Spies, Dovizioso identify corner exit problems with 2012 M1
Factory Yamaha's Ben Spies and his Tech3 counterpart Andrea Dovizioso have sent their respective engineers away with a clear message and that is if the 2012 YZR-M1's corner exit problems get fixed, they have one hell of a MotoGP bike on their hands for next season.
Both Spies and Dovizioso, who rode his satellite machine for the first time on Tuesday, have identified that suspension pump and wheelies are issues for the bike but there are no such worries with the front end. Spies went on to say there are only a few small problems to iron out before the 1000c-powered version of the M1 becomes a competitive package.
"We have a lot to improve. There is nothing bad with the bike, there are lots of little things we need to improve and if we can do those it will add up to something big and a much better package in Malaysia so we need to refine what we have. Looking at the test now, we are closer (to Honda) than we were with the 800s, so we have a good starting point," said Spies, speaking to bikesportnews.com.
"With the 1000cc, wheelying is a big problem but we had that with the 800cc. The problem hasn't carried over as much as I thought but it looks like it's still a weakness and we need to improve some of the grip. The front of the bike is all great but the rear, we can mess with some swingarm components, linkages, engine power, a lot of things can contribute to why it is wheelying so much. I'm confident we can have a good bike for next year, we just need to make what we have better."
Yamaha rookie Dovizioso, who claimed third in the series last Sunday, had a lengthy meeting with all of Yamahas engineers after his second day on the bike and said that his main problem was the amount of suspension pump he was encountering as he got on the power out of corners.
"I have a really good feeling about brake stability, corner entry, the engine is so good but we struggle a lot on exit in acceleration. We have a lot of pump and wheelie. I think we have a lot of work to do but the base of the bike is very good," said Dovizioso after his debrief.
"I have a different style than Cal and Ben, and the style for me is to try and pick up the bike so mainly it is the pumping but also the wheelie. I lose a lot in acceleration so I couldn't make a really good laptime."
Moto2 and Moto3 Test finishes at Valencia
Monday, 7 November 2011
The weather put a limit on the amount of on-track activity on Monday at the one-day Test.
As it did during the GP weekend which preceded the Moto2 and Moto3 Test at Valencia, the weather played a large part in proceedings on Monday as rain limited on-track activity at the one-day Test in Spain.
There was plenty of excitement at the prospect of first contact with the new Moto3 machines which will replace the 125cc class in 2012, and some riders were fortunate enough to get in their first laps on the 250cc four-stroke bikes.
Rookie of the Year in the 125cc class Maverick Viñales was present with his BQR team and went out on a Honda, although the team are yet to decide on what bike they will go with next season, and Luis Salom and his RW Racing team also experienced some track time with the Moto3 machinery. Japanese rider Kenta Fujii, who has been confirmed with the Technomag-CIP set-up for 2012, was also on track and German rider Toni Finsterbusch rode with MZ Racing.
Portuguese rider Miguel Oliveira was also present with the Monlau Competición crew but in the end he did not ride in the conditions.
In the Moto2 category 125cc Championship runner-up Johann Zarco had his first run on a 600cc four-stroke bike with his new JiR team, lapping on the MotoBI prototype along with Brazilian youngster Eric Granado.
Jonas Folger is looking to make the move up to Moto2 for 2012 and put in some laps with the MZ Racing machine, escaping uninjured from a minor fall towards the end of the day. Anthony West was also out on track for the German factory.
Meanwhile Marc VDS Racing riders Scott Redding and Mika Kallio both rolled out on Kalex machines for the first time, which the Belgian set-up will run with next season. Also riding the German frame for the first time was Esteve Rabat, who has signed for the Pons team.
Alex de Angelis went out on the Suter with Forward Racing, who he switches to for the 2012 season.
Other riders present who did not ride owing to the conditions were Nico Terol (Aspar) and Bradley Smith (Tech 3). Toni Elías was also at the track with the intention of testing the Gresini Team’s Moto2 machine, as was British rider Gino Rea, but eventually neither went out due to the rain.
Wet weather affects Moto2 and Moto3 Test
Rain at the Valencia circuit meant that only a handful of riders went out on track in the first half of the one-day Test.
Immediately after the final race of the 2011 season at Valencia preparations for the 2012 season continued on Monday, as the Moto2 class and the new Moto3 machines looked to maximise the one-day Test at the Spanish circuit.
Wet weather however meant that there was minimal activity in the opening half of the day, as a large number of riders and their teams opted to avoid taking any risks in difficult conditions.
Riders who did venture out for a few cautious laps included Maverick Viñales as the 125cc rookie of the year got his first feel of a Moto3 machine, whilst Toni Finsterbusch put in a few turns on the MZ Racing Moto3 machine. Jonas Folger went out on the German factory’s Moto2 prototype, and Marc VDS Racing’s Scott Redding also went out briefly on a Kalex frame as the team makes the switch from Suter for 2012.
Other riders present and who will hope to have been able to get out on track by the end of the day include Miguel Oliveira, who is at Valencia to test for the Monlau Competición set-up, Luis Salom (RW Racing) and Kenta Fujii (Technomag-CIP), all of whom are hoping to press on with preparations for Moto3.
In Moto2, Max Neukirchner and Anthony West are expecting to ride this afternoon for MZ Racing although the German outfit is yet to finalise its 2012 line-up, JiR are present with a Motobi frame and riders Johann Zarco and Brazilian youngster Eric Granado, and British rider Gino Rea is hoping to ride the Gresini Team’s Moriwaki machine.
2011 Moto2 World Champion Stefan Bradl was scheduled to test with his Kiefer Racing team, but owing to the weather the team has opted not to go out on track. The German rider is scheduled to ride LCR Honda’s RC212V on Tuesday as a first experience of a MotoGP machine.
Pirro dedicates victory to Simoncelli
A highly emotional weekend for the Gresini Team at Valencia was rounded off with a victory from pole position in the Moto2 race for the Italian rider.
Starting from pole position Michele Pirro took his first ever GP win in the Moto2 race at Valencia on Sunday, dedicating the victory to Marco Simoncelli.
Michele Pirro:
“After setting pole yesterday I just had to do well today. The conditions were really difficult for the race but I tried to stay focused and then Marco did the rest from on high. He was with me throughout the race and on every lap I was asking him not to leave me alone. It was a long 27 laps and being out there riding alone isn't easy. This victory is dedicated to his family, who are suffering more than anybody right now, to his girlfriend and also to the guys in the team. It hasn't been an easy year for us but a victory at the end of it is a nice tonic. We had a tough time after Malaysia but we managed to convince Fausto to come to Valencia and I am sure it was the right choice because it is what Marco would have wanted. Racing was his life and this was the best way to honour him and remember him.”
Fausto Gresini, Team Manager:
“This is an incredible feeling. Unfortunately for us it is the second time it has happened: firstly when Sete Gibernau won the race following the death of Kato and today it was Michele Pirro who won for us. It is difficult to comment on such a special race. My heart was beating so fast, I need to calm down. It has been a very difficult fortnight and to go from such deep sorrow to this... it hits you hard.”
Yuki Takahashi had lined up alongside his team-mate on the front row and was leading the race when he crashed out, struggling to deal with the tough conditions.
Yuki Takahashi:
“I really wanted to have a nice race today but it all went out of the window with a crash. Up to that point I was feeling relaxed and riding well but I got caught out by the track surface. It's a shame because we could have finished with a fantastic team result.”
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