PRODUCTIVE TEST FOR TEAM ALSTARE
The two-day tests at Misano proved to be very productive
for Team Alstare and all three riders were happy to leave
Misano having done good jobs. The weather behaved itself during
the two days and for once rain did not spoil play. Troy Bayliss
(Ducati) ended up the fastest rider, but that was no surprise
as Misano is well regarded as a circuit for ‘twins’,
Alstare’s Troy (Corser) set the second quickest time
of the tests, with Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha) third and Lorenzo
Lanzi (Ducati) fourth. Misano’s Superbike lap record
was set way back in 2002, but today the top fifteen, including
Alstare’s Fabien Foret, all went quicker!
TROY CORSER
I think these two days have been very productive and we’ve
made another step forward. We’ve worked a lot on suspension
and I tried a different rear pivot and link and also some
front end changes as well and I feel we made a significant
improvement. The track has been pretty consistent over the
two days and the grip level has stayed more or less the same
throughout. We haven’t had any clutch problems - well
none that I can think about anyway, so that’s been good
news as well. I tried the new big ‘‘200’
tyre from Pirelli and I quite liked it. On full lean the side
grip is better. It’s a little slower changing directions
- not so much losing time, but harder work for me! Misano
has always been a ‘twins’ circuit, so we knew
that we’d be chasing Bayliss around here. His bike seems
to have just a little extra punch out of the slow turns -
it’s just the nature of a twin and we can’t do
too much about that - but we’ll work on other areas
to compensate.
YUKIO KAGAYAMA
I’m happy with the way the tests have gone and we have
done much good work. Here at Misano, I concentrated on working
on the engine. We tried different settings, mapping etc.,
and I also tried a development engine ( an engine with some
new parts) this afternoon. I think it has good potential,
but we need to do more work on it. At the moment I prefer
my bike from the morning. We made a good set-up for it and
I had a good feeling with it. These two days, I had no problems
and no crashes, so this makes me feel happy.
FABIEN FORET
I am very happy because we have done a good job on the bike
during these two days and now I have a good feeling with the
bike. At the last test in Valencia I was able to do some good
laps, but I was not consistent. Here, I’ve done some
good laps and they have been much more consistent. I’m
now feeling that I’m riding a Superbike not a Supersport
bike and although I’m not at 100% yet, it’s getting
closer. Of course, I am still learning this bike, but everything
is starting to come together. I followed Yukio for a while
this afternoon and I could see where I was losing ground and
it made me think about what to do next time out. After this
test, I have a much better idea of what I feel, what I want
and what I would like. And, most of all, I have enjoyed myself!
Results (2-day)
1 Bayliss (Aus-Ducati) 143 laps, best lap 1:33.317,
2 TROY CORSER (Aus-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 140 laps,
best lap 1:33.824,
3 Haga (J-Yamaha) 111 laps, best lap 1:33.870,
4 Lanzi (I-Ducati) 127 laps, best lap 1:33.933,
5 Walker (GB-Kawasaki) 117 laps, best lap 1:33.984,
6 Laconi (F-Kawasaki) 145 laps, best lap 1:34.085,
7 Nieto (E-Kawasaki) 130 laps, best lap 1:34.181,
8 YUKIO KAGAYAMA (J-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 141 laps,
best lap 1:34.266
9 Xaus (E-Ducati) 134 laps, best lap 1:34.315
10 Pitt (Aus-Yamaha) 122 laps, best lap 1:34.469,
12 FABIEN FORET (F-Alstare Engineering Corona Extra) 156 laps,
best lap 1:34.660
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