LCR Honda factory rider Randy de Puniet finished eigth in today’s IRTA ‘Official’ pre-season MotoGP test shoot out at the 4.423 km Jerez circuit, Spain. The LCR Honda team did not find the ever changing track conditions a challenge. The team started the wet session with the wet weather base set up they had established at the Phillip Island test and it worked perfectly at Jerez. Together with team rider Randy De Puniet they quickly found the tyresto match the softer set up and were quickly up to pace. Towards the end of the session De Puniet felt the wets go off and knew that he could go faster and opted to try a slick rear tyre but it did not work out in the rapidly decreasing track temperatures.
Randy De Puniet, LCR Honda: 1m 51.979s – on lap 8 of 11.
“I usually have a good pace in the wet but today’s 40-minute session was strange. When I went out with a rain used tyre the feeling was pretty good. Then, after some laps I used a new one but the surface started to dry up and grip was not enough. I made some laps on qualifiers but in those conditions it was impossible to catch Stoner. This morning we fixed the bike in the wet and it was interesting for me. After the official session we had to stop our job because the wind was to strong”.
Lap Times:
1. Casey Stoner - Ducati Marlboro 1:49.263
2. Valentino Rossi - Fiat Yamaha 1:50.580
3. Nicky Hayden - Repsol Honda 1:50.785
4. Antony West - Kawasaki 1:50.799
5. Andrea Dovizioso - Jir Team Scot 1:51.312
6. Shinya Nakano - San Carlo Honda 1:51.594
7. Loris Capirossi - Rizla Suzuki 1:51.894
8. Randy DePuniet - Lcr Honda
9. Sylvain Guintoli - Alice team 1:52.058
10. Marco Melandri - Marlboro Ducati 1:52.238
Free Practice conditions:
Temp: 15°c
Weather: RAIN
Humidity: 12°c
Circuit Lenght: 4423 M.
