Movistar Yamaha MotoGP’s Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi ended the third and final day of MotoGP testing in Valencia on a positive note, finishing third and fifth in today’s session times.
Similar to yesterday, the seven hour long session started with a completely drenched track, forcing the team to wait for conditions to improve before heading out. With a little more than four hours remaining Lorenzo decided to join the action. He quickly picked up the pace and moved to the top of the standings after his 14th lap, clocking a 1’31.464.
Using this as a benchmark, Lorenzo spent the rest of the session preparing for next year’s season, as the pace noticeably quickened towards the end of the session. Though he was unable to beat his time from Monday, the Spaniard showed improvement in his times and signed the 2014 season off with a positive feeling. He completed 64 laps in total and his best efforts of a 1’31.164 put him in third place in today’s testing results, just 0.191s off the front.
Valentino Rossi started the session around the same time as his teammate and soon climbed up the order, rising to second place, just 0.012s behind him. The nine-times World Champion focused on testing new parts for the 2015 machine and went the extra mile to provide feedback. He completed 68 laps in total and wrapped up the third day of testing in fifth place, posting a best time of 1’31.301, just 0.328 off the front.
Jorge Lorenzo
3rd / 1’31.164 / 64 laps
“In general I’m quite satisfied, because we tried some things we couldn’t try yesterday and it was slightly better. The new parts are not a really big improvement but they’re a step forward, so I am happy about this test. It’s been a long and tough season but it’s not yet over for me: in few days I’ll fly to Indonesia for some promotional activities and after that I will take the occasion to spend some days off in Bali with friends. In December I will participate in a car race and after that, finally, I will head to a sunny place for Christmas. In the meantime I will work hard to be back in 2015 stronger and ready for the new season.”
Valentino Rossi
5th / 1’31.301 / 68 laps
“We had some different stuff that we wanted to try, so we waited yesterday in the wet and worked a little bit on it today. Today was important, because it was the last day of testing before the winter and I feel good with the bike. We have some new things: a different swing arm and chassis. We also tried different parts to follow the new weight limit of the bike. I’m happy about the test. More or less everything about it was positive, so we did a good job today. From one side we need a bit of rest because it has been a long season, but on the other side I’m sure that in two or three weeks time we will miss the racing, but now it’s winter time so it’s time to relax.”
Massimo Meregalli – Movistar Yamaha MotoGP Team Director –
“There was a lot of sunshine this afternoon, but we couldn’t start the session earlier this morning because the track was wet. We were able to work out all the things we had to test and we are completely satisfied with the input and professionalism of our riders. We did quite a lot of laps this afternoon and they were exhausted after these six days at Valencia, but they did a good job and gave good feedback. Today we focused on testing the different frame and pipe. For me, the test has been positive because we have seen improvements and we got a lot of information. Our Japanese engineers will now focus on all the data they got here and bring the next step to Sepang. It has been a long season, but it went quickly! I hope that the team will get some rest. We all look forward to going home and unwinding from season, so we can get back to top energy levels and be ready for next year.”
Espargaro and Smith complete performance boosting test in Valencia
Monster Yamaha Tech3 Team rider Pol Espargaro concluded the first of the preseason tests for the 2015 season with a strong result of third place in the combined standings at Valencia. The MotoGP riders began the action just after midday due to waiting for the track to dry from the previous day’s rain, then the Spaniard completed 53 laps in total as he continued his test programme on the new specification of Yamaha YZR-M1. He focused specifically on electronics and front end settings with a definite improvement being achieved as he clocked a best lap of 1’31.288. This time was only 0.315 back from the leading bike, but his lap from Monday, which was nearly two tenths quicker than today’s one, sees him seize third overall and his testing performance at Valencia leaves him positive ahead of the winter break.
Meanwhile Bradley Smith finished the end of season test in formidable form to clinch fifth position in the combined standings after conducting an in depth and thorough testing programme today. The British rider undertook vigorous tests to various aspects of his new Yamaha YZR-M1, namely engine braking as well as traction control settings and brake callipers as he developed ideas for the forthcoming season. The 23 year old rider completed the day with a strong time of 1’31.365 and in sixth position, with his best lap less than one tenth behind his teammate. His determined effort in testing sets Smith up confidently for the next outing at Sepang in February.
