Winter Test 2007 - Day1 Sepang Circuit (Malaysia)
POSITIVE TESTING DAY AT SEPANG FOR THE PRAMAC D’ANTIN
MOTOGP TEAM
It was a good day for the PRAMAC D’ANTIN MotoGP Team,
who returned to the racetrack full of determination for the
first winter testing session of 2007. In the Malaysian circuit
of Sepang, the Brazilian rider, Alex Barros, continued the
work on the DUCATI GP7 set-up that he started at the end of
2006 at Jerez de la Frontera. Alex Hofmann, the German pilot,
expressed his joy of riding the DUCATI GP7 once again, a bike
which he had not ridden since testing the 800cc prototype,
equipped with Bridgestone tires, at the Mugello circuit in
the summer of 2006.
 Alex
Barros (2.04.011 – 44 laps): ”The first
day back was a hard but satisfying day. Working on the chassis
and with the software, we have tried to make the overall configuration
better, to further develop both the bike and the tires over
the next few days. In comparison with Jerez’s tests,
we have made good progress, changing some settings so that
I'm more comfortable. I’m very satisfied with the work
the team has made, and I’m really sure which is the
right way to proceed. I’m confident I will ride well.
Tomorrow we’ll continue the work we started today and
we'll focus more of our attention on testing tires.”
Alex Hofmann (2.04.003 – 63 laps):
” I’m very satisfied. It was a tough day,and physically
also, because we made a lot of laps to find the best general
setting. I’ve got great confidece with the new package,
both the bike and the tires, and we managed to identify a
good solution for the front. Although I’ve already had
a strong winter training regimen, it was critical for me to
start riding the new motorbike to find the right feeling.
The riding characteristics of the 800cc are good from my perspective.
Even though we still have a lot of work to do, I know that
our potential is very high, and I’m sure we can be faster!”
Fabiano Sterlacchini – Track Engineer for Alex
Barros: “The work made today was focused on
the general set-up and software improvement. In the afternoon
we resolved some set-up issues that we had during the morning
session. Barros' pace is good, and tomorrow, thanks to the
results we obtained today, we’ll be able to perform
some different tests with tires.” Emanuele Martinelli
- Track Engineer for Alex Hofmann: ”It was be a positive
day for Hofmann. In the morning, we worked on defining the
general set-up and over the remainder of the test, we'll work
on improving the bike with some new solutions. The feeling
with the GP7 is very good, particularly with the front. Tomorrow
we’ll start testing tires.”
Unofficial Times:
1° John Hopkins 2’02.277
2° Chris Vermeulen 2’03.049
3° Valentino Rossi 2’03.184
4° Colin Edwards 2’03.337
5° Nicky Hayden 2’03.413
11° Alex Hofmann 2’04.003 1
12° Alex Barros 2’04.011
Condition: Temperature: 87° F/ Ground: 122°F
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