Rizla Suzuki MotoGP completes 2007 test schedule
 Rizla
Suzuki MotoGP has concluded its 2007 post-season test schedule
with a successful behind-closed-doors two-day test at Phillip
Island in Australia.
Chris Vermeulen, Loris Capirossi and the rest of the Suzuki
Grand Prix team travelled to the southern hemisphere to put
the new 2008 prototype Suzuki GSV-R through its paces, while
the other MotoGP teams gathered at Jerez in Spain for their
final tests. Rizla Suzuki MotoGP chose to travel to Australia
due to the technical and demanding nature of the 4,448km long
circuit and was rewarded for its efforts with a thorough and
complete evaluation of the new machine by both riders that
will enable the Team to make significant advances in readiness
for next year’s assault on the MotoGP World Championship.
Both riders carried out a huge test schedule – covering
nearly 400 laps or 1,800km between them - as they were able
to assess the new GSV-R with some very in-depth testing without
the distractions of other riders on the circuit. The Factory
Engineers now have a clear direction of which direction they
need to go, not just to make the new bike more competitive
at Phillip Island, but also at the other 17 circuits that
Rizla Suzuki MotoGP will visit in 2008.
Rizla Suzuki MotoGP now has a seven-week test ban throughout
December and January when the riders and crew are not allowed
to turn a wheel on a track, but this doesn’t mean the
work stops. The Suzuki Factory race department will be working
tirelessly throughout this enforced test ban to make sure
that Vermeulen and Capirossi have the most competitive machinery
available when the 2008 MotoGP season gets underway, with
the first-ever Grand Prix under lights, at Doha in Qatar on
Sunday 9th March next year.
Chris Vermeulen:
“This has been a very positive test for us and we have
got through loads of stuff during the two days! It’s
quite difficult to gauge how well you are doing with no other
riders here, but that has also been a positive thing as we
have been able to get on with our job and not worry about
other riders or lap-times. I know my pace on the new bike
was better than the race here in October, but that was not
what this test was all about. We were here to find out what
would make the bike work better and we have certainly made
big steps towards doing that, we have learned a lot that will
help us not just at Phillip Island but elsewhere as well.
It’s now just a shame that we have seven weeks off as
I would like to continue working with the new bike and making
sure we are as competitive as we can be when the season starts
next March!”
Loris Capirossi:
“It was a very good test for me. I did nearly 200 laps
and got through an incredible amount of work and we have found
a good direction to go in. We got though our full test schedule
and although we still have some things to improve, we now
have a clear idea of what is needed and we are confident that
we know how we are going to get there. I am really enjoying
my time with the new team and it is now sad that we have to
have such a long break, but I will come back refreshed and
ready to get going at the end of January – I can’t
wait for my first race on the Suzuki!”
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