2008 Pre-Season Testing

jhansen · 6 Nov 2007, 16:57 (Ref:2061320)

This thread will serve as the basis for any and all comments regarding pre-season testing for the 2008 season. Riders have been on the track today at Valencia with several riders making their debut on 800cc machinery. This is also the first chance for many of those making the switch between teams to ride their new bikes.

Loris Capirossi (making his Suzuki debut).
John Hopkins (making his Kawasaki debut).
Jorge Lorenzo (making his Yamaha & 800cc debut).
Marco Melandri (making his factory Ducati debut).
Sylvain Guintoli (making his d'Antin Ducati debut).
Andrea Dovizioso (making his JiR Team Scot debut).
Alex de Angelis (making his MotoGP debut for Honda Gresini).
Shinya Nakano (making his Honda Gresini debut).
Randy de Puniet (making his Honda LCR debut).
Nicky Hayden and Dani Pedrosa (riding the 2008 RC212V).

Per motogp.com Casey Stoner currently leads the way with a 1:32.348 followed by Hayden who was second quick with a lap in the low 33's. Have not seen a complete list of times yet.

Jorge Lorenzo:

http://www.crash.net/motorsport/moto...ks_motogp.html

Some not so great pics:

http://www.crash.net/gallery~cid~6~c...st_6112007.htm

jhansen · 6 Nov 2007, 16:59 (Ref:2061323)

A small pic of the new Honda RC212V. I see an undertail exhaust and it supposedly has pneumatic valves.

http://www.crash.net/motorsport/moto...da_rc212v.html

Gerben24 · 6 Nov 2007, 17:11 (Ref:2061332)

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhansen

A small pic of the new Honda RC212V. I see an undertail exhaust and it supposedly has pneumatic valves.

http://www.crash.net/motorsport/moto...da_rc212v.html

I also see an 'upside down' swingarm like Yamaha have had for a few years now.

jhansen · 6 Nov 2007, 17:13 (Ref:2061333)

Indeed. Fairing seems a bit different as well.

jhansen · 6 Nov 2007, 17:52 (Ref:2061365)

Tuesday times per motogp.com

Casey Stoner - Ducati - 1:32.348 - 26 laps
Nicky Hayden - Repsol Honda - 1:33.176 - 26 laps
Chris Vermeulen - Rizla Suzuki - 1:33.186 - 49 laps
Loris Capirossi - Rizla Suzuki - 1:33.266 - 34 laps
Dani Pedrosa - Repsol Honda - 1:33.387 - 35 laps
Toni Elias - d'Antin Ducati - 1:33.508 - 42 laps
Randy de Puniet - LCR Honda - 1:33.563 - 59 laps
Shinya Nakano - Gresini Honda - 1:33.901 - 46 laps
John Hopkins - Kawasaki - 1:34.277 - 43 laps
Jorge Lorenzo - Fiat Yamaha - 1:34.330 - 50 laps
Sylvain Guintoli - d'Antin Ducati - 1:34.367 - 45 laps
Marco Mlandri - Ducati - 1:34.433 - 44 laps
Alex de Angelis - Gresni Honda - 1:34.471 - 47 laps
Andrea Dovizioso - JiR Team Scot - 1:34.760 - 48 laps
Nobu Aoki - Rizla Suzuki - 1:35.564 - 48 laps
Olivier Jacque - Kawasaki - 1:35.727 - 50 laps
Vittoriano Guareschi - Ducati - 1:36.115 - 29 laps

jhansen · 6 Nov 2007, 19:49 (Ref:2061445)

A better pic of the 2008 spec RC212V. This bike does nothing for me. The RC211V was a much nicer looking machine. This one is hideous.

http://www.motogp.com/en/motogp/popu...55.htm?lang=en

jhansen · 6 Nov 2007, 19:58 (Ref:2061453)

Bunch of quotes from day 1:

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2007/Nov/071106a.htm

minimangler · 7 Nov 2007, 00:11 (Ref:2061690)

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhansen

A better pic of the 2008 spec RC212V. This bike does nothing for me. The RC211V was a much nicer looking machine. This one is hideous.

http://www.motogp.com/en/motogp/popu...55.htm?lang=en

It seems incredibly skeletal, there's virtually no fairing at all. Must be running pretty hot too need that much air? Or am I behind on MotoGP aero?

