Jerez this weekend - final Moto GP testing

[Pierre]

I keep hoping this will be John's break out year. Tough to start it with injures. Things not quite as bad as first thought, apparently. From Hopper's web site:

 

Hopkins aiming to be fit for first round in Qatar

 

Rizla Suzuki MotoGP racer John Hopkins has been evaluated by on orthopaedic specialist in England following his heavy crash in Qatar on Thursday, with encouraging results.

 

Following the 190+km/h crash initial reports were of several injuries, but following a thorough assessment Hopkins has a fracture in the second toe of his right foot, some damage to both hands and acute bumps and bruises over his whole body.

 

The Anglo-American will undertake intensive physiotherapy work in Great Britain and with Team Physio Dean Miller this week, and will join Rizla Suzuki MotoGP at Jerez in Spain for the second Official MotoGP Test starting on Friday. It is not yet known whether he will be fit enough to ride.

 

Hopkins will continue to be assessed by Miller and the Rizla Suzuki rider will continue with his convalescence over the next couple of weeks to guarantee that he is fit enough to take his place on the grid for the first round of the season at Losail in Qatar on Saturday 10th March.

 

Dean Miller – Team Physio:

 

“John was re-evaluated in the United Kingdom on Friday 16th February. The fracture to the right second toe is confirmed. John saw an orthopaedic surgeon who specialises in wrist and hand injuries and further evaluative X-rays were negative for any additional complications. The bumps and bruises and the sprain/strain injuries to the soft tissue areas of the hands, wrists, arms and overall body are of some concern. John will rest and recuperate over the next few days and join the Team in Jerez this week, we do not know as yet whether he will be fit to ride in the test because the main aim of John, Suzuki and myself is that he will be 100% fit for the first round of the season at Qatar next month.”

[g.forrest]

bad luck for hopper, i do hope he's fit and well for the first round.

[Pierre]

Official Test Jerez

 

Day One Official Times

 

1. Marco Melandri (Honda Gresini) - 1'42.563

 

2. Casey Stoner (Ducati Marlboro Team) - 1'42.634

 

3. Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda) - 1'42.796

 

4. Carlos Checa (Honda LCR) - 1'43.206

 

5. Alex Barros (Pramac d'Antin) - 1'43.214

 

6. Randy de Puniet (Kawasaki Racing Team) - 1'43.315

 

7. Loris Capirossi (Ducati Marlboro Team) - 1'43.475

 

8. Alex Hofmann (Pramac d'Antin) - 1'43.673

 

9. Toni Elias (Honda Gresini) - 1'43.687

 

10. Shinya Nakano (Konica Minolta Honda) - 1'43.817

 

11. Colin Edwards (Yamaha Factory Racing) - 1'43.845

 

12. Chris Vermeulen (Rizla Suzuki MotoGP) - 1'44.052

 

13. Valentino Rossi (Yamaha Factory Racing Team) - 1'44.494

 

14. Olivier Jacque (Kawasaki Racing Team) - 1'44.659

 

15. Makoto Tamada (Dunlop Yamaha Tech 3) - 1'45.081

 

16. Sylvain Guintoli (Dunlop Yamaha Tech 3) - 1'45.208

 

17. Vittoriano Guareschi (Ducati Marlboro) - 1'45.603

 

18. Shinichi Ito (Ducati Marlboro) - 1'45.826

 

19. Nicky Hayden (Repsol Honda) - 1'45.901

 

20. Kousuke Akiyoshi (Rizla Suzuki MotoGP) - 1'47.191

 

21. Kenny Roberts Jr. (Team Roberts) - 1'45.937

 

22. Jeremy McWilliams (Ilmor GP) - 1'47.191

 

23. Andrew Pitt (Ilmor GP) - 1'49.365

[Pierre]

Official Test Jerez

 

Day One Official Times

 

1. Marco Melandri (Honda Gresini) - 1'42.563

2. Casey Stoner (Ducati Marlboro Team) - 1'42.634

3. Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda) - 1'42.796

4. Carlos Checa (Honda LCR) - 1'43.206

5. Alex Barros (Pramac d'Antin) - 1'43.214

6. Randy de Puniet (Kawasaki Racing Team) - 1'43.315

7. Loris Capirossi (Ducati Marlboro Team) - 1'43.475

8. Alex Hofmann (Pramac d'Antin) - 1'43.673

9. Toni Elias (Honda Gresini) - 1'43.687

10. Shinya Nakano (Konica Minolta Honda) - 1'43.817

11. Colin Edwards (Yamaha Factory Racing) - 1'43.845

12. Chris Vermeulen (Rizla Suzuki MotoGP) - 1'44.052

13. Valentino Rossi (Yamaha Factory Racing Team) - 1'44.494

14. Olivier Jacque (Kawasaki Racing Team) - 1'44.659

15. Makoto Tamada (Dunlop Yamaha Tech 3) - 1'45.081

16. Sylvain Guintoli (Dunlop Yamaha Tech 3) - 1'45.208

17. Vittoriano Guareschi (Ducati Marlboro) - 1'45.603

18. Shinichi Ito (Ducati Marlboro) - 1'45.826

19. Nicky Hayden (Repsol Honda) - 1'45.901

20. Kousuke Akiyoshi (Rizla Suzuki MotoGP) - 1'47.191

21. Kenny Roberts Jr. (Team Roberts) - 1'45.937

22. Jeremy McWilliams (Ilmor GP) - 1'47.191

23. Andrew Pitt (Ilmor GP) - 1'49.365

Day 2

 

