Ducati Sporting Club UK > Sport > Race > MotoGP - Sepang2 Test 1 Times

[antonye]

Originally Posted by Cobbett

if they leave Sepang after another wet day tomorrow, with a batch of unused tyres, surely the factory would think about trying to get a day or two somewhere in Europe, so that's it not all down to the the third and final test at Jerez.

Nothing stopping them doing this except their tyre allocation. They get a total for the season which includes tests (I think it's 203 tyres/pairs?) and so once they run out they're on part-worns

[Cobbett]

Originally Posted by antonye

Nothing stopping them doing this except their tyre allocation. They get a total for the season which includes tests (I think it's 203 tyres/pairs?) and so once they run out they're on part-worns

Exactly. I wouldn't be surprised if they were on the phone trying to get somewhere for a day or two. Anglesey might be free.

[skidlids]

They could book in on the Llandow trackday this weekend, should allow them to test 1st gear if nothing else

[Cobbett]

So they finish testing with VR 10th, and Hayden 11th, bested by both satellite Yamahas, Barbera on the satellite Duc (three-tenths quicker than the factory), and the rookie Bradl, and in front of only a test rider and 3 CRTs. If that isn't dispiriting I don't know what is. And they're trying: Rossi did 57 laps, the second-most of any rider.

[antonye]

To answer the question about the HRC engine - it doesn't count in their engine allocations for racing.

[antonye]

Originally Posted by Cobbett

So they finish testing with VR 10th, and Hayden 11th, bested by both satellite Yamahas, Barbera on the satellite Duc (three-tenths quicker than the factory), and the rookie Bradl, and in front of only a test rider and 3 CRTs. If that isn't dispiriting I don't know what is. And they're trying: Rossi did 57 laps, the second-most of any rider.

Rossi said that he wanted to stay with 1sec of Stoner, and he has (just!) at 1.077s behind. They are obviously heading in the right direction, but still a lot of work to do as yet.

But WOW! What a job Dovi has done - sticking the Tech3 Yamaha in front of the two factory boys! Great to see Crutchlow right up there as well and obviously Barbera too.

I'm disappointed by the CRTs, but to be honest I didn't expect anything else

[Cobbett]

Originally Posted by antonye

Rossi said that he wanted to stay with 1sec of Stoner, and he has (just!) at 1.077s behind. They are obviously heading in the right direction, but still a lot of work to do as yet.

VR said he wanted to stay within a second of Stoner by the end of the first test (when he was 1.5 off); I don't think they'll be content being a second off after the second test, and behind all the satellite bikes - including their own! Being a second behind the Hondas at the start of the year means finishing half a minute behind them in races.

I really therefore struggle to see how in any measurable sense they are heading in the right direction. But I can't say too often, I envy your optimism and I hope you're right!

[antonye]

Originally Posted by Cobbett

I really therefore struggle to see how in any measurable sense they are heading in the right direction. But I can't say too often, I envy your optimism and I hope you're right!

You have to remember that they've just built a brand new bike. That means no data, no comparisons, no history ... no idea!

That they're even close to the front runners is a miracle, let alone a second down on the sorted Honda.

The other optimistic point is that reports are saying that the bike is responding to changes in the way they are expecting it to - which was not the case with the previous carbon-frame bikes. This means that once Rossi has decided how he wants it to ride, they will have a good idea of what they need to do to it because they know how to get there ... the bit that was missing last time!

It might not be sorted by the first race, it may take half the season, but I'm sure that the team is in a much better place than they were this time last season.