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2002
DEC - OCT TEST
DEC
17-20, 2002, PHILLIP ISLAND AUSTRALIA
-
DUCATI
L CAPIROSSI - best time 1m 32.3s (vs 2002 pole 1m 31.919s, McWilliams/Proton
)
T BAYLISS - best time 1m 32.5s
DEC
16-18, 2002, SEPANG MALAYSIA
-
KAWASAKI
G McCOY - best time 2m 7.44s (vs 2002 pole 2m 4.487s,
Barros/Honda)
A PITT - best time 2m 7.7s
A YANAGAWA - best time 2m 7.85s
A HOFFMAN - best time 2m 8.88s
- QUOTE
McCOY: " ...these 3 days in Malaysia were
my first real test on the bike, and it’s too early to say where
we really stand. We didn’t really want to change the gearbox,
or run through a heap of tyres. Instead, we concentrated mainly on the
chassis, just so that the engineers could go back and get something
ready for the next test. When we return in January, we’ll start
to set up the bike properly for race conditions and rider’s preferences
on this track, and that’s when lap times will start to count ..
"
DEC
16-17, 2002, VALENCIA SPAIN
-
APRILIA
C EDWARDS - best time 1m 34.8s (vs 2002 pole 1m 33.211,
Biaggi/Yamaha)
N HAGA - best time 1m 36.1s
CAPIROSSI
SETS NEW RECORD AT JEREZ ON DUCATI ***
DEC
9-11, 2002, JEREZ TESTING "washed out"
-
YAMAHA
Rain and wet track prevented proper testing
QUOTE YAMAHA (G CRUST): "..
It's a real shame to end the year
with a wash-out .. We just hope that we have better luck
with the weather for all our tests at the beginning of next
year. We've obviously had time to get to know our new rider
(Melandri), which is nice ..."
DEC
4-6 , 2002, VALENCIA TESTING
-
YAMAHA
CHECA, best time of 1m 33.71s
BARROS, best time of 1m 34s
NAKANO, best time of 1m 34.2s
M MELANDRI - first time on Yamaha M1 MotoGP bike
best time of 1m 34.83s
JACQUE, best time of 1m 35.1s
DEC
1-3, 2002, JEREZ TESTING
-
DUCATI
T BAYLISS - best time 1m 44.5s (Twin Pulse mode)
L CAPIROSSI - best time 1m 42.1s (Desmosedici engine) NEW
RECORD - (faster than Valentino Rossi's pole
time in 2002)
QUOTE DUCATI (C CECCHINELLI): "
... These have been important tests for us. For the first
time we were able to really put the Desmosedici through
its paces and we are very satisfied with the times obtained
and the reliability of our new engine. We are still in the
development phase however and we know that there is a lot
more work to do. At Jerez we were competitive with respect
to this year's GP times, and we're obviously very satisfied
with that result, but for sure our rivals have also improved
since May so we mustn't think that we are already in a good
position. What we can say however is that the Desmosedici
is going well right from the start and doesn't appear to
have any structural problems, and that's positive .. "
- APRILIA
C EDWARDS - best time 1m 42.9s
QUOTE: " ... I’m really impressed with the Cube evolution
and today was truly special. This test session was really important,
not just for the new features, but for all the work we did. I
generally manage to get even more work done in a test session
but with the Cube it’s different: each single detail needs
to be worked out to perfection and we examine each of the choices
for the settings in much greater detail. We’ve still got
more work to do but we’re moving forward by leaps and bounds
and that makes me really satisfied ... "
DEC
2-3, 2002, VALENCIA TESTING
-
HONDA
T UKAWA - best time 1m 33.70s
D KATO - best time 1m 34.54s
N HAYDEN - best time 1m 35.50s
NOV
27-29, 2002, SUZUKA TESTING
-
KAWASAKI
QUOTE PITT: " ..We have got through a lot of
work with the engine and chassis at Suzuka, thanks mainly
to the proximity of the track to the factory ... I am getting
used to the bike now and we are getting
some really good tyre feedback. This is a joint effort with
Dunlop to develop tyres for next season and I am very encouraged.
We have made a lot of progress in the two tests since the
end of the season and I am looking forward to continuing at
Sepang ... "
NOV
20, 2002, JEREZ TESTING
-
EDWARDS
- first test on Aprilia
QUOTE: " ..Monday’s fall was my first real
‘contact’ with the system the RS Cube uses to unleash
its horsepower. I’ve spent 24 years of my life learning
to open up the gas on a racing bike and on Monday I suddenly discovered
a completely new way to do it ... What
actually happens is you give the command to a computer that sends
it to the engine. It’s something new and has to be learnt.
