Lat week MotoGP rookies
Marco Simoncelli and Hiroshi Aoyama concluded their three-day Sepang test of the
Honda RC212V. The two 2010 newcomers to the MotoGP class were getting a warm-up before the official MotoGP testing begins next month.
Despite harsh weather on the first two days of testing, Simoncelli was able to complete a total of 160 laps over the three days, gathering vital information for his debut
MotoGP season. During the final two days Super Sic had improved over his Day 1 time, setting his fastest lap of
Marco Simoncelli concluded his three-day Sepang test with a 21-lap MotoGP race simulation with consistent results.
2’03.70. But the 2009 250cc Champion, Aoyama, was able to clock a faster lap time aboard the Honda at 2’02.30, which is just two-tenths of a second slower than the circuit record.
At the conclusion of Day 2, Simoncelli said, “Lap after lap I feel better on the bike and the fact I was consistently inside my best time from yesterday is evidence of that. The lap time of 2’03.70 is encouraging but I must insist once again that this is not my objective at the moment. The most positive thing is that I have lapped at a consistently fast pace for all 56 laps and I started to enjoy it. Tomorrow we’ll make a couple of changes aimed at improving the traction on the front and rear and then try a race simulation. Not a bad second day all round – everything is going to plan.”
On Day 3, dry weather greeted the riders and Simoncelli was able to get through a 21-lap race simulation in the afternoon, where he set a steady pace of 2’03. “I have finished and I am finished! I’ve ridden around 900 kilometers over the past three days, which was a nice early Christmas present! I’m happy. I had hoped to go a little faster but the lap times were not our principal target here and I am extremely satisfied with what we have achieved. We worked hard from this morning on gathering data that is going to be very useful to us when the ‘serious’ testing begins back here at Sepang at the start of February.”
The 2009 250cc World Champion Hiroshi Aoyama was able to set a faster pace than his fellow test pilot, clocking a time that was just two-tenths of a second off from the circuit record.
Aoyama was thankful for the opportunity to spend some time with the 2009 Honda machine. “It was very important that we had the test in Sepang at this time of the year,” said the Japanese rider. “The circumstances were ideal; apart from the rain on Tuesday afternoon. I have to learn a lot, because the MotoGP bike is so much different from the 125cc and 250cc machines. I have to get used to the traction control and to the fact that all works electronically. I am satisfied with the work of these days, but I want to do more.”
After the break, Aoyama will return to Barcelona in January to analyze data gathered during the Sepang test before returning the following month to test the 2010 prototype on the same circuit. Team Manager Daniel Epp said, “I am very satisfied with this entire test. It was definitely the right decision to run it. The team has been working perfectly and rider and team could get used to one another. Hiroshi was very concentrated and was riding constant lap times, one second faster each day. This is the perfect conclusion for 2009.”
Both rookies headed home for a little R&R before returning to Sepang on February 4th to prepare for the 2010 MotoGP season.
