Bushiee46
20-01-2007, 15:59
http://www.gixerjunkies.net/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=6949&stc=1&d=1169305120
With the first MotoGP grand prix of the 2007 season less than seven weeks away, World Champion Nicky Hayden leads the teams and riders into a hectic period of testing starting at Sepang in Malaysia on Monday.
Regulations prevent the teams testing in December and most of January but the ban ends of Monday and every MotoGP team with the exception of Ilmor will be testing their new 800cc machines for three days in Malaysia.
The majority of them will then fly to Phillip Island in Australia for a three day test before returning to Sepang for another three days over the next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. A week later they are at the Losail circuit in Qatar for a three day test before returning to Europe for the official MotoGP pre-season test at Jerez in Spain on the 23, 24 and 25th February.
Many of the 250 and 125cc teams will be also testing in Europe at this time and they have two official tests. The first at Jerez on 19, 20, 21 and 22nd February and in Qatar on February 28 and March 1, 2 and 3rd in preparation for the first grand prix of the season, later that week.
The 18 round season kicks off in Qatar on Saturday March 10 where all three classes 125, 250 and MotoGP will start. The second grand prix is two weeks later at Jerez. There is then a month long gap before the third grand prix of the season at Istanbul in Turkey on April 20.
This frenzied period of testing is even more important this year with the capacity of the MotoGP machine being reduced from 990cc to 800cc. Already in November the riders testing the new 800cc machines were lapping as fast as on the 990cc counterparts due to greater corner speed and later braking.
With the first MotoGP grand prix of the 2007 season less than seven weeks away, World Champion Nicky Hayden leads the teams and riders into a hectic period of testing starting at Sepang in Malaysia on Monday.
Regulations prevent the teams testing in December and most of January but the ban ends of Monday and every MotoGP team with the exception of Ilmor will be testing their new 800cc machines for three days in Malaysia.
The majority of them will then fly to Phillip Island in Australia for a three day test before returning to Sepang for another three days over the next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. A week later they are at the Losail circuit in Qatar for a three day test before returning to Europe for the official MotoGP pre-season test at Jerez in Spain on the 23, 24 and 25th February.
Many of the 250 and 125cc teams will be also testing in Europe at this time and they have two official tests. The first at Jerez on 19, 20, 21 and 22nd February and in Qatar on February 28 and March 1, 2 and 3rd in preparation for the first grand prix of the season, later that week.
The 18 round season kicks off in Qatar on Saturday March 10 where all three classes 125, 250 and MotoGP will start. The second grand prix is two weeks later at Jerez. There is then a month long gap before the third grand prix of the season at Istanbul in Turkey on April 20.
This frenzied period of testing is even more important this year with the capacity of the MotoGP machine being reduced from 990cc to 800cc. Already in November the riders testing the new 800cc machines were lapping as fast as on the 990cc counterparts due to greater corner speed and later braking.