Oz Racers around the World - November 2005

MotoGP

Testing kicked off today at the Sepang circuit, in Malaysia, with a first day marked by high temperatures and humidity. All the Honda MotoGP teams are gathered at the Malaysian venue for this test, with the exception of Makoto Tamada's Konica Minolta Honda team. Repsol Honda's Dani Pedrosa resumed his work on a tailor-made version of the RC211V, with a smaller tail, foot pegs anchored differently and even an isolated exhaust tube as the Spaniard was previously bothered by the excessive heat.

Toni Elias was another rider building-up experience on the 4-stroke Honda, alongside his Fortuna Honda team-mate, Marco Melandri. The Honda Pons team was also resuming their winter schedule with Carlos Checa and Casey Stoner.

Suzuki's John Hopkins was the first rider to hit the track, riding the new version of the GSV-R while Chris Vermeulen lapped on the 2005 machine. Vermeulen has joined the Suzuki team following a successful season in World Superbikes - where he finished runner-up in the Championship. The immensely-talented 23-year-old Australian first took to the track on Monday afternoon to get himself acquainted with his new bike and crew. He immediately developed a rapport with his Crew Chief Tom O'Kane and the pair quickly made some adjustments to the bike to enable Vermeulen to clock some very impressive times during the 90 minute session.
The Australian should test the latest version of the Japanese prototype tomorrow.

"I really enjoyed my first go on the bike. It made a lot of difference getting on the bike on Monday with the bad weather conditions as they are today. My first impressions are that the bike is very easy to ride and very comfortable. I really enjoyed working with the mechanics; they all have a lot of experience and they're very methodical and really know what they are doing. We have a lot of work still to do but I am sure we can move in the right direction. I'm having fun despite the weather!"

In the Yamaha camp, Valentino Rossi focussed on tyre testing, before riding the new M1 which was plan to debut on Tuesday. Yamaha test riders Norihiko Fujiwara and Wataru Yoshikawa were the first riders to test the new bike. On this occasion, Rossi was sporting his #7 white crash helmet, with which he celebrated his seventh World title at the Grand Prix held in Malaysia, back in September.

"It has been a long year! A few days ago, I drove in a Rally event, I had some fun testing a Formula 1 car, I could relax a bit but now, at this time of the year, I begin to feel tired! I tried the new M1 prototype and we made a few adjustments. There aren't big differences with the old one, we just have to see if it's quicker and if we are headed in the right direction," said Rossi.

Elsewhere, this first day of testing saw James Ellison make his debut with the Tech3 team on a Dunlop-shod Yamaha. French rookie Randy de Puniet continued his adaptation to the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-RR, while Shinya Nakano started to work on the 2006 version of the bike.

Unofficial times

1. Marco Melandri Fortuna Honda 2.02.95
2. Nicky Hayden Repsol Honda 2.03.20
3. Carlos Checa Honda Pons 2.03.58
4. Dani Pedrosa Repsol Honda 2.03.75
5. Colin Edwards GauloisesYamaha 2.03.78
6. Valentino Rossi GauloisesYamaha 2.03.80
7 Toni Elias Fortuna Honda 2.04.05
8. John Hopkins Suzuki 2.04.13
9. Casey Stoner Honda Pons 2.04.29
10. Shinya Nakano Kawasaki 2.04.90
11. James Ellison Yamaha 2.05.10
12. Chris Vermuelen Suzuki 2.05.56
13. Randy de Puniet Kawasaki 2.05.60

Yamaha Superbike testing

The Australian duo of Kevin Curtain and Broc Parkes will be flying the colours of Team Yamaha Germany once again in the 2006 World Supersport Championship.
Last season proved a great success for Curtain, who finished in second place in the championship tables, winning at Lausitzring and finishing second or third a total of four times.
The Sydney born rider, who turns 40 in May, will have a real chance to go for the title next season thanks to the arrival of the team’s new R6.
Broc Parkes’ overall achievements last season were less impressive, culminating only in a sixth place in the championship. Parkes nevertheless performed brilliantly in the final race of the season at Magny Cours, winning his first ever Supersport event, and clearly deserving his place in the

Yamaha Motor Italia riders Noriyuki Haga and Aussie Andrew Pitt were on track yesterday at a two day test at Valencia circuit, arranged by championship tyre supplier Pirelli for its official development teams.

