Catalunya MotoGP test
GIBERNAU IMPROVES, CAPIROSSI RECUPERATES
Ducati Marlboro Team riders Sete Gibernau and Loris Capirossi
had very different days at Catalunya today. While Gibernau
was able to ride 82 laps and improve on his Friday best by
0.772s, Capirossi spent most of the day recuperating from
a nasty stomach virus.
In cloudy and slightly cooler conditions, Gibernau was happy
with progress, improving the consistency of his Desmosedici
GP6 by careful work on set-up and tyres. This allowed him
to ride his fastest lap at the end of the day when track conditions
were past their best. Capirossi only completed 15 laps after
a sleepless night. Despite severe stomach pains he did ride
two outings, immediately improving his best time by 0.672s
and verifying the front-end geometry adjustments made to his
GP6. Test rider Vittoriano Guareschi focused on engine braking
to better understand yesterday's engine-braking issues.
FILIPPO PREZIOSI, Ducati Corse director
"Loris wasn't able to do much today but he did try different
front-end geometry for more high-speed stability. My thanks
to him for testing even when he was sick. Sete meanwhile worked
his way through many different things. He tried different
front-end geometry for more stability and better front feel,
plus different rear-shock settings, different handlebars and,
of course, different tyres. Most importantly the bike is now
more consistent on lap times. We solved our engine-braking
problems by going back to the set-up we used at the previous
test for Loris, while Sete was able to test some new software
which worked to his satisfaction. Loris will try this software
tomorrow when we also hope to continue our set-up work because
we still have a lot more things to try."
SETE GIBERNAU, 82 laps, 5th fastest, 1m 43.784s
"Today was a tough, tough day, very physically and mentally
demanding but it's been good. We went through a lot of stuff
and I'd like to thank the team and Bridgestone for giving
100 per cent and doing a great job. We are still working hard
on the bike, we've still a way to go but we're definitely
chipping away. We worked on geometry, electronics, tyres,
everything. We are making the whole package better, more predictable,
more consistent, and the tyres are giving me more driveability
now, which is the whole ballgame."
LORIS CAPIROSSI, 15 laps, 13th fastest, 1m 44.581s
"What a bad day. I didn't sleep all night, I was sick
and had stomach pains, probably because of a virus. This morning
the Clinica Mobile put me on a drip, but they advised me not
to ride. Anyway, I wanted to test the set-up changes we'd
made. I did just two outings and that was enough to realise
we had taken the right direction because I faster straight
away, even though I'm sick. This is very important for tomorrow.
If the dry weather stays and I'm feeling better we will be
able to fully exploit our last day here."
Temperatures: Ambient: 19 degrees. Track: 20 degrees
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