Carbon and Aluminium Frames 'Not Much Different' For Rossi
Rossi says weight distribution is the key...
Marlboro Ducati's Valentino Rossi has spent two days testing the new aluminium frame wrapped around his 1000cc Desmosedici GP12 engine at Valencia only to declare it not much different to the carbon fibre one he used on the 800cc version for most of the season.
Rossi was still 1.5s slower than Dani Pedrosa and Casey Stoner at the Spanish track and maintains that the problem top which he and engineering head Filippo Preziosi need to find a solution is one of weight distribution, specifically getting more load and heat into the front tyre but he wouldn't be drawn on whether the angle of the engine needs to change.
"With this bike you can push a bit more on the front and it is the feeling I had with the first touch on the 1000cc in Jerez so for some reason you can push more and together with the better engine delivery is a better bike but for me it is not from the chassis," said the nine-time world champion, speaking to bikesportnews.com this evening.
"I think the problem is not the material or if the engine is part of the chassis, I think it is more something else, weight distribution maybe, because from aluminium and carbon, there is not a lot of difference. I think we have to work on the important things for fix some problem with the entry and that is the bigger problem for us when I lose corner speed and laptime. If we are able to fix that problem then we can make a good step.
For sure the 1000cc is more fun to ride and also this bike is a bit better than the 800cc so is a good base for start but we have to work we have some problem and now is a crucial moment from now to February. We have some different things to put together because the testing for February will be crucial and so important. One second and a half off in February will be difficult to recover during the season - make the step now, this is the time."
Marlboro Ducati's Valentino Rossi has spent two days testing the new aluminium frame wrapped around his 1000cc Desmosedici GP12 engine at Valencia only to declare it not much different to the carbon fibre one he used on the 800cc version for most of the season.
Rossi was still 1.5s slower than Dani Pedrosa and Casey Stoner at the Spanish track and maintains that the problem top which he and engineering head Filippo Preziosi need to find a solution is one of weight distribution, specifically getting more load and heat into the front tyre but he wouldn't be drawn on whether the angle of the engine needs to change.
"With this bike you can push a bit more on the front and it is the feeling I had with the first touch on the 1000cc in Jerez so for some reason you can push more and together with the better engine delivery is a better bike but for me it is not from the chassis," said the nine-time world champion, speaking to bikesportnews.com this evening.
"I think the problem is not the material or if the engine is part of the chassis, I think it is more something else, weight distribution maybe, because from aluminium and carbon, there is not a lot of difference. I think we have to work on the important things for fix some problem with the entry and that is the bigger problem for us when I lose corner speed and laptime. If we are able to fix that problem then we can make a good step.
For sure the 1000cc is more fun to ride and also this bike is a bit better than the 800cc so is a good base for start but we have to work we have some problem and now is a crucial moment from now to February. We have some different things to put together because the testing for February will be crucial and so important. One second and a half off in February will be difficult to recover during the season - make the step now, this is the time."
Pedrosa rounds off Valencia MotoGP test with fastest lap
Pedrosa was close to Stoner's pole time on the RC213V today
Repsol Honda's Dani Pedrosa has continued his form from yesterday at the Valencia MotoGP test and set the fastest time of the final day with a 1'31.807 which was over a tenth quicker than team-mate Casey Stoner with Yamaha's Ben Spies third.
Pedrosa was only a gnat's off Stoner's qualifying time of 1'31.861 but with a while season's development to come, and the new Bridgestone tyres which were used in part today, Valentino Rossi's outright lap record of 1'31.002 set in 2006 on Michelins, must be a realistic target now.
As with yesterday, Stoner had been in charge since the start and Pedrosa left it until right to the end to stick in his banker lap. Spies, meanwhile, occupied third place with his 1'32.338 which was miles faster than he managed in qualifying on Saturday on the 800.
The American was shadowed by the Monster Yamaha pair of Cal Crutchlow and Andrea Dovizioso. Crutchlow bagged fourth with a 1'32.550 (he qualified on a 1'34.329) while his new team-mate managed a 1'33.256 which was half a second up on his lap from Saturday.
It was not good news again for Valentino Rossi and the Marlboro Ducati team. The Doctor is 1.5s slower than Pedrosa and if the gap stays like this at the Sepang test, it is going to be a long 2012. We suspect that Rossi will take no solace from the fact he was the fastest Ducati in sixth - Karel Abraham and Hector Barbera are right behind him and only tenths slower.
