I have almost the same set-up as Valentino, we ride the bike in a very similar way". Given the results of Che Spettacolo last year, the No. 5 can often be found at the forefront !

Shinya Nakano (Kawasaki) continues his efforts on the Kawa and his Bridgestones. Unfortunately, fate fell on the French favorite Japanese, as an engine failure forced him to complete his streak of fast laps on his mule, whose settings were less suited to the track. "It really wasn’t my day. In the end the tests were positive and I’m more confident than after the Barcelona test", said Shinya, however, who sets the second fastest time for the Bridgestone riders with a fastest lap of 1’41.328. Ichiro Yoda, the technical director of Team Kawasaki, is currently working in Japan with his engineers on improving the performance of the Big Bang engine, before a series of tests after the Estoril GP in mid-April…

Makoto Tamada (Konica Minolta Honda) posted 10th fastest time in 1’41.380. As Luca Montiron, his team manager, points out, "this winter has been very hard for us as we had to organize the team from scratch, but we did it all the same and covered around 3,500 km with the bike. This period was very important for uniting the team". And just like him, we are eager to appreciate the potential of this new union! The technical director, Giulio Bernardelle, was satisfied with the race simulation and is confident. As for the main interested party, Tamada, he too is feels good: "We are satisfied with the work done this winter and the settings of the bike. We consider ourselves properly equipped to compete and the fact that I have followed the pace of the best drivers during all the tests confirms this. (read). When we come back in two weeks, we will be able to fight with the best".

Another disappointment, however, for Roman Emperor Max Biaggi, who finished in 11th place and failed to adjust his machine: "It was a very difficult weekend. The good bike I had in Barcelona seems to have disappeared", regrets Max … And from Friday morning to Sunday evening, the problems followed one another, with agitated corner entries and difficult exits due to lack of grip … Max will only have a few hours during testing GP to find the settings that are lacking…

As for Alex Hofmann (Kawasaki), he finished 12th of these tests in 1’41.453. The times obtained with his qualifying tires are a bit disappointing, the German having clocked a lap of 1’41.7 in race tires. Despite electrical problems, Alex is happy to be done with winter testing: "Now all I want is to start the races".

Australia’s Troy Bayliss (Camel Honda) is also eager to do battle: "All the tests are now complete, the next time we hit the track is for the race. Honestly i can’t wait !". And if his pace was less lively than at the first tests in early winter at the same place, Troy feels more at ease on the handlebars of his RCV. Will he honor us again with his famous sparks ?

Kenny Roberts Jr (Suzuki) preferred to sacrifice his lap times to adjust the suspensions and the chassis of his GSV-R in race configuration and find a rear tire that will last for a long time. The Suz ’works well, Hopkins has proven it. Hopefully Kenny’s less spectacular work pays off on the afternoon of Sunday April 10! With a lap of 1’41.913, he was two tenths ahead of Nobuatsu Aoki, who came to lend a hand to the Suzuki cowboys.

Toni Elias and Ruben Xaus are respectively 16th and 17th. The Fortuna riders both crashed on Sunday, but remain optimistic. "I have found the past three days very positive and even got to test the bike in the wet on Saturday", young Toni confides."I’m really happy with the way we operate as a team and I’m confident for the first race". Ruben, who was unable to shoot after his fall on Sunday afternoon, admits he has"made a small mistake today, but I’m still happy with the progress". Team Fortuna Tech3 is gradually getting to know its new pilots…

Finally, in the 1’44 and a little more, the teams Blata, KR and D’Antin fight, still 4 seconds behind Nicky Hayden…

We will have been repeating it all winter, but even if it means sounding like we are harsh, let’s do it once again: this season promises to be the most explosive in a long time! And even though the number of competitors is dwindling, the field has never been better! They are there, trained, sharpened, ready to play with the throttle, the brake lever and the sliders, and this to our greatest happiness: the Continental Circus invites you to Jerez, Sunday April 10 at 2 p.m. !

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