FPV GTHO · 7 Nov 2007, 03:16 (Ref:2061762)

Quote:

Originally Posted by minimangler

Or am I behind on MotoGP aero?

I dont think youre too far behind. Ducati were running fairly large fairings all year which apparently made them achieve their top speeds easier, and they went to a smaller fairing when it got windy towards the end of the season after their larger fairings were knocked around a fair bit earlier in the season.

Gerben24 · 7 Nov 2007, 08:17 (Ref:2061845)

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhansen

A better pic of the 2008 spec RC212V. This bike does nothing for me. The RC211V was a much nicer looking machine. This one is hideous.

http://www.motogp.com/en/motogp/popu...55.htm?lang=en

I wouldn't mind having it in my garage

Regarding the fairing, they can't fit any more fairing bits as the bike is so small and the rider wouldn't fit on it anymore. It doesn't look nice, but it's very clever engineering (unless your name is Nicky Hayden, than you have to ask for a different fairing all year).

Gerben24 · 7 Nov 2007, 08:24 (Ref:2061849)

Andrea Dovizioso's reaction after having his first ride on the Honda RCV212V: "The electronics make a big difference. On every corner I can fully open the throttle and the traction control handles it – even on a bike with more than 100bhp more than my 250! If I did that on a 250 I would go flying in the air and it would hurt!"

jhansen · 7 Nov 2007, 18:27 (Ref:2062345)

Wednesday Test Times:

Casey Stoner - Ducati Marlboro - 1:32.095 - 55 laps (B)
Nicky Hayden - Repsol Honda - 1min 32.434 - 92 laps (M)
Randy de Puniet - Honda LCR - 1:32.625 - 83 laps (M)
Dani Pedrosa - Repsol Honda - 1:32.718 - 88 laps (M)
Chris Vermeulen - Rizla Suzuki - 1:32.979 - 88 laps (B)
John Hopkins - Kawasaki - 1:33.058 - 59 laps (B)
Loris Capirossi - Rizla Suzuki - 1:33.163 - 64 laps (B)
Toni Elias - d'Antin Ducati - 1:33.294 - 74 laps (B)
Shinya Nakano - Honda Gresini - 1:33.465 - 92 laps (B)
Sylvain Guintoli - d'Antin Ducati - 1:33.571 - 80 laps (B)
Jorge Lorenzo - Fiat Yamaha - 1:33.588 - 69 laps (M)
Anthony West - Kawasaki - 1:33.695 - 99 laps (B)
Marco Melandri - Ducati Marlboro - 1:33.835 - 87 laps (B)
Andrea Dovizioso - JiR Team Scot - 1:33.991 - 82 laps (M)
Alex de Angelis - Honda Gresini - 1:34.060 - 84 laps (B)
Nobu Aoki - Suzuki - 1:35.043 -61 laps (B)
Vittoriano Guareschi - Ducati - 1:35.840 - 59 laps (B)

jhansen · 7 Nov 2007, 19:22 (Ref:2062380)

Quotes from Day 2:

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2007/Nov/071107a.htm

Of note: Hayden quicker on the old bike. Dani says bike is a bigger, but ok for me.

Gerben24 · 8 Nov 2007, 08:05 (Ref:2062719)

Only one surprise so far, Melandri struggling to adapt to the Ducati. Seems like he had to make some radical changes, like changing the wheel base.