San Carlo Honda new-boy Alvaro Bautista was the fastest of the 800s as he lapped in 1'33.814 on the ex-Hiro Aoyama machine. The Spaniard signed for the team yesterday and rode in plain leathers, and managed to keep Stefan Bradl behind him. The new Moto2 Champion was on the LCR Honda and, with a 1'34.142 lap which would have put him ninth on the grid, may well remain on it for next year.
Valencia MotoGP test day two - conditions dry
1 Dani Pedrosa Repsol Honda Team 1:31.807 - - 45
2 Casey Stoner Repsol Honda Team 1:31.968 +0.161 +0.161 33
3 Ben Spies Yamaha Factory Racing 1:32.338 +0.370 +0.531 75
4 Cal Crutchlow Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1:32.550 +0.212 +0.743 67
5 Andrea Dovizioso Monster Yamaha Tech3 1:33.256 +0.706 +1.449 69
6 Valentino Rossi Ducati Team 1:33.332 +0.076 +1.525 62
7 Karel Abraham Cardion AB Motoracing 1:33.433 +0.101 +1.626 72
8 Hector Barbera Pramac Racing Team 1:33.648 +0.215 +1.841 41
9 Alvaro Bautista San Carlo Honda Gresini 1:33.814 +0.166 +2.007 55 (800cc)
10 Stefan Bradl LCR Honda MotoGP 1:34.142 +0.328 +2.335 61 (800cc)
11 Kousuke Akiyoshi Repsol Honda Team 1:34.546 +0.404 +2.739 32
12 Franco Battaini Ducati Team 1:34.840 +0.294 +3.033 74
13 Carmelo Morales TeamLaglisse 1:35.911 +1.071 +4.104 67 (CRT)
14 Ivan Silva BQR Inmotec 1:36.695 +0.784 +4.888 52 (CRT)
15 Yonny Hernandez BQR FTR 1:37.279 +0.584 +5.472 30 (CRT)
16 Federico Sandi Grillini Team 1:38.680 +1.401 +6.873 26 (CRT)
Repsol Honda's Dani Pedrosa has continued his form from yesterday at the Valencia MotoGP test and set the fastest time of the final day with a 1'31.807 which was over a tenth quicker than team-mate Casey Stoner with Yamaha's Ben Spies third.
Pedrosa was only a gnat's off Stoner's qualifying time of 1'31.861 but with a while season's development to come, and the new Bridgestone tyres which were used in part today, Valentino Rossi's outright lap record of 1'31.002 set in 2006 on Michelins, must be a realistic target now.
As with yesterday, Stoner had been in charge since the start and Pedrosa left it until right to the end to stick in his banker lap. Spies, meanwhile, occupied third place with his 1'32.338 which was miles faster than he managed in qualifying on Saturday on the 800.
The American was shadowed by the Monster Yamaha pair of Cal Crutchlow and Andrea Dovizioso. Crutchlow bagged fourth with a 1'32.550 (he qualified on a 1'34.329) while his new team-mate managed a 1'33.256 which was half a second up on his lap from Saturday.
It was not good news again for Valentino Rossi and the Marlboro Ducati team. The Doctor is 1.5s slower than Pedrosa and if the gap stays like this at the Sepang test, it is going to be a long 2012. We suspect that Rossi will take no solace from the fact he was the fastest Ducati in sixth - Karel Abraham and Hector Barbera are right behind him and only tenths slower.
San Carlo Honda new-boy Alvaro Bautista was the fastest of the 800s as he lapped in 1'33.814 on the ex-Hiro Aoyama machine. The Spaniard signed for the team yesterday and rode in plain leathers, and managed to keep Stefan Bradl behind him. The new Moto2 Champion was on the LCR Honda and, with a 1'34.142 lap which would have put him ninth on the grid, may well remain on it for next year.
