MotoGP Kawasaki at Sepang
Nakano tops the Sepang Test leaderboard on day 2
News, 15/02/06
Kawasaki Racing´s Shinya Nakano put in the fastest lap of the day at the second session in Sepang. A hot and sunny day (although with more comfortable riding temperatures than yesterday), a heavy downpour towards the end of the session once again brought the action to a close, but not before the Japanese rider had clocked a lap of 2´01.80
The time was an improvement of nearly three seconds on the Kawasaki rider´s first day time, and is the fastest time so far at the Malaysian circuit.
The Ducati riders had mixed fortunes today, with Loris Capirossi again riding fast with a 2´01.87 lap whilst teammate Sete Gibernau only went round 17 times. These few laps were a result of the Spaniard´s suffering from a stomach complaint. Today´s session was, according to interviews given yesterday, focused mainly on tyres and electronics.
Suzuki MotoGP rider John Hopkins continued his impressive return to a circuit which he confessed to not having enjoyed at the last Test in January. He improved on his previous time and went round in 2´01.90. Suzuki have previously experienced problems with the electronics which have made testing a difficult experience, but Hopkins´ form seems to suggest that these have been ironed out.
Another recurrent problem has been chattering on the M1 for the Camel Yamaha team. Valentino Rossi indicated yesterday to motogp.com that the problem was particularly prominent on the large bend of the Sepang track, but today he managed to improve his time by over three tenths. Teammate Colin Edwards was slower than yesterday, but still finished seventh fastest.
Carlos Checa and Dani Pedrosa continued their impressive preseason form, both Spaniards finishing in the top six. Checa improved on yesterday´s time by over a second, and is showing no ill-effects from last week´s concussion suffered at Qatar.
The first day´s fastest rider Marco Melandri suffered another fall, but his previous fastest lap remains a signal of his and the Fortuna Honda´s speed and good form.
Sepang Test: Day 2
Unofficial Times
1. Shinya Nakano – Kawasaki Racing 2’01.80 – 32 laps
2. Loris Capirossi – Ducati Marlboro 2’01.87 – 50
3. Valentino Rossi – Camel Yamaha 2’01.89 – 47
4. John Hopkins – Suzuki MotoGP 2’01.90 – 44
5. Dani Pedrosa – Repsol Honda 2’01.93 – 50
6. Carlos Checa – Yamaha Tech 3 2’02.06 – 57
7. Colin Edwards – Camel Yamaha 2’02.20 – 57
8. Randy de Puniet – Kawasaki Racing 2’02.37 – 42
9. Makoto Tamada – Konica Minolta Honda 2’02.56 – 51
10. Toni Elías – Fortuna Honda 2’02.62 – 41
11. Marco Melandri – Fortuna Honda 2’02.65 – 38
12. Sete Gibernau – Ducati Marlboro 2’02.87 – 17
13. Nicky Hayden – Repsol Honda 2’02.93 – 53
14. Kenny Roberts jr. - KR211V 2’02.95 – 47
15. Chris Vermeulen – Suzuki MotoGP 2’03.18 – 46
16. Alex Hofmann – d’Antin Ducati 2’04.23 – 25
17- Jose Luis Cardoso – d’Antin Ducati 2’04.65 – 29
18. James Ellison – Yamaha Tech 3 2’04.65 - 29
Nakano tops the Sepang Test leaderboard on day 2
News, 15/02/06
Kawasaki Racing´s Shinya Nakano put in the fastest lap of the day at the second session in Sepang. A hot and sunny day (although with more comfortable riding temperatures than yesterday), a heavy downpour towards the end of the session once again brought the action to a close, but not before the Japanese rider had clocked a lap of 2´01.80
The time was an improvement of nearly three seconds on the Kawasaki rider´s first day time, and is the fastest time so far at the Malaysian circuit.
The Ducati riders had mixed fortunes today, with Loris Capirossi again riding fast with a 2´01.87 lap whilst teammate Sete Gibernau only went round 17 times. These few laps were a result of the Spaniard´s suffering from a stomach complaint. Today´s session was, according to interviews given yesterday, focused mainly on tyres and electronics.
Suzuki MotoGP rider John Hopkins continued his impressive return to a circuit which he confessed to not having enjoyed at the last Test in January. He improved on his previous time and went round in 2´01.90. Suzuki have previously experienced problems with the electronics which have made testing a difficult experience, but Hopkins´ form seems to suggest that these have been ironed out.
Another recurrent problem has been chattering on the M1 for the Camel Yamaha team. Valentino Rossi indicated yesterday to motogp.com that the problem was particularly prominent on the large bend of the Sepang track, but today he managed to improve his time by over three tenths. Teammate Colin Edwards was slower than yesterday, but still finished seventh fastest.
Carlos Checa and Dani Pedrosa continued their impressive preseason form, both Spaniards finishing in the top six. Checa improved on yesterday´s time by over a second, and is showing no ill-effects from last week´s concussion suffered at Qatar.
The first day´s fastest rider Marco Melandri suffered another fall, but his previous fastest lap remains a signal of his and the Fortuna Honda´s speed and good form.
Sepang Test: Day 2
Unofficial Times
1. Shinya Nakano – Kawasaki Racing 2’01.80 – 32 laps
2. Loris Capirossi – Ducati Marlboro 2’01.87 – 50
3. Valentino Rossi – Camel Yamaha 2’01.89 – 47
4. John Hopkins – Suzuki MotoGP 2’01.90 – 44
5. Dani Pedrosa – Repsol Honda 2’01.93 – 50
6. Carlos Checa – Yamaha Tech 3 2’02.06 – 57
7. Colin Edwards – Camel Yamaha 2’02.20 – 57
8. Randy de Puniet – Kawasaki Racing 2’02.37 – 42
9. Makoto Tamada – Konica Minolta Honda 2’02.56 – 51
10. Toni Elías – Fortuna Honda 2’02.62 – 41
11. Marco Melandri – Fortuna Honda 2’02.65 – 38
12. Sete Gibernau – Ducati Marlboro 2’02.87 – 17
13. Nicky Hayden – Repsol Honda 2’02.93 – 53
14. Kenny Roberts jr. - KR211V 2’02.95 – 47
15. Chris Vermeulen – Suzuki MotoGP 2’03.18 – 46
16. Alex Hofmann – d’Antin Ducati 2’04.23 – 25
17- Jose Luis Cardoso – d’Antin Ducati 2’04.65 – 29
18. James Ellison – Yamaha Tech 3 2’04.65 - 29
Comments