The tough weather conditions in the three day official test at Portiamo put a damper on many of the things the teams were trying to test and find solutions for, however the riders took it in stride, even they got limited track time, hoping they’ll find better weather in the upcoming test at Phillip Island.
Here’s what several of the riders had to say after the test.
Jakub Smrz: “We brought two bikes here, one with almost the set-up as the one I used for a while last year and one set up like the factory team of last year.
That had some different things with geometry, gearing, swingarm and so on and I was fastest on that one on the first day.
The other two days there was not so much do, because the conditions were not fully dry, not fully wet, most of the time.
The team worked perfectly and it is great for them to start the season being fastest in this test.
”Noriyuki Haga:“We planned the work over the three days, but unfortunately we could go through it only partially.
We would have liked to try more solutions, but the conditions of the track let us do so just on the first day.
Although the bad conditions, this test was useful to find the feeling with the team, too.
I’m convinced to be on the right way to start the season with what it takes to reach important results.
” Eugene Laverty:“Despite the weather it has been really beneficial for me to get some more laps on the bike.
I hadn’t had any time on the R1 in the wet before this test so if race one at Phillip Island is wet now it’ll be fine! I’m really happy with the bike, in the wet and the dry.
It was a slow start on the first day but then we made a big breakthrough with the front setting and I jumped up to third which is at least where I should be.
It shows we can be strong so I’m confident we can be on the pace wherever we go.
When I walk into the garage I feel at home.
We came here and picked up where we left off from last year’s Phillip Island test really smoothly.
I’m looking forward to getting back to Australia now for the two day test and then getting stuck into some racing!”Marco Melandri:“I’m very happy with the results of this test.
It was very important for me so soon after my shoulder operation to be careful and take it easy on the bike.
I came here to focus on seeing the track and learning it along with some more time on the bike.
We haven’t pushed very hard at all but I’m feeling very comfortable on it despite the discomfort of the shoulder.
We seemed to find a very good wet set up very easily and I was surprised how easy it was to go fast.
I’m looking forward now to getting to Australia, I’ve been training really hard to get back to full fitness so I am looking forward to being fully fit and really going for it and pushing.
”Jonathan Rea:Yeah, it’s been good here at Portimao.
We didn’t get the best testing weather – we wanted dry days, really, to try and progress the bike.
We had some new things to try and, to be honest, I think we got two sessions, but we were pretty much at the sharp end in both of them.
In the wet we were really fast as well, so I’m really happy with where we are.
I always worry that you might lose some speed or talent over the winter but it hasn’t been the case and we’ve reconfirmed that my wrist is perfect and my shoulder’s good.
It’s exactly what I needed before I head off to Australia on Tuesday where my trainer’s meeting me to get some sunshine and get me properly prepared.
Ruben Xaus:“The weather’s been strange here – rain then stop, rain then stop – so it’s been difficult for us to work.
It’s hard to concentrate and the conditions haven’t really been like a race weekend.
But at least we got 50 or 60 dry laps so I’ve learned a lot from the bike and from the guys.
They’ve taught me how to do some things and Johnny (Rea) also taught me some steps.
Slowly, we made some progress and overall I’m quite satisfied because although conditions were very difficult here, I’ve seen something of the bike and I can go home, relax and think about where I need to put in the effort from my side.
Despite all this, I think it’s one of my best starts to a season from a physical and motivational point of view.
As a package, the team looks really great, everybody works together on both sides of the garage, so let’s go to Australia and enjoy ourselves with the kangaroos!”Carlos Checa:“We’ve worked well over the three days, it’s just been a shame about the weather.
It’s also a pity for Pirelli as I know they had brought us a selection of new tyre solutions and we weren’t able to test barely any of them.
It was a useful track time after the long winter break but a great deal of the work that we had planned unfortunately didn’t get done due to the weather.
It helps that my 1198 is very similar to the bike I was riding at the end of 2010 but there are a few things, like the electronics, that require more track time for me to be able to be truly confident.
So we’re hoping for a positive and productive test at Phillip Island, a great track that I like a lot.
”Maxime Berger: “Today the weather was really weird.
It was raining and then the sun appeared, just when we hoped that the track would dry the rain started again.
Unbelievable! We have worked less today but I am getting comfortable with the ride-by-wire and with the traction control.
I was able to ride about thirty laps today.
I’ve also been able to increase my feeling with the bike especially on the wet track.
These were three important days for us and I hope to do even better at Aragon during the two days of testing.
Don’t forget we still have two more days of testing in Australia so we will start the first race at Phillip Island in the best conditions and already able to exploit the potential of my Ducati 1198.
Michel Fabrizio:Generally I am very happy how the tests have gone, though obviously I am disappointed with the weather throughout the three days.
This area is supposed to be the sunniest part of Europe, but we’ve seen a lot of rain and cloud.
When conditions are so bad for so much of the time, it is very difficult to get through all the work that has to be done.
I think my team have done a very good job these three days in conditions which changed so many times and also very quickly.
I may have only ended seventh on the timesheets, but I was only three tenths of a second behind the fastest guy and so I feel very positive about these tests.
I had two crashes on the second day.
Both were highsides, but I managed to escape without any injury, though it made extra work for my mechanics and for that, I am sorry.
At the moment, I think that the engine is OK and we have been working a lot on the suspension and set-up of the bike.
I am still learning this bike, after years on a twin, and the characteristics are very different.
The Suzuki is very nimble in the turns, but getting out of them quickly is where we suffer a little.
So, that’s another area that we are working on.
I think if we can progress in that area, we’ll be very happy.
We’ve got two tests before the first race in Phillip Island and it’s very important that we arrive at the first race in the best possible condition.
I like Phillip Island a lot because it is a fantastic track to race on and the whole setting and ambience is great.
It is a great shame that we were unable to get more work done here, but that’s how it goes sometimes.
Considering that I have not been on a racebike since November, I am happy with what we managed to achieve and feel upbeat about the next tests and race one.
Let’s hope for good weather though!Tom Sykes:“Overall, not too bad in the dry.
We were just two tenths off, which I am not saying is fantastic, but at the end of the day we were doing decent times.
In the wet we still have some work to do, but it was still positive in the wet.
Overall I am pleased with test if not the weather conditions, but we confirmed the general direction we have been going in with set-up, so we can now go to Phillip Island with more parts that will help us in a few areas.
We will do the two official test days in Australia and then we go racing.
”Joan Lascorz:“I only wanted to ride in dry conditions so the first day was a good one to test in, and check how the bike and I were going.
The bike was good and I was surprised that I was also good.
Not 100% yet, but better.
I worked well with Pere and we found a good dry set-up on the first day but I got held up by a couple of other riders when trying to improve my lap time.
Looking at my ideal times I could have been about 0.
6 seconds better.
The Kawasaki team staff have been explaining very clearly to me where I can improve and I really appreciate that.
In the wet I did not want to risk things too much, but we made some good laps when it was fully wet.
I stopped when the track surface became inconsistent as I really is not want to risk a fall.
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