Valencia MotoGP test day two - conditions dry
1 Dani Pedrosa Repsol Honda Team 1:31.807 - - 45
2 Casey Stoner Repsol Honda Team 1:31.968 +0.161 +0.161 33
3 Ben Spies Yamaha Factory Racing 1:32.338 +0.370 +0.531 75
4 Cal Crutchlow Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1:32.550 +0.212 +0.743 67
5 Andrea Dovizioso Monster Yamaha Tech3 1:33.256 +0.706 +1.449 69
6 Valentino Rossi Ducati Team 1:33.332 +0.076 +1.525 62
7 Karel Abraham Cardion AB Motoracing 1:33.433 +0.101 +1.626 72
8 Hector Barbera Pramac Racing Team 1:33.648 +0.215 +1.841 41
9 Alvaro Bautista San Carlo Honda Gresini 1:33.814 +0.166 +2.007 55 (800cc)
10 Stefan Bradl LCR Honda MotoGP 1:34.142 +0.328 +2.335 61 (800cc)
11 Kousuke Akiyoshi Repsol Honda Team 1:34.546 +0.404 +2.739 32
12 Franco Battaini Ducati Team 1:34.840 +0.294 +3.033 74
13 Carmelo Morales TeamLaglisse 1:35.911 +1.071 +4.104 67 (CRT)
14 Ivan Silva BQR Inmotec 1:36.695 +0.784 +4.888 52 (CRT)
15 Yonny Hernandez BQR FTR 1:37.279 +0.584 +5.472 30 (CRT)
16 Federico Sandi Grillini Team 1:38.680 +1.401 +6.873 26 (CRT)
Bridgestone debut new, easier-to-warm tyres at Valencia MotoGP test
Stoner discusses the new tyres with his Bridgestone techncian
MotoGP spec-tyre supplier Bridgestone debuted a new range of warm-up-faster tyres at the Valencia test over the past couple of days and have declared them a success with the new characteristics being welcomed by riders.
The aim was, apparently, to develop a tyre which would get hotter quicker and avoid those nasty cold-tyre crashes which caught out a few people this year. It is also believed the tyre will now move around more and not be so stiff but all of this will mean some life is sacrificed and there will be some sliding from mid-race distance onwards.
“This test was the first opportunity for us to give all the riders our finalised 2012 specification tyres so it was very important for us. Every rider used our 2012 spec tyres for both days of testing on the new era of 1000cc machines, including five of the new CRT bikes," said spokesman Tohru Ubukata.
“The tyres we supplied are those that will be used for next season, but this test was the first official one for the 1000c bikes so this is the first stage in learning these new machines so we are not resting on our laurels. We will keep learning their characteristics with each test and continue our tyre development into and through next season.
“We started developing this new family of tyres from the post-Valencia test at this time last year and used every test opportunity during this season to continue with our development programme, and I am confident what we have will be a marked step forward in addressing the specific concerns from this year.
“Specifically, our objectives from these new tyres are to make their grip characteristics easier to manage, to improve warm-up performance and to increase their temperature operating range. From the data we have collected from the last two days, I am satisfied that we have met these objectives and rider feedback has been positive so I am confident for tyre performance next year. I’m also happy with the positive feedback even from CRT teams about our new tyre and its warm-up performance."
MotoGP spec-tyre supplier Bridgestone debuted a new range of warm-up-faster tyres at the Valencia test over the past couple of days and have declared them a success with the new characteristics being welcomed by riders.
The aim was, apparently, to develop a tyre which would get hotter quicker and avoid those nasty cold-tyre crashes which caught out a few people this year. It is also believed the tyre will now move around more and not be so stiff but all of this will mean some life is sacrificed and there will be some sliding from mid-race distance onwards.
“This test was the first opportunity for us to give all the riders our finalised 2012 specification tyres so it was very important for us. Every rider used our 2012 spec tyres for both days of testing on the new era of 1000cc machines, including five of the new CRT bikes," said spokesman Tohru Ubukata.
“The tyres we supplied are those that will be used for next season, but this test was the first official one for the 1000c bikes so this is the first stage in learning these new machines so we are not resting on our laurels. We will keep learning their characteristics with each test and continue our tyre development into and through next season.
“We started developing this new family of tyres from the post-Valencia test at this time last year and used every test opportunity during this season to continue with our development programme, and I am confident what we have will be a marked step forward in addressing the specific concerns from this year.
“Specifically, our objectives from these new tyres are to make their grip characteristics easier to manage, to improve warm-up performance and to increase their temperature operating range. From the data we have collected from the last two days, I am satisfied that we have met these objectives and rider feedback has been positive so I am confident for tyre performance next year. I’m also happy with the positive feedback even from CRT teams about our new tyre and its warm-up performance."
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