Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra news Valencia tests,
27-29 March, 2006 Tuesday 28th March
Circuit: 4.000 kms.
Weather: Dry, sunny 22-24C
Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra continued their extensive
work testing different components (clutch, camshaft, forks,
rear shock, swinging arms etc.) and a variety of settings
at Valencia today and made good progress. Despite not using
any qualifying tyres today, Troy Corser finished second quickest,
just half a second or so behind Troy Bayliss (Ducati). Yukio
Kagayama ended fifth quickest and Alstare Engineering Corona
Extra rider Fabien Foret posted the sixteenth fastest time
as he continued his steep Superbike learning curve. Fabien
was only a second behind Corser - an indication that the Frenchman
is getting to grips with his life in Superbike. Strong winds
hindered today’s tests, but Yukio was perhaps the only
rider claiming not to have been affected by them in the afternoon
session.
TROY CORSER - 1:35.571
So far the two days have gone pretty well and we’ve
tested a variety of stuff including different clutch components,
forks, rear shocks and other stuff. These are the kind of
things we never get a real chance to try out during a race
weekend, so these three days are giving us a lot of time to
try things and evaluate them. All the info should help improve
what is already a good package. Today was a bit windy and
I had to be careful exiting turn one and also going over the
hill before the last two turns. It would’ve pretty easy
to crash through there, so I made sure I took it carefully.
It was hotter in the afternoon and I felt that the tyres didn’t
work as well as the morning when it was a bit cooler. For
me, generally, the Pirellis are like that and it’s something
to be aware off - especially in a race. My little finger of
my right hand has been a little stiff (since the fall at Phillip
Island) and it’s possible that it may have a greenstick
fracture. It’s a little bit sore when I pull my gloves
on, but not bad enough to affect me on the track. Tomorrow
we’ve got more different things to try and by the end
we should have a lot of useful information to study.
YUKIO KAGAYAMA - 1:35.889
I think the tests have gone well so far. I had a little crash
yesterday, but no damage - well not to me anyway! Sorry to
the mechanics though, because I gave them extra work! Here
we have been trying many different things, trying to get a
good setting for the bike so that when we come here for the
race in one month or so, we can start in a good position.
We had some clutch problems in Qatar, so this is one area
where we have been working on and hope to have a good solution
by the end of tomorrow. Many riders said they had problems
with the wind and change of temperature this afternoon, but
for me there was no big difference! Maybe the tyres do not
work as well when it is hotter, but I didn’t notice
it so much. I’m happy with the progress we have made
so far and hope to make further progress tomorrow.
FABIEN FORET - 1:36.577
I am happy because I am finally beginning to enjoy riding
my bike. When I first jumped on it, I think I was trying to
ride it a bit like I rode in Supersport. But yesterday and
today it is beginning to feel like my bike and I am starting
to have fun with it. You can ride a Supersport bike fast even
if the set-up is not perfect, but you can’t do that
with a Superbike because there are so many more variables.
Understanding them takes time and I am learning as fast as
I can. Riding the first two rounds of the championship was
a good experience, but it is good to come here with no pressure
and try different things. I think we are making good progress
now and I am hoping it continues tomorrow.
Best lap times (after two days)
1 Bayliss (Aus-Ducati) 1:34.987,
2 TROY CORSER (Aus-Alstare Suzuki
Corona Extra) 1:35.571,
3 Haga (J-Yamaha) 1:35.618,
4 Walker (GB- Kawasaki) 1:35.827,
5 YUKIO KAGAYAMA (J-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 1:35.889,
6 Nieto (E-Kawasaki) 1:35.974,
7 Lanzi (I-Ducati) 1:36.009,
8 Muggeridge (Aus-Honda) 1:36.034,
9 Xaus (E-Ducati) 1:36.175, 10
Pitt (Aus-Yamaha) 1:36.215,
16 FABIEN FORET (F-Alstare Engineering Corona Extra) 1:36.577,
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