GixerGaz
25-01-2007, 14:35
http://www.gixerjunkies.net/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=7027&stc=1&d=1169732139http://www.gixerjunkies.net/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=7028&stc=1&d=1169732139
Kawasaki's confidence received a massive boost during the third and final day of testing at Sepang, when Randy de Puniet completed an inspiring test with the sixth fastest lap time.
The 25-year-old Frenchman had been seventh fastest on the opening two days, riding a bike heavily revised over the winter break, and - like most riders - set his best final day time with a qualifying tyre, shaving almost half-a-second off his best lap time set aboard the 990cc version of Kawasaki's MotoGP racer, before switching back to standard rubber for a race simulation in the afternoon.
Overall, de Puniet was satisfied with the simulation, but identified inconsistency in his lap times towards the very end of the run as an area on which to focus during the next test here in just two weeks time.
"This has been a good first test for us in many ways," confirmed de Puniet, who lapped within one second of fastest man Valentino Rossi. "I am impressed with the bike, especially with just how much Kawasaki's engineers have managed to improve it in just six weeks. We've been able to do a lot of laps here without any problems at all. This has allowed us to work our way through an intensive test programme, which is important at this point in the season.
"Overall I am pleased with the amount of progress we've made. I managed to set my fastest lap ever here at Sepang this morning, and then the first part of the race simulation this afternoon went well. At the end my lap times started to drop off slightly, but this is an area we will look at more closely during our next test. We have nine more days of testing before the first race, during which we must continue to work hard, but the potential is definitely there and I think we've proved that over the past three days," he underlined.
Also happy with his progress, although left at the other end of the timesheets, was de Puniet's new team-mate Olivier Jacque.
"The test started with a nice surprise, in the fact that Kawasaki have worked wonders in six short weeks with the bike. It's much better than it was during our first, short test in November," said OJ, who was 1.7secs slower than de Puniet in 18th. "We've found a fairly good base set-up, but we've also identified some small changes that will improve things further for the next test. Randy showed that the bike is fast today, and I hope that the work I've completed over the three days with my new crew will allow us both to go even faster next time out. Of course, we need to keep working and to keep our motivation, because if we do this I think we might surprise a few people come the first race of the season."
For Kawasaki's new racing director, Ichiro Yoda, the first test of 2007 was a case of mission accomplished - the Japanese engineer having arrived in Sepang determined to show that the 800cc ZX-RR was a match for the competition.
"Time was short between our first shakedown test in November and the start of pre-season testing here in Sepang, but Kawasaki's engineers have done a good job with the bike and I think that was evident during these three days," said Yoda. "Both riders have done a good job here. Olivier has been away from MotoGP for a while, but quickly adapted to both the pace and working with a new crew. Randy has adapted well to the new bike, and this could be seen in the way he improved upon his best lap time here at Sepang. We leave here happy with our progress during this first test, but also with some clear targets for when we return here in two weeks. Randy had some issues with rear grip towards the end of his race simulation this afternoon, and this is one area on which we will focus during the next three days of testing."
Kawasaki's confidence received a massive boost during the third and final day of testing at Sepang, when Randy de Puniet completed an inspiring test with the sixth fastest lap time.
The 25-year-old Frenchman had been seventh fastest on the opening two days, riding a bike heavily revised over the winter break, and - like most riders - set his best final day time with a qualifying tyre, shaving almost half-a-second off his best lap time set aboard the 990cc version of Kawasaki's MotoGP racer, before switching back to standard rubber for a race simulation in the afternoon.
Overall, de Puniet was satisfied with the simulation, but identified inconsistency in his lap times towards the very end of the run as an area on which to focus during the next test here in just two weeks time.
"This has been a good first test for us in many ways," confirmed de Puniet, who lapped within one second of fastest man Valentino Rossi. "I am impressed with the bike, especially with just how much Kawasaki's engineers have managed to improve it in just six weeks. We've been able to do a lot of laps here without any problems at all. This has allowed us to work our way through an intensive test programme, which is important at this point in the season.
"Overall I am pleased with the amount of progress we've made. I managed to set my fastest lap ever here at Sepang this morning, and then the first part of the race simulation this afternoon went well. At the end my lap times started to drop off slightly, but this is an area we will look at more closely during our next test. We have nine more days of testing before the first race, during which we must continue to work hard, but the potential is definitely there and I think we've proved that over the past three days," he underlined.
Also happy with his progress, although left at the other end of the timesheets, was de Puniet's new team-mate Olivier Jacque.
"The test started with a nice surprise, in the fact that Kawasaki have worked wonders in six short weeks with the bike. It's much better than it was during our first, short test in November," said OJ, who was 1.7secs slower than de Puniet in 18th. "We've found a fairly good base set-up, but we've also identified some small changes that will improve things further for the next test. Randy showed that the bike is fast today, and I hope that the work I've completed over the three days with my new crew will allow us both to go even faster next time out. Of course, we need to keep working and to keep our motivation, because if we do this I think we might surprise a few people come the first race of the season."
For Kawasaki's new racing director, Ichiro Yoda, the first test of 2007 was a case of mission accomplished - the Japanese engineer having arrived in Sepang determined to show that the 800cc ZX-RR was a match for the competition.
"Time was short between our first shakedown test in November and the start of pre-season testing here in Sepang, but Kawasaki's engineers have done a good job with the bike and I think that was evident during these three days," said Yoda. "Both riders have done a good job here. Olivier has been away from MotoGP for a while, but quickly adapted to both the pace and working with a new crew. Randy has adapted well to the new bike, and this could be seen in the way he improved upon his best lap time here at Sepang. We leave here happy with our progress during this first test, but also with some clear targets for when we return here in two weeks. Randy had some issues with rear grip towards the end of his race simulation this afternoon, and this is one area on which we will focus during the next three days of testing."