NEWS IN BRIEF

   

14/12/06

 

MOTORCYCLE NEWS PETITION

TalkinBikes.com is urging members to sign a petition being run in the paper asking the government to freeze all speeding fines levied at bikers until speed detection equipment is tested for its accuracy when used to catch speeding bikers. It was found by an MCN investigation that speed cameras can be inaccurate when used on bikes meaning loads of us could be wrongly convicted, MCN says all they want is fairness. To sign the petition go to www.petitions.pm.gov.uk/speedingfines/ and fill in the form making sure you open the email you receive afterwards and click on the link ensuring your name is added to it.

 

           

Veteran moto gp star Jeremy McWilliams has Crashed heavily in Jerez while testing the new800cc ilmor at Jerez JW was sent tumbling heavily through the Gravel trap at the high speed corner 4 after Losing the front end.The bike cleared the catch Fencing such was the severity of the crash He is currently in hospital awaiting surgery to have A pin put in a badly broken leg and is also thought to have a broken collarbone and may need a finger amputating

 

 

PHILLIP  ISLAND TEST - Day 3

 

 

MotoGPs Australian Test drew to a close today with Nicky Hayden the outstanding rider of day 3 clocking a 1'29.52 lap giving Repsol Honda their first top spot of 2007.  Dani Pedrosa was only two tenths of a second slower to take second spot, something of a turnaround following Ducatis dominance of this test.
 
Carlos Checa was the victim of a low flying attack of seagulls on Wednesday, allowing the red flag to be shown and a short delay to the session.  Today however he was untroubled by seagulls and he managed to cut four tenths of a second of his time from yesterday.
 
Whilst the teams present at Phillip Island take a well deserved break before the MotoGP Official Test in Qatar on February 13th, the absentees from this week’s action undertake a test from Monday at Sepang in Malaysia. The factory Yamaha team, in addition to satellite outfit Tech 3, will be on track alongside Kawasaki Racing and the first appearance outside of Europe for the Ilmor Team.
 
Phillip Island Test – Day Three
Unofficial Times

1. Nicky Hayden- Repsol Honda 1’29.52
2. Dani Pedrosa-Repsol Honda 1’29.72
3. Loris Capirossi-Ducati Marlboro 1’30.149
4. Casey Stoner-Ducati Marlboro 1’30.206
5. Alex Hofmann-Pramac d'Antin Ducati 1’30.21
6. Alex Barros-Pramac d'Antin Ducati 1’30.43
7. Carlos Checa-Honda LCR 1’30.46
8. Toni Elias-Gresini Honda 1’30.5
9. Chris Vermeulen- Rizla Suzuki 1’30.72
10. Marco Melandri-Gresini Honda 1’30.80
11. John Hopkins- Rizla Suzuki 1’30.80
12. Shinya Nakano-Konica Minolta Honda 1’30.97
13. Kenny Roberts JR-Team Roberts 1’31.10

 

PHILLIP  ISLAND TEST - Day 2

 

Traditionally strong runners at the Phillip Island circuit, Ducati took over on the second day ‘Down Under’, occupying the top three places on the timesheets. Repeating his impressive performance from yesterday, Alex Barros topped the board with a 1’30.01 lap. The Brazilian, who makes his return to MotoGP after a year away, was also a frontrunner last week in Sepang on the Bridgestone-shod Desmosedici GP7, and today undertook a race simulation.

Factory Ducati riders Loris Capirossi and Casey Stoner occupied the second and third spots, with the former just over three tenths of a second slower than the flying Barros. At his home track, Stoner put in his fastest ride of the year so far, just five hundredths of a second off his veteran team-mate Capirossi.
 
Repsol Honda riders Nicky Hayden and Dani Pedrosa significantly improved on yesterdays lap times as they worked on the chassis, engine and tyre testing.
 
"We went quite a bit faster today which is good, and we got through a lot of options and settings.  We improved our pace, though there's the same basic issue where the bike isn't quite turning as I'd like it to and it pushes the front a little."
 
All riders who tested yesterday were back on track, with four teams skipping the Australian test. The Factory Yamaha team, alongside their Tech 3 satellite, chose against a visit to Phillip Island and will next be in action at the second Sepang Test. Kawasaki likewise will return for the Malaysian visit, whilst Ilmor have also been absent from this week’s sessions.
 
 
Phillip Island Test – Day Two
Unofficial Times

1.Alex Barros - Pramac d'Antin 1’30.01
2. Loris Capirossi - Ducati MotoGP 1’30.34
3. Casey Stoner- Ducati MotoGP 1’30.39
4. Dani Pedrosa - Repsol Honda 1’30.45
5. Alex Hofmann - Pramac d'Antin 1'30.60
6. Nicky Hayden - Repsol Honda 1’30.61
7. Marco Melandri - Gresini Honda 1’30.74
8. Carlos Checa - Honda LCR 1’30.84
9. Chris Vermeulen - Rizla Suzuki 1’31.19
10. Shinya Nakano - Konica Minolta 1’31.35
11. Kenny Roberts JR - Team Roberts 1’31.55
12. John Hopkins - Rizla Suzuki 1’31.65

 

PHILLIP  ISLAND TEST - Day 1

Alex Barros topped the timings today on the Pramac d'Antin Desmosedici GP7.  He put in a time of 1'30.60 - traditionally a strong circuit for Ducati.
 
World champion Nicky Hayden made a strong start to the Phillip Isalnd test by coming fourth on the timesheets.  He is still trying to rebuild strength from his shoulder surgery, but managed to beat his fastest race lap by over two tenths of a second.  Honda are yet to top the timesheets in 2007.
 
"We got in a pretty full day of testing today, working mainly on settings and trying to improve the bike geometry wise.  We were also confirming some of the things I liked from the test in Malaysia last week."
 
Rizla Suzuki were absent from the top spots for the first time in pre-season testing so far, and seem to have encountered their first problem with the GSV-R800.  Both Vermeulen and Hopkins struggled with grip issues but have a plenty time to find solutions.
 
Absentees from the proceedings were the Yamaha factory and Tech 3 teams, including Rossi, Edwards, Tamada and Guintoli, and Kawasaki’s French duo of de Puniet and Jacque. Also electing to skip the Antipodean date were the Ilmor team, who tested this weekend in Almeria with rider Andrew Pitt.
 
Phillip Island MotoGP Test: Day One
Unofficial Times

1. Alex Barros - Pramac d’Antin Ducati-1'30.60s
2. Marco Melandri - Gresini Honda 1'30.70s
3. Loris Capirossi - Ducati Marlboro Team 1'30.70
4. Nicky Hayden - Repsol Honda Team 1'31.18
5. Dani Pedrosa - Repsol Honda 1'31.29
6. Casey Stoner - Ducati Marlboro Team 1'31.40
7. Alex Hofmann - D’Antin Ducati 1'31.50
8. Carlos Checa - LCR Honda 1'31.80
9. John Hopkins - Rizla Suzuki 1'31.80
10. Kenny Roberts Jr - Team Roberts Honda 1'31.90
11. Toni Elias - Gresini Honda 1'32.00
12. Chris Vermeulen - Rizla Suzuki 1'32.00
13. Shinya Nakano - Konica Minolta Honda 1'32.23