Rizla Suzuki MotoGP shines in the Catalan rain
Rizla Suzuki MotoGP racers John Hopkins and Chris Vermeulen
both shone in this afternoon’s timed session at the
Official MotoGP Test at a wet and cold Catalunya.
Hopkins was the quickest rider of the day in the dry with
a time of 1’43.885 – his best of the weekend -
and was challenging for the top spot in the wet as well, trading
fastest times lap-by-lap with World Champion Valentino Rossi.
Unfortunately a fall with ten minutes of the session remaining
dashed his hopes of winning the BMW car that was up for grabs.
The Anglo-American showed his commitment by setting the fastest
speed in the braking area on the start/finish straight during
the timed session and led the leader board until his crash.
Colin Edwards on a Yamaha set the fastest overall time and
won the BMW Z4 Roadster.
Vermeulen achieved a fantastic fifth fastest time in the
wet conditions and the second highest top speed of all riders
in the start/finish speed trap, just behind team-mate Hopkins.
He clocked a time of 2’00.001 on the last of his 15
laps during the 40 minute session. In the morning free practise
the rookie Australian was only able to complete five laps
because the cold conditions aggravated his shoulder injury.
Rizla Suzuki MotoGP now move onto Jerez in Southern Spain
for a further Official MotoGP test next weekend before the
season starts with the first race, also at Jerez, on Sunday
26th March.
John Hopkins:
“It was pretty dangerous out on the track this afternoon
as there was hardly any temperature on the surface. I went
out and got comfortable in the wet and ended up staying out
there. The track got better and better and I think I just
got too greedy too early on. I made a mistake and ended up
going over the top and making a small high-side. I’d
like to say I was not trying too hard because the first race
is not for two weeks but I ended up crashing – so I
guess I must have been! We have done a lot of good stuff this
weekend and it’s looking positive for Jerez - right
now I’m pretty happy about the whole situation.”
Chris Vermeulen:
“Today from a test point of view was ok, in the fact
that I got some wet time on the track which I needed. I’ve
never ridden the new Rizla Suzuki GSV-R in the rain and have
very little experience of the Bridgestones in the wet. The
bike worked well and I was happy with my performance. I was
not worried about winning the car as my goal was to get experience
and to get quicker and quicker with every lap, but I am happy
that I was quite competitive. This morning there was some
dry time and I did five laps but my shoulder was quite stiff
so I came in and got some treatment on it – it feels
ok now. We still have a lot of things to test in Jerez - which
is another new track for me – and I’m really looking
forward to it.”
Paul Denning – Team Manager:
“The third and final day of this Official MotoGP Test
only brings Rizla Suzuki MotoGP more encouragement for the
season ahead. In the very cold but dry conditions this morning,
John did his fastest dry lap of the weekend – again
without a qualifying tyre. This afternoon in the wet timed
session he had one target only and that was to win. It looked
like a straight battle between John and Valentino Rossi, but
I think they pushed each other to the limit and both ended
up watching the last 10 minutes of the session.
“Chris had never ridden the Rizla Suzuki GSV-R in the
wet and took a different approach to the session. He gained
experience with every lap and his customary steady progress
made him the quickest Bridgestone rider and the fifth quickest
overall. It was a fantastic job which will give him more encouragement
as we go to Jerez and head towards the first race of the year.”
MotoGP Official Test Timed Session Classification:
1. Colin Edwards (Yamaha) 1’57.102: 2. Nicky Hayden
(Honda) +1.819: 3. Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) +2.258: 4. James
Ellison (Yamaha) +2.517: 5. CHRIS VERMEULEN (RIZLA SUZUKI
MOTOGP) +2.889: 6. Marco Melandri (Honda) +3.116: 7. Kenny
Roberts Jr (KR211V) +3.123: 8. Carlos Checa (Yamaha) +3.449:
9. JOHN HOPKINS (RIZLA SUZUKI MOTOGP) +3.519: 10. Randy De
Puniet (Kawasaki) +4.147
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