After the three day test at Sepang, the general consensus on the CRT bikes present wasn’t good – they were massively slow – despite the fact that they will be future of MotoGP racing.
Colin Edwards who is riding the Suter-BMW prototype for NGM Forward Racing Team was the fastest rider of that small group of bikes, seemed satisfied with the progress and improvement, in what was his second test on the bike.
The Texas Tornado managed to lower the lap times from a 2.
08.
240 in the first session to a ‘respectable’ 2.
04.
722 on the final day (he was still 5.
115 seconds from Sepang leader Casey Stoner), having issues with chatter due to the new Bridgestone tires, something that the Repsol Honda riders also complained about.
Here’s what Edwards has to say after the Malaysian test:“After the first day we obviously realized we had some major issues with some chatter that we have been working hard.
The electronics, since Jerez have been developed and have come a long way and I’m really happy with it.
The Bosh guys have been working hard, when I ask for something they make it happen.
It was a little difficult coming here after what happened with Marco on the race.
My first lap around obviously, I slowed up on turn eleven and kind of paid my respects to Marco real quietly and got on with the job and getting the bike better and develop it.
I honestly thought 2.
02, 2.
03s were possible with three days, but I did not expect we were going to encounter chatter.
At the end of the day we did 2.
04 but there is easily a 2.
03 or mid 2.
02 if we don’t have chatter and that really what I have to work on the next test.
We just have to come back and solve the problems.
We have several ideas and a lot of work done; we have probably tested more components in these last few days than in all of my days with Yamaha.
In terms of the 2012 prototype the chassis is completely different as well as the swinging arm.
As far as the feeing with the bike, it was very similar to what it did in Jerez.
We obviously have a 2012 bike, which is completely different chassis and swingarm and the engine, thanks to BMW, the engine is excellent.
Our electronics guys, as far as smoothing up the power.
Its one thing to have a really fast bike but its another thing to ride it for twenty laps around here.
We still have to play with the electronics to eliminate the chattering problems that have been intensified with the new Bridgestone.
”The new adventure as CRT, it just feels good to know that you can develop something and work towards the future instead of just being one of the guys getting the part: “ here you go, you can have this ….
Now we are actually building something and making things happen.
We are developing something together and it feels good to develop a bike my way.
I’m really happy.
“
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