2007 Moto GP Preseason Testing

[.RJ]

Hopper and Chris V fastest on day 1.... suzuki is on the ball.

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Pos. Rider Team Bike Time
1 John Hopkins Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki GSV-R 2:02.277
2 Chris Vermeulen Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki GSV-R 2:03.049
3 Valentino Rossi Camel Yamaha Team Yamaha YZR-M1 2:03.184
4 Colin Edwards Camel Yamaha Team Yamaha YZR-M1 2:03.337
5 Nicky Hayden Repsol Honda Team Honda RC212V 2:03.413
6 Loris Capirossi Ducati Marlboro Team Ducati Desmosedici GP-7 2:03.537
7 Randy De Puniet Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki Ninja ZX-RR 2:03.542
8 Dani Pedrosa Repsol Honda Team Honda RC212V 2:03.620
9 Makoto Tamada Tech3 Yamaha Yamaha YZR-M1 2:03.785
10 Casey Stoner Ducati Marlboro Team Ducati Desmosedici GP-7 2:03.944
11 Alex Hofmann Team D'Antin Pramac Ducati Desmosedici GP-7 2:04.003
12 Alex Barros Team D'Antin Pramac Ducati 2:04.011
13 Kenny Roberts Jnr. Team Roberts KR2112V 2:04.088
14 Carlos Checa Tech 3 Yamaha Yamaha YZR-M1 2:04.101
15 Shinya Nakano Konica Minolta Honda Honda RC212V 2:04.138
16 Marco Melandri Fortuna Honda Honda RC212V 2:04.270
17 Shinichi Itoh Ducati 2:04.641
18 Toni Elias Fortuna Honda Honda RC212V 2:04.710

[.paul]

go suzuki - i would lvoe to see hopper up there, man KR needs to step up.

DOWN WITH PEDROSA

[.RJ]

Stoner



Hopper



Vale



Edwards in red...



KR JR! My favorite 800cc bike

[.paul]

i like Edward's and KR's new helmets!

Stoners bar code is annoying, and I want to know who will sponsor Yamaha - anyone want to go in on a sponsorship

[.RJ]

Rumor has it that it will be Telefonica or Fiat

[.paul]

i am going with telefonica betweeen those two.

It is good see the zuki's up there, i know they have been doing lots of race tests on the tires.

[.RJ]

They havent done any race distance tests yet - its just in the plan.

[G.Irish]

Notice that the KR bikes tail section is already different from when it was unveiled. They're kinda far back there but I'm sure they'll pick up the pace since this was really only their first day of testing the 800.

Notice that 4 of the top 5 riders came from production/superbike backgrounds and that 3 of the top 5 are Americans I hope all of the superbike guys do well this year so that all of the prognosticators who were predicting 250 rider domination can eat crow.

Even though I'm a Honda guy through and through I've gotta say I'm happy to see the Suzukis doing well. I'd love to see Hopper take the title this year.

[G.Irish]

Oh yeah, I edited the original post. Somehow Soup f'ed up the timesheet, Tamada is on Tech3 Yamaha, not Konica Minolta Honda

[.RJ]

Where is Ilmor? They did some tests @ Jerez recently

[.paul]

was the slide king just doing the last two races for illmor? or were they considering him as a rider?

[.RJ]

Pitt and McWilliams are riding for them in '08. Garry has been riding for a team in the world endurance series

[G.Irish]

I think Ilmor said they are going to sit out a few tests to save money. Kind of funny to me considering they were tall talking last year about how they could come in and do things differently and beat the established players.

[G.Irish]

Here's the direct quote about Ilmor:

Italian website Moto Grand Prix recently reported that Ilmor will sit out the next tests at Sepang and Phillip Island in order to develop the X3 in-house, but the more likely reason is to save up their money for the race season.

Actually reading back on their interview with RoadracerX they weren't that cocky about their chances.

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But it looks like they are going to have a really long season at this pace.

[.paul]

i bet they wer expecting more sponsorship money

[.RJ]

i bet they wer expecting more sponsorship money

Did you bother to read the article?

Do you have a sponsor?
ES: No. If we want to be successful, we need to find the money to run this on a very high level. You cannot do it with $5 million. You need plus-or-minus 20 million. WeÔÇÖre talking to some potential sponsors, and because itÔÇÖs a European project with some proven people behind it, it looks like some sponsors are quite interested.

WhatÔÇÖs your goal?
ES: We started this project quite a long time ago. We tried to have Kawasaki build their technology center up in Europe, with Ilmor as responsible for the engine. Finally, this didnÔÇÖt happen, and Ilmore found a very big interest to get into motorcycle racing. ItÔÇÖs a racing company. I think thereÔÇÖs a possibility to prove technology from Europe. If we can do a good job, I think we will find the sponsorship.

[G.Irish]

No it does sound like they were expecting to win some sponsorship dollars. Not sure when they were counting on it though.

Either way I can't imagine they think that not testing at the official pre-season tests is the best way to start out the season competitively. I'm sure it has something to do with money.

[.RJ]

Soup has pics up I cant wait for them to quote like the machine....

[Evan]

is KR still using honda motors?

[G.Irish]

is KR still using honda motors?

Yep. Too bad they couldn't get enough extra sponsorship to add a second rider.