Gerben24 · 11 Nov 2007, 11:39 (Ref:2064874)

Founds some movies on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAFBZvH-8WY

This one is great, turn up the volume:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kT1HX8keXyk

minimangler · 11 Nov 2007, 15:01 (Ref:2064999)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gerben24

Andrea Dovizioso's reaction after having his first ride on the Honda RCV212V: "The electronics make a big difference. On every corner I can fully open the throttle and the traction control handles it – even on a bike with more than 100bhp more than my 250! If I did that on a 250 I would go flying in the air and it would hurt!"

i agree

jhansen · 15 Nov 2007, 16:04 (Ref:2068139)

Day 1 times from Sepang:

1. Randy de Puniet (M) 2min 3.033 secs
2. Chris Vermeulen (B) 2min 3.357 secs
3. Colin Edwards (M) 2min 3.406 secs
4. Andrea Dovizioso (M) 2min 3.607 secs
5. Loris Capirossi (B) 2min 3.748 secs
6. Anthony West (B) 2min 4.068 secs
7. Nicky Hayden (M) 2min 4.164 secs
8. John Hopkins (B) 2min 4.316 secs
9. Jorge Lorenzo (M) 2min 4.433 secs
10. James Toseland (M) 2min 5.438 secs

Gerben24 · 16 Nov 2007, 09:35 (Ref:2068706)

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhansen

Day 1 times from Sepang:

4. Andrea Dovizioso (M) 2min 3.607 secs

Nakano's quickest lap during the race 2min 4.580
Nakano's qualy lap 2min 3.233

Impressive time by Dovizioso.

jhansen · 16 Nov 2007, 15:30 (Ref:2068934)

Day 2 times from Sepang:

1. John Hopkins (B) 2min 2.200 secs
2. Chris Vermeulen oGP (B) 2min 2.344 secs
3. Randy de Puniet (M) 2min 2.550 secs
4. Andrea Dovizioso ot (M) 2min 2.591 secs
5. Loris Capirossi (B) 2min 2.698 secs
6. Nicky Hayden (M) 2min 2.800 secs
7. Colin Edwards (M) 2min 2.831 secs
8. Anthony West (B) 2min 3.093 secs
9. Jorge Lorenzo (M) 2min 4.021 secs
10. James Toseland (M) 2min 4.278 secs

Fastest lap by manufacturer from 2007 Malaysian GP:
Ducati: Casey Stoner (B) 2min 2.108secs
Yamaha: Valentino Rossi (M) 2min 2.303secs
Honda: Marco Melandri (B) 2min 2.330secs
Kawasaki: Randy de Puniet (B) 2min 2.503secs
Suzuki: Chris Vermeulen (B) 2min 3.023secs

Hayden: "I smoked my first snake, the poor thing," confirmed Nicky. "I was just heading through turn 11 when the snake sat up and I saw it but I was committed on the apex of the corner. I picked the machine up and tried to avoid him but caught him with my knee. I'm pretty sure it was a cobra and I'm sorry for it."

jhansen · 17 Nov 2007, 23:07 (Ref:2069850)

Day 3 times from Sepang:

1. Nicky Hayden (M) 2min 0.592 secs
2. Colin Edwards (M) 2min 1.811 secs
3. John Hopkins (B) 2min 2.047 secs
4. Andrea Dovizioso (M) 2min 2.128 secs
5. Chris Vermeulen (B) 2min 2.447 secs
6. Loris Capirossi (B) 2min 2.587 secs
7. Jorge Lorenzo (M) 2min 2.643 secs
8. Anthony West (B) 2min 2.659 secs
9. Randy de Puniet (M) 2min 2.700 secs
10. James Toseland (M) 2min 3.550 secs

Hayden used a qualy today, but did manage to shatter Pedrosa's qualifying lap record of 2min 1.877 secs from the Malaysian GP.

SALEEN S7R · 18 Nov 2007, 00:20 (Ref:2069870)

Nice to see the Honda's back up at the front even if it is just in testing.

Pro Racer · 18 Nov 2007, 06:47 (Ref:2069952)

can't wait for the GP8 to roll out.

f1manoz · 18 Nov 2007, 16:09 (Ref:2070238)

Apparently HRC are very impressed with Dovizioso's testing and application. Perhaps he'll get better parts sooner if he keeps that up next year...

Hazza · 18 Nov 2007, 21:21 (Ref:2070416)

What is with Edwards being so quick, goshdarnit?

chunder · 18 Nov 2007, 22:56 (Ref:2070441)

Colin is always really quick in testing,

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