My very first experience, my debut with this system was pretty
powerful. I closed the throttle at the moment I thought best,
then there was a delay of a fraction of a second, the rear wheel
started slipping and I went for a slide ... I’m amazed by
the Cube, it’s an extraordinary bike. You can customise
it as much as you like with no end of different settings - it’s
a lab on two wheels, really special ... I was expecting a lot
of power, but certainly not that much. We did a lot of work, in
spite of the rain. It must be said you can’t feel changes
in the set-up nearly as much when you’re riding in the wet,
but I think we’ve been able to do some good work that’ll
help us in the forthcoming sessions... "
NOV
20, 2002, SEPANG TESTING
-
HOPKINS
- first test on Suzuki
QUOTE: " ..I thought my first ride on the Suzuki
was really good ... I went out and had fun and put in the
laps. The bike was everything I´d expected, and it was
really good to get back on Michelin tyres. I felt real confident
on them right away, and that´s one of the big things
I´m happy about. To ride, the bike is a little like
a 500 in some ways, and in other ways more like my old Suzuki.
The way it handles is like the GP bike, but it seemed quite
a bit easier to ride than a 500. It gets the power to the
ground more like the Formula Xtreme bike, and there´s
a real lot of power ... "
NOV
12, 2002, MOTEGI TESTING
-
HAYDEN
- first test on Honda
QUOTE: " .. I'm impressed how fast it is, but the
power is still real smooth. It's like wheelie-ing everywhere. Acceleration
is so hard, but really smooth. In the morning it was a little bit
difficult, as the machine, tyres, carbon discs, the track, everything
was new, the track was half-wet, and I haven't been riding since
the final round of AMA Superbike in August. When I hit the brake
for the first time, I was kind of surprised how it doesn't work
when it's cold ....
The bike is much smaller than the Superbike and feels different,
but I like it! I really enjoyed riding. But you know, I'm still
kind of learning the track and also the bike, so I'm not real comfortable
yet .. "
NOV
5/6, 2002, VALENCIA TESTING
-
CAPIROSSI
- first test on Ducati
QUOTE: " .. This is just the first day, but I am so
happy about the bike's standard. My first feelings are that it is
very good, the engine braking is different of course compared to the
two-stroke, but I have only just done a few laps. Ducati are working
so hard on their MotoGP entry next year, and this is a big dream for
both them and me ... "
-
GIBERNAU
- first test on Honda
QUOTE: " ... It's been
really exciting, just jumping on this bike you can tell that it has
been winning, and it is definitely a bike that works well in many
different areas. It is a very well balanced machine, and as a rider
I am satisfied, and I feel confident for next year. With Telefonica
MoviStar I believe we have chosen the best team and the best bike,
and whilst we still have to get the motorcycle to suit me and my riding
style, I feel that with a lot of hard work over the winter, we can
be very competitive ... "
- BIAGGI
- first test on Honda
QUOTE: " ... Today was just my first taste of a new machine. It
is a little bit different, but I am pleased with the decision I have
taken. We tested the measurements of the bike, such as the handlebars,
foot pegs and levers, to see how I fit onto it. I was simply trying
to understand the character of the machine on this track, and because
we have just raced here it was comfortable for me. It will take time
to get experience on this bike, everything is very new to me, and I
will have to get used to its different sensations ... "
- BARROS
- first test on Yamaha
QUOTE: " ... I'm very happy indeed, the Yamaha is just as good
as the Honda, and I have already started to ride quickly with it. This
factory bike is the opportunity I have been waiting for throughout the
16 years of my career, and it will give me the dream chance to be able
to fight for the MotoGP title ... "
OCT,
2002, MUGELLO TESTING
- BAYLISS
- first test on Ducati
QUOTE: " ... I was able to do a 1:54.3
before the weather closed in and brought the test to an end .. Being
so early in the test schedule with the bike, the times were extremely
good. I think Valentino Rossi did a 1:53.1 on his way to winning the
MotoGP here earlier this year. I was definitely pleased about that as
I wasn’t sure how close we were going to get to the times set
by the GP guys earlier this year ... I
come away from the test feeling very happy. I was having so much fun
riding the bike, even though it was starting to get very cold. I can’t
wait for the next test to get back on it ...”
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