Doha, Qatar, MotoGP IRTA Test
Day 1, Thursday February 28th 2008
FIRST MOTOGP NIGHT TEST
The first MotoGP nocturnal session has finished without any
complication in Doha, Qatar. The Losail circuit has hosted
the first MotoGP World Championship session ever under the
floodlights; this was the last exam before next weekend’s
MotoGP round on the same circuit. The Alice Team riders have
declared themselves amused and satisfied about the conditions
of the track, totally approving the project. Tomorrow, the
MotoGP riders will have another possibility to adapt to the
cold and windy conditions of the lit up desert circuit.
Fabiano Sterlacchini – Technical Director
“It has been a unique experience. It is really incredible
to see how the riders have found themselves at ease thanks
to this incredible lighting system. We arrived here with many
doubts, but the exam has been passed with full votes. Our
riders have done quite well today. Sylvain has encountered
a few problems, but Toni has registered interesting lap times.
The track conditions were quite good. Tomorrow we will try
to give an even more competitive bike to both riders to get
them in the best condition possible for the first Grand Prix
of the season.”
Toni Elias – Alice Team Rider (11th best lap
time in 1’57.007 – Total laps 85)
“We have a lot to improve, but we are sure we have
found the right way to follow. The track is more than acceptable
and, notwithstanding some wind and sand, we have managed to
ride without too many problems. Surely the most complicated
thing will be to find the right pneumatics due to the low
asphalt temperature. I would say that my feeling with the
bike has improved a lot compared to the weekend in Jerez.
We consider ourselves satisfied of the work done today.”
Sylvain Guintoli – Alice Team Rider (17th best
lap time in 1’57.644 – Total laps 66)
“I can guarantee that when we stepped out onto the
track we didn’t even notice that it was night time.
The lighting system is perfect. Maybe the only complication
comes from the cold and wind that brings sand on the circuit.
But, lap after lap, the track has improved and things have
gotten better. We have worked a lot today, concentrating a
lot to find the right pneumatics for this condition that is
unusual compared to what we are used to. We hope to improve
a lot tomorrow, the track will surely have a better grip.”
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