Rizla Suzuki MotoGP on the pace from day one
 Rizla
Suzuki MotoGP racers Chris Vermeulen and Loris Capirossi started
the 2008 pre-season testing schedule in good form today, as
both riders recorded times inside the top-four.
Vermeulen completed 57 laps of the 5.5km Sepang International
Circuit in Malaysia and recorded a best time of 2’02.074,
to give him third place on the timesheets. Team-mate Capirossi
also made a strong start to his ’official’ Rizla
Suzuki MotoGP career by recording the fourth quickest lap
of the track with a fastest time of 2’02.416 during
his 61 laps.
Both riders took the first steps in a huge test programme
that will continue not only at this test, but also forthcoming
events in Australia, Spain and Qatar, to make the Suzuki GSV-R
as competitive as possible come the start of the racing calendar.
Vermeulen and Capirossi tested new aerodynamics, electronic
control strategies, and new Bridgestone constructions and
compounds - as well as the new 2008 GSV-R engine - and will
also evaluate a new chassis and swing-arm specification, and
a further comprehensive test of the latest generation of Bridgestone
tyres. Suzuki’s two Grand Prix stars were able to use
the 2008 spec engine during today’s tests and although
further refinements are still required, both riders noticed
a big step in performance from last year’s machine.
Rizla Suzuki MotoGP has two more days at Sepang before it
moves on to Phillip Island in Australia next week.
Chris Vermeulen:
“It was good to finally get back out on the bike, although
I did feel a bit rusty this morning! It’s been nearly
seven weeks off and when I first went out it was quite exciting
for the first couple of laps because my GSV-R is a bit quicker
than my Suzuki RM250 back at home! Suzuki has done a great
job in the off-season and we had a lot of new parts to test
on the bike. We tested almost everything and found lots of
positives and found new direction in which we could go, which
makes it even better. We did a lot of tyre testing for Bridgestone
and they have also done a good job since we last rode the
bike, so everything at the moment seems to be going well.
It’s only the first day, but hopefully tomorrow we can
improve on today and take more steps forward.”
Loris Capirossi:
“I am really happy with everything and I think Suzuki,
and the test riders, have done a great job with the bike since
the last test. We tried many things and we still have more
settings and things to try over the next two days to get the
best package for me on the bike. I know we have a long way
to go still, but this was a very positive first day of 2008!
It was also really good to be out in the Rizla blue for the
first time as well, I am happy to be part of this family!”
Sepang Test Day One Classification:
1. Randy de Puniet (Honda) 2’02.377: 2. Dani Pedrosa
(Honda) +0.487: 3. CHRIS VERMEULEN (RIZLA SUZUKI MOTOGP) +0.697:
4. LORIS CAPIROSSI (RIZLA SUZUKI MOTOGP) +1.039: 5. Casey
Stoner (Ducati) +1.080:
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