Broc Parkes and Fabien Foret (both Yamaha World Supersport Team) declared themselves ready to take the 2008-specification Yamaha YZF-R6 into competitive action after their final pre-season test was completed earlier today in Qatar. Although the ever-changing Losail track provided the team with less than perfect conditions in the pursuit of absolute lap times, the last-minute alterations to the all-new machine provided both riders with a confidence-boosting set of results, especially when simulating real race conditions.
Parkes was the faster of the two on the stopwatch, setting a best of 2’02.9, with Foret 0.6 seconds from his team-mate. Foret, the 2002 World Supersport Champion, found improvements in two main areas of performance and each rider is now ready for the task of qualifying and then racing, at the first round on 23 February.
David Salom (Yamaha Spain World Supersport Team), recovering from a hand injury he sustained in a recent test at home in Almeria, was also fast on the slippery Losail circuit yesterday, setting a 2’03.1 after his two days of testing. Salom’s regular team-mate David De Gea could not make this test due to a serious injury to his left leg, but his place was taken by Spanish Championship regular, Josep Pedró, who will substitute for De Gea in the opening two WSS rounds of the season. Pedró set a best of 2’09.2 on his first visit to the fast and tricky Losail circuit.
Broc Parkes (2.02.9 - Yamaha World Supersport Team)"I’m happy with how the test progressed. We were really lucky to have this test now to get everything ready at the same place we’re having the first round. We had some new equipment and parts to get bedded in and the test was good. The track was a bit slippery over both days, and that’s why we only got into the high 2’02s. That wasn’t bad considering how different the grip was. The main thing here was to get the bike the way we wanted it and to find out all the little things you don’t want to find a week from now. We basically ran the same set-up as the Phillip Island test, so it’s very positive that it also worked here.”
Fabien Foret (2’03.5 - Yamaha World Supersport Team)
"We fixed a lot of small but important things and it helped me gaining confidence, mainly in the area of the rear traction and corner entry. I have a bit more feedback than before on the front, so I have to be happy. We will always be searching for better and better, but we learned a lot at this test and I feel good going into the first race.”
Wilco Zeelenberg (Team Manager, Yamaha World Supersport Team)
"Our test went quite well, even if our times were not as fast as the last time out here. We didn’t find any problems, no crashes, and we found some good points to focus on. It was important to give the riders this test or they would have had a month off the bikes, so it was very helpful to be here so soon before the race. Because it was not an official Pirelli test, we could not use a lot of new tyres but this was useful to us as well, because we could see the behaviour of the bike with worn tyres. We found some benefits compared to when we were here before, and we can say that we are fully ready to start the season.”
David Salom: (2’03.1 Yamaha Spain World Supersport Team)
"I am very satisfied with the whole test. I have improved 1.8 seconds from last year's lap time and we have made good times with a race set-up. I feel optimistic. I am also very happy with the work of the team, especially with the improvements in suspension and the engine."
Circuit Length: 5.380km
Temp: 24°C
Weather: Dry, sunny