Pol Espargaro
4th / 1’31.288 / 53 laps
“The test was a really productive one and I am very pleased with the end result. I was able to produce consistent and competitive lap times which leaves me in a positive fame of mind for the winter break. I decided not to ride yesterday as the injury to my foot is not completely healed yet and I opted to wait for better conditions in order to finish my testing schedule today. I worked through different aspects, including both new parts as well as setup options. There was not any major modifications, but certainly plenty of small factors which came together to make a difference. We focused on the electronics, the front end of the bike as well as confirming some of the adjustments that we tried on Monday. The thing I am most happy about is we found a strong setting with the electronics for when the tyre drops, which we have experienced difficulties with this season. Now I think we definitely deserve a rest which I am certainly looking forward as I want to spend some time with my family and friends, before getting ready for Sepang in February.”
Bradley Smith
6th / 1’31.365 / 53 laps
“Today was a busy day all in all, but I am pleased with what we achieved as we undertook a lot of work and tested many different aspects. We concentrated on experimenting with new parts and concepts which we received, rather than investing time in changing already proven settings. This included modifications to the new suspension as well as engine braking and traction control ideas, which gave us more general knowledge for the future and further ideas for our armoury. I am happy with how it went and we also found some intriguing data with the front forks. In addition, I sampled the new Brembo callipers which will be good for the future. Altogether it was a truly productive day despite an unfortunate and stupid fall halfway through as I was focusing a bit too much on the feeling from the bike and so I went a bit deep into turn four. It goes without saying that the crash was not the way I wanted to finish my season, yet I am happy with the top six which is where we need and expect to be. So, I am pleased to go into the winter with a strong result and I am already looking forward to the 2015 season.”
Productive test session for NGM Forward Racing at Valencia
It was a busy day on track on the final day of MotoGP testing at Valencia. After the rain that spoiled the second day of testing, today the NGM Forward Racing riders could continue the work in dry conditions. Despite one crash in the afternoon, Stefan Bradl completed in total 38 laps, setting a best lap time of 1’32.784. It was a positive day also for teammate Loris Baz, who completed 60 laps. His best time was 1’33.486.
The Valencia test session was the perfect occasion to test some new material in preparation of the 2015 season. Starting from Monday both riders tested the SC Project exhaust pipes, while today they tested the Kayaba suspension.
The NGM Forward Racing Team will be back on track ay Jerez in two weeks on the 26th and 27th of November for another important test session.
Stefan Bradl
15th / 1’32.784 / 38 laps
“Today we tested for the first time the new suspension. We need to understand the potential and continue to work. I also need to gain more confidence with this bike, which is different from the one I was used to ride. This afternoon I crashed, but fortunately without consequences the first impression with the Forward Yamaha is positive and I look forward to continue working on the bike in two weeks.”
Loris Baz
19th / 1’33.486 / 60 laps
“It was a good start, the first day we focused on adapting the bike to my size. The second day I tested the limit on the wet, crashing twice but the feeling was positive. Today I was already more confident, even if I need to know better the Bridgestone tyres and the carbon brakes. We will continue to work in Jerez.”
Session Results
1. Marc Marquez (SPA), Repsol Honda Team, 1’30.973
2. Dani Pedrosa (SPA), Repsol Honda Team, 1’31.119
3. Jorge Lorenzo (SPA), Movistar Yamaha MotoGP, 1’31.164
4. Pol Espargarò (SPA), Monster Yamaha Tech3, 1’31.288
5. Valentino Rossi (ITA), Movistar Yamaha MotoGP, 1’31.301
6. Bradley Smith (GBR), Monster Yamaha Tech3, 1’31.365
7. Danilo Petrucci (ITA), Pramac Racing, 1’31.665
8. Cal Crutchlow (GBR), CWM LCR Honda, 1’31.774
9. Yonny Hernandez (COL), Energy T.I. Pramac Racing, 1’31.914
10. Aleix Espargaro (SPA), Team Suzuki MotoGP, 1’31.973
11. Hector Barbera (SPA), Avintia Racing, 1’32.007
12. Michele Pirro (ITA), Ducati Test Team, 1’32.113
13. Nicky Hayden (USA), Drive M7 Aspar, 1’32.173
14. Scott Redding (GBR), Marc VDS Racing Team,1’32.621
15. Stefan Bradl (GER), NGM Forward Racing, 1’32.784
19. Loris Baz (FRA), NGM Forward Racing, 1’33.486