1. Marco Melandri ITA Gresini Honda 1min 40.383 secs

2. Valentino Rossi ITA Factory Yamaha Team 1min 40.308 secs

3. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team 1min 40.581 secs

4. Alex Hofmann GER Pramac d'Antin MotoGP 1min 40.748 secs

5. Toni Elias SPA Gresini Honda 1min 40.952 secs

6. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team 1min 41.071 secs

7. Carlos Checa SPA Honda LCR 1min 41.096 secs

8. Randy de Puniet FRA Kawasaki Racing Team 1min 41.151 secs

9. Colin Edwards USA Factory Yamaha Team 1min 41.204 secs

10. Makoto Tamada JPN Dunlop Tech 3 Yamaha 1min 41.234 secs

11. Nicky Hayden USA Repsol Honda Team 1min 41.259 secs

12. Shinya Nakano JPN Konica Minolta Honda 1min 41.269 secs

13. Chris Vermeulen AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1min 41.363 secs

14. Loris Capirossi ITA Ducati Marlboro Team 1min 41.590 secs

15. Olivier Jacque FRA Kawasaki Racing Team 1min 41.777 secs

16. Kenny Roberts USA Team Roberts 1min 41.783 secs

17. Alex Barros BRA Pramac d'Antin MotoGP 1min 41.845 secs

18. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Dunlop Tech 3 Yamaha 1min 42.364 secs

19. Shinichi Ito JPN Ducati TTT 1min 43.209 secs

20. Kousuke Akiyoshi JPN Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1min 43.610 secs

21. Vittoriano Guareschi ITA Ducati Marlboro Team 1min 44.143 secs

[Pierre]

Official Test Jerez

 

Day 1

1. Marco Melandri (Honda Gresini) - 1'42.563

2. Casey Stoner (Ducati Marlboro Team) - 1'42.634

3. Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda) - 1'42.796

4. Carlos Checa (Honda LCR) - 1'43.206

5. Alex Barros (Pramac d'Antin) - 1'43.214

6. Randy de Puniet (Kawasaki Racing Team) - 1'43.315

7. Loris Capirossi (Ducati Marlboro Team) - 1'43.475

8. Alex Hofmann (Pramac d'Antin) - 1'43.673

9. Toni Elias (Honda Gresini) - 1'43.687

10. Shinya Nakano (Konica Minolta Honda) - 1'43.817

11. Colin Edwards (Yamaha Factory Racing) - 1'43.845

12. Chris Vermeulen (Rizla Suzuki MotoGP) - 1'44.052

13. Valentino Rossi (Yamaha Factory Racing Team) - 1'44.494

14. Olivier Jacque (Kawasaki Racing Team) - 1'44.659

15. Makoto Tamada (Dunlop Yamaha Tech 3) - 1'45.081

16. Sylvain Guintoli (Dunlop Yamaha Tech 3) - 1'45.208

17. Vittoriano Guareschi (Ducati Marlboro) - 1'45.603

18. Shinichi Ito (Ducati Marlboro) - 1'45.826

19. Nicky Hayden (Repsol Honda) - 1'45.901

20. Kousuke Akiyoshi (Rizla Suzuki MotoGP) - 1'47.191

21. Kenny Roberts Jr. (Team Roberts) - 1'45.937

22. Jeremy McWilliams (Ilmor GP) - 1'47.191

23. Andrew Pitt (Ilmor GP) - 1'49.365

 

Day 2

1. Marco Melandri ITA Gresini Honda 1min 40.383 secs

2. Valentino Rossi ITA Factory Yamaha Team 1min 40.308 secs

3. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team 1min 40.581 secs

4. Alex Hofmann GER Pramac d'Antin MotoGP 1min 40.748 secs

5. Toni Elias SPA Gresini Honda 1min 40.952 secs

6. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team 1min 41.071 secs

7. Carlos Checa SPA Honda LCR 1min 41.096 secs

8. Randy de Puniet FRA Kawasaki Racing Team 1min 41.151 secs

9. Colin Edwards USA Factory Yamaha Team 1min 41.204 secs

10. Makoto Tamada JPN Dunlop Tech 3 Yamaha 1min 41.234 secs

11. Nicky Hayden USA Repsol Honda Team 1min 41.259 secs

12. Shinya Nakano JPN Konica Minolta Honda 1min 41.269 secs

13. Chris Vermeulen AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1min 41.363 secs

14. Loris Capirossi ITA Ducati Marlboro Team 1min 41.590 secs

15. Olivier Jacque FRA Kawasaki Racing Team 1min 41.777 secs

16. Kenny Roberts USA Team Roberts 1min 41.783 secs

17. Alex Barros BRA Pramac d'Antin MotoGP 1min 41.845 secs

18. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Dunlop Tech 3 Yamaha 1min 42.364 secs