Running time was limited after Monday's action was washed out due to heavy rain. Pitt was one of only four riders to brave the conditions, completing just a handful of laps on the slippery surface.

Despite the limited running time, both riders were comfortably faster than their times from April's race. Haga concluded the test with the fourth fastest time of the 12 riders present, a 1'36"6, while Pitt was seventh fastest with a 1'37"2. Lorenzo Lanzi (Ducati) was fastest overall with a 1'35.7.

Bayliss Superbike test in Valencia

A lot people have been hoping to see Troy Bayliss back in SBK, and their prayers were finally answered in Spain. The Australian 2001 SBK world champion joined the Valencia test sessions organised by Pirelli and proceeded to demonstrate convincingly that he has lost none of his edge in the three years he has spent in Moto GP. Though he had never ridden the Ducati 999 and had no experience of the new Pirelli tyres, by the time he left the Spanish circuit, Bayliss had clocked up the second fastest time of only 1’36”1, just four tenths of a second behind his team mate Lorenzo Lanzi.
An amazing performance indeed, considering that Bayliss has still not fully recovered from the broken wrist he sustained during a motocross practice session about two months ago, and was therefore certainly not at his best.
“I was told it would take me months to get over this injury, but it was simply too important for me to be at these tests. As things stand I reckon I’m at about 70% of my top form. By the Qatar test session in December, I’ll be 80% OK, and by the end of the year I’ll be pretty well 100%” again. You’ll see!”
- What was it like riding a Ducati SBK again?
- “Exciting and relaxing at the same time! It was like coming home. I really feel part of this whole environment and this team especially. And the bike’s like an old friend.”
- So how does this new bike differ from your old 998?
- “The 999 is a completely different machine in terms of the frame and the way weight is distributed, but I established a real feeling with it in next to no time. It was as if I’d been riding it for ages. The engine is more powerful of course, but the way it develops that power is more or less the same.”
- So how did you get on with the Pirellis? Did they surprise you?
- “I knew that Pirelli had put a lot of work into these tyres, and this track session proves it. I started off with last season’s tyres but when I saw how well I was doing, I asked to upgrade to the new 2006 versions. The front tyre seems pretty good already, but there’s still some work to do on the back, though I have to admit that conditions at the Valencia track were not exactly ideal. I really have to congratulate Pirelli. I’m sure that next season we’ll be seeing the fastest times ever recorded in the whole history of SBK.”

Big projects for the future for Phillip Island circuit

Australian “Golfer of the Century”, Greg Norman, today joined with five times world motorcycle champion, Mick Doohan, five times V8 Supercar champion, Mark Skaife, and Andrew Nicholls, General Manager of Circuit Owners, Linfox Property Group, to unveil their combined vision for the future of the Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit. Designed to create a world class sporting and resort venue on the 380 hectare site and secure the financial viability of the circuit through additional, year round income streams, the $300 million plans include:

• Major upgrade and extension to event infrastructure including the pit building and race control, the media centre, television broadcast zone, a permanent Expo facility and paved car parking;
• A go-kart track which is a 722 m replica of the 4.45 km Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit. There will be a range of karts to suit driving levels – the top line being 28hp SLR Karts imported from Switzerland and personally tested and selected by Mick Doohan;
• A unique, cliff top 18 hole golf course with spectacular coastal views, designed by Greg Norman;
• A five star, resort hotel featuring 1175 rooms and a conference centre and clubhouse built in three compact villages called Heath, Crest and Lakeside and positioned between the golf course and the circuit;
• A complete makeover of the circuit entrance at gate one to ensure an entrance fitting a world class sporting venue;
• A state of the art permanent office, club and corporate facility at the end of the main straight, catering for 200 guests and boasting extensive circuit views to Bass Strait;
• Two new water environments on the western boundary of the property and extensive revegetation of the property with the native heath that was destroyed when the area was cleared in the 1860’s for farmland.

The intention is for race facility upgrades to start next year and continue indefinitely; for the Summit Club corporate facility and new office to be ready in one to two years; for the golf course to be completed in three years; and for the accommodation to commence in two years and be built in stages over five years.