MotoGP News - Suzuki In 800cc Shocker
06/11/2006
The first European tests of the new-generation 800cc MotoGP machines for next year’s regulations took place in the days after the final race for the 990cc machines (above) - and the Bridgestone-shod Suzukis served up a big surprise.
The bikes had been seen only briefly after Motegi, but their first serious outing in the hands of the regular MotoGP riders saw them place second and third, within thousandths of a second off the fastest time.
Only the previous Saturday, the 990cc Suzukis had qualified eighth and ninth. The new-generation machines gave the two riders a boost in position, and confidence.
Australian class rookie Chris Vermeulen was faster, with a lap time of 1:32.69. This put him second overall to Dani Pedrosa, who was unofficially timed only three thousandths of a second quicker! Vermeulen was riding an early development of the 2007 machine, with the 800cc motor in a 990cc chassis.
“We had a chance to test some tyres for Bridgestone, and they all seem to work as well as on the 990,” said Vermeulen.
Bridgestone tyres set new personal-best records in 2006, with four race wins. The 800s require a different riding technique, however, with faster corner entry and higher mid-corner speed.
Hopkins was next, less than three tenths slower, on a later development, with an early version on the new 800cc chassis.
Another Bridgestone rider, Casey Stoner, placed fourth, in his debut on the Ducati GP7. The Australian quickly adapted to the tyres, as well as the new machine, lapping faster than his veteran team-mate Loris Capirossi.
Factory Yamaha teams were also at the tests, but Valentino Rossi was placed only seventh among the 800s on times from both days, with new World Champion Nicky Hayden’s Honda sixth.