19. Shinichi Ito JPN Ducati TTT 1min 43.209 secs

20. Kousuke Akiyoshi JPN Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1min 43.610 secs

21. Vittoriano Guareschi ITA Ducati Marlboro Team 1min 44.143 secs

Rossi wins the BMW!

Day 3

1. Valentino Rossi - Factory Yamaha - 1min 38.394 secs

2. Dani Pedrosa - Repsol Honda - 1min 38.527 secs

3. Colin Edwards - Factory Yamaha - 1min 39.300 secs

4. Nicky Hayden - Repsol Honda - 1min 39.556 secs

5. Randy de Puniet - Kawasaki Racing - 1min 39.832 secs

6. Casey Stoner - Ducati Marlboro - 1min 39.873 secs

7. Loris Capirossi - Ducati Marlboro - 1min 39.887 secs

8. Chris Vermeulen - Rizla Suzuki - 1min 40.043 secs

9. Kenny Roberts - Team Roberts - 1min 40.083 secs

10. Carlos Checa - Honda LCR - 1min 40.100 secs

11. Toni Elias - Gresini Honda - 1min 40.202 secs

12. Shinya Nakano - Konica Minolta - 1min 40.242 secs

13. Makoto Tamada - Tech 3 Yamaha - 1min 40.307 secs

14. Marco Melandri - Gresini Honda - 1min 40.396 secs

15. Olivier Jacque - Kawasaki Factory - 1min 40.551 secs

16. Alex Hofmann - Pramac d'Antin - 1min 40.681 secs

17. Alex Barros - Pramac D'Antin - 1min 41.038 secs

18. Kousuke Akiyoshi - Rizla Suzuki Test Rider - 1min 41.805 secs

19. Sylvain Guintoli - Tech 3 Yamaha Test Rider - 1min 42.215 secs

20. Vittoriano Guareschi - Ducati Marlboro Test Rider - 1min 43.008 secs

21. Andrew Pitt - Ilmor X3 - 1min 43.026 secs

22. Shinichi Ito - Ducati Test Rider - 1min 43.073 secs

23. Jeremy McWilliams - Ilmor X3 - 1min 43.202 secs

 

Fastest race lap for each of the manufacturers from the 2006 Spanish GP in March:

Ducati: Loris Capirossi 1:41.248

Honda: Dani Pedrosa 1:41.297

Suzuki: John Hopkins 1:41.598

Kawasaki: Shinya Nakano 1:42.017

Yamaha: Carlos Checa 1:42.161

 

Lap record:

2005, Valentino Rossi, Yamaha, 1.40.596

 

Pole record:

2006, Loris Capirossi, Ducati, 1:39.064

 

November '06 test times:

1 Dani Pedrosa (SPA) Honda, 1:39.910

2 Valentino Rossi (ITA) Yamaha, 1:40.123

3 Marco Melandri (ITA) Honda, 1:40.524

4 Chris Vermeulen (AUS) Suzuki, 1:40.766

5 John Hopkins (USA) Suzuki, 1:41.049

6 Shinya Nakano (JPN) Honda, 1:41.142

7 Colin Edwards (USA) Yamaha, 1’41.254

8 Alex Barros (BRA) Ducati, 1:41.276

9 Loris Capirossi (ITA) Ducati, 1:41.492

10 Casey Stoner (AUS) Ducati, 1:41.595

11 Tadayuki Okada (JPN) Honda Test Rider, 1:43.392

12 Vittoriano Guareschi (ITA) Ducati Test Rider, 1:44.071

13 Jeremy McWilliams (GBR) Ilmor, 1:44.661

14 Andrew Pitt (AUS) Ilmor, 1:44.983

[Pierre]

800 MotoGP bikes already faster than last year’s 1000s

gizmag

 

http://tinyurl.com/33sn4b

[Pierre]

Looks like Hopper will be on the grid for Qatar. Break out year for him? Maybe.

 

Suzuki duo ready to roll in Qatar

News - Rizla Suzuki will realign their 2007 rider duo of John Hopkins and Chris Vermeulen for the first race of the season in Qatar, where they will be hoping to maintain the strong form shown in preseason.

 

 

http://tinyurl.com/27wlse