Suzuki still flying

Racing
1

Test times from Sepang day one.

  1. John Hopkins USA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 2min 2.277 secs
  2. Chris Vermulen AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 2min 3.049 secs
  3. Valentino Rossi ITA Factory Yamaha Team 2min 3.184 secs
  4. Colin Edwards USA Factory Yamaha Team 2min 3.337 secs
  5. Nicky Hayden USA Repsol Honda Team 2min 3.413 secs
  6. Loris Capirossi ITA Ducati Marlboro Team 2min 3.538 secs
  7. Randy de Puniet FRA Kawasaki Racing Team 2min 3.542 secs
  8. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team 2min 3.620 secs
  9. Makoto Tamada JBR Tech 3 Yamaha 2min 3.785 secs
  10. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team 2min 3.944 secs
  11. Alex Hofmann GER Pramac d’Antin MotoGP 2min 4.003 secs
  12. Alex Barros BRA Pramac d’Antin MotoGP 2min 4.011 secs
  13. Kenny Roberts USA Team Roberts 2min 4.088 secs
  14. Carlos Checa SPA Honda LCR 2min 4.101 secs
  15. Shinya Nakano JPN Konica Minolta Honda 2min 4.138 secs
  16. Marco Melandri ITA Hannspree Honda 2min 4.270 secs
  17. Shinichi Ito JPN Ducati Marlboro Team 2min 4.641 secs
  18. Toni Elias SPA Hannspree Honda 2min 4.710 secs
  19. Olivier Jacque FRA Kawasaki Racing Team 2min 4.718 secs
  20. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Tech 3 Yamaha 2min 7.403 secs
2

See I said it would last - probs for Honda - only the kentucky kid was in top 7 places

I am going to put my foot in it and say that Vermin will score a GP win this season, though don’t ask where - just like to live on the edge, maybe Oz?!

3

I really hope that the Suzuki’s carry this form on to the start of the season.
The Hopper must be brimming with confidence.

Test times day two

  1. John Hopkins USA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 2min 1.806 secs
  2. Colin Edwards USA Factory Yamaha Team (M) 2min 1.930 secs
  3. Chris Vermulen AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 2min 2.275 secs
  4. Alex Barros BRA Pramac d’Antin MotoGP (B) 2min 2.538 secs
  5. Valentino Rossi ITA Factory Yamaha Team (M) 2min 2.619 secs
  6. Loris Capirossi ITA Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 2min 2.793 secs
  7. Randy de Puniet FRA Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 2min 2.806 secs
  8. Nicky Hayden USA Repsol Honda Team (M) 2min 2.948 secs
  9. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team (M) 2min 3.098 secs
  10. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 2min 3.190 secs
  11. Marco Melandri ITA Gresini Honda (B) 2min 3.253 secs
  12. Shinya Nakano JPN Konica Minolta Honda (M) 2min 3.633 secs
  13. Carlos Checa SPA Honda LCR (M) 2min 3.681 secs
  14. Shinichi Ito JPN Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 2min 3.700 secs
  15. Kenny Roberts USA Team Roberts (M) 2min 3.800 secs
  16. Alex Hofmann GER Pramac d’Antin MotoGP (B) 2min 3.895 secs
  17. Toni Elias SPA Gresini Honda (B) 2min 4.124 secs
  18. Olivier Jacque FRA Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 2min 4.171 secs
  19. Makoto Tamada JBR Tech 3 Yamaha (D) 2min 4.350 secs
  20. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Tech 3 Yamaha (D) 2min 4.892 secs
4

Laguna Seca! Hopkins’ home circuit and Vermeulen is very quick there (he was going really well last year before his tyre disintegrated).

5

I really hope this carries on - I’d love to see Hopper and vermin up at the sharp end.

Would be really interested to see breakdowns of number of laps at those times and the lengths of runs without pitting.

I doubt if anyone is doing race simulations at this stage.

Bridgestone made big steps forward in 06, if the powder-puff bikes are going to win races that needs to continue.

6

I can’t think of many things that would make me happier than see Hopper riding at the front each week…I REALLY think he has the talent…he just nees the full package (bike/tires) under him…This is a great start, though!

7

Rossi aparently did a race simulation yesterday [as rain was incorrectly forecast for today] and was really happy, today he went fastest…

It does look like Hopper may well be “coming out to play” for 2007 !!

  1. Valentino Rossi ITA Factory Yamaha Team (M) 2min 0.936 secs
  2. John Hopkins USA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 2min 1.026 secs
  3. Loris Capirossi ITA Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 2min 1.274 secs
  4. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team (M) 2min 1.664 secs
  5. Chris Vermeulen AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 2min 1.691 secs
  6. Randy de Puniet FRA Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 2min 1.878 secs
  7. Nicky Hayden USA Repsol Honda Team (M) 2min 1.884 secs
  8. Colin Edwards USA Factory Yamaha Team (M) 2min 2.266 secs
  9. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 2min 2.407 secs
  10. Marco Melandri ITA Gresini Honda (B) 2min 2.489 secs
  11. Carlos Checa SPA Honda LCR (M) 2min 2.583 secs
  12. Alex Barros BRA Pramac d’Antin MotoG (B) 2min 2.630 secs
  13. Toni Elias SPA Gresini Honda (B) 2min 2.927 secs
  14. Alex Hofmann GER Pramac d’Antin MotoGP (B) 2min 3.040 secs
  15. Shinya Nakano JPN Konica Minolta Honda (M) 2min 3.077 secs
  16. Makoto Tamada JPN Tech 3 Yamaha (D) 2min 3.308 secs
  17. Kenny Roberts USA Team Roberts (M) 2min 3.330 secs
  18. Olivier Jacque FRA Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 2min 3.572 secs
  19. Shinichi Ito JPN Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 2min 3.973 secs
8

It’s going to be an exciting year thats for sure.

Personally I don’t think Hopkins can put a decent season together, vermin however I think he will emerge as the number 1 suzuki rider.

Im not a mega rossi fan but I think we’re going to see the old old rossi, will make racing good I don’t believe Pedrosa will be the force people think he’ll be this year.

I’m hoping Nakano will pull it together hasnt been a good first 2 tests for him, shame he didn’t stay with Kawasaki as Kawasaki seem to have made a good bike from De Puniet’s performance. De Puniet will have his best season I think but the same as hopkins too crash happy and inconsistant. Which is a shame as De Puniet is Kawasaki’s only hope as cool as OJ is he’s not going to find form in time methinks.

Kev.