KONICA MINOLTA Honda ready for opening race of 2007
KONICA MINOLTA Honda are ready for the opening race of the
season which takes place at the Losail circuit in Qatar this
weekend. With months of hectic winter testing behind them
and with much data and information on their new Honda RC212V
MotoGP machine, now is the time to test themselves against
the best riders, race Teams and motorcycle manufacturers in
the world. Winter testing has been gruelling work for all
the Teams, but KONICA MINOLTA Honda has had many things to
get acclimatised to. For 2007 they have a new rider in 29-year-old
Japanese racer Shinya Nakano. The former 250cc GP runner-up
has moved to Honda machinery after many years on competitor’s
bikes and has worked hard to get used to the new 800cc machine
as well as the new Michelin tyres and his new Team.
Practice begins on Thursday, qualifying on Friday while the
race takes place on Saturday 10th March.
Gianluca Montiron – Team Manager KONICA MINOLTA
Honda
“To be in the top five of the MotoGP Class is our aim
this season and I believe that we can hit this target with
the package we have. We know we are in a good position with
the race tyre and this is a fundamental point for us. We now
have to improve our performance with the qualifying tyre because,
to be in the top group, we have to start from the front row.
We started the winter test schedule last November and I believe
that it has taken time for the riders to adapt their various
riding styles to the new 800cc machines. Testing is now over,
so now it’s that exciting time where we check what our
level is in the first race against the world’s best
riders and Teams. With a top-five championship position our
aim, we know that we need to win some races as well this season.
It’s going to be an exciting year for us!”
Shinya Nakano – Rider, KONICA MINOLTA Honda
“I’m looking forward to the first race of the
season at Qatar. I have a new Team and a new package with
the Honda RC212V and Michelin tyres. We have completed four
tests over the winter and we’re maybe 80% there so I’m
looking at making the other 20% up during the race weekend.
The new 800cc machines will, I think, make for more competitive
racing, although maybe it will be harder to overtake. Qualifying
will be key this year and I think in this I need to have more
time getting used to the Michelin qualifying tyres. I can
feel the performance and grip but can’t use all that
potential, so perhaps we need to look at our qualifying set-up
a little. As a rider I always say there is never enough time
on the bike in qualifying! As far as results go, the important
thing is to cross the finish line and get good points as 2007
is a very long race season. I enjoy the Losail track, although
it isn’t one of my favourites, but testing here showed
that our bike suited the track perhaps more than Phillip Island
or Sepang, so let’s hope that is the case come the race
on Saturday.”
Giulio Bernardelle – Technical Director, KONICA
MINOLTA Honda
“We have the new 800cc bikes and some new rules for
2007 which should make things interesting and exciting from
a technical standpoint. This year we can now use only 14 fronts
and 17 rear tyres, there is also a reduction in fuel tank
capacity to just 21 litres. I think it will not be very easy
for technicians and riders to manage the rear tyres well because
we will be forced to work with a reduced number of choices.
In the end this should give the advantage to the Team who
will be able to better schedule the work during the few practice
sessions that we have. On the basis of the data from our last
test in Qatar we will give Shinya a set-up expressly developed
to make the best use of the Michelin qualifying tyres this
should promote us up to a good starting position on the grid.”
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