Kawasaki WSB - Testing - P.I.

[MadKaw]

KAWASAKI’S NEW NINJA ZX-10R RISES TO THE WSB CHALLENGE
Newsflash, 7 January 2008 - A three-day Development Teams’ test at Phillip Island between 8 and 10 January will give PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse riders Makoto Tamada and Régis Laconi a great opportunity to measure the progress of the all new Kawasaki SBK machine against the established order.
Armed with the critically acclaimed new Ninja ZX-10R, new boy Tamada and old hand Laconi will be testing not only their machines but the latest developments in the SBK’s series control tyres, in readiness for the first round of the championship at Qatar, on 23 February.

Phillip Island is the second event on the 15-round 2008 calendar and the 4.445km circuit is notoriously hard on tyres, making this test a vital step along the rapid development curve of the new Kawasaki Superbike in race trim.

Eleven-time SBK race winner and one-time 500cc GP winner Laconi is starting his third straight season with Kawasaki’s lead SBK team, while Tamada is about to face his first full SBK season, after five years competing in MotoGP. Tamada is no stranger to SBK racing itself, however, having competed in SBK races at Sugo as a wild card from 2000 to 2002. He won three WSB races in only six attempts in that period, and also has two race wins in MotoGP to his credit.

Previous tests in Spain have already shown that the latest Ninja ZX-10R is a significant boost for Kawasaki’s SBK ambitions, proving to be powerful and amenable to set-up changes. With riders of such proven pedigree on board, and a rejuvenated backroom squad, the entire PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse team is eager to get their latest testing session underway.

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GIL KAWASAKI DUO READY TO FACE ALL COMERS
Newsflash, 7 January 2008 - The GIL Kawasaki team approaches the 2008 season with an all new riding line up aboard its well-proven ZX-6R machines, in the shape of serial WSS race winner Katsuaki Fujiwara and SBK race-winner Chris Walker.
Each rider will be in place for the Development Team’s tests at Phillip Island between 8 and 10 January to take the next steps along the trail to full competitiveness before the season starts for real on 23 February.

The GIL team is no stranger to success with the current model of ZX-6R, taking a win and a total of four podium finishes last year. With Fujiwara and Walker now on board, the team has signed two vastly experienced riders, but with very contrasting backgrounds and career paths.

Fujiwara has been a virtual fixture at the top end of the WSS world since coming to Europe but his first taste of success on the world stage was a third place for Kawasaki as a World Superbike wild card rider at Sugo, as far back as 1995. Since he moved to the WSS class in 2001 he has scored six WSS race wins, contributing to a total of 21 podium finishes. He was fourth in the World Championship last year, despite injuries robbing him of valuable points at key times.

Walker is a new rider to the WSS scene, but is an experienced SBK and BSB competitor. His most recent major success was a win for Kawasaki at the Assen Superbike race in 2006 and in 2008 he will return to world competition once more, albeit in a class which is entirely new to him.

The immediate focus of both riders and the entire GIL Kawasaki team is the three day Phillip Island test, which ends on Thursday 10th January.

[SoundGuy]

Very Exiting

[javaman]

Do these kind of test open for public ? Never heard of any announcements.

[red_dave]

Do these kind of test open for public ? Never heard of any announcements.

Yeah but you'd need something faster than that Vespa your riding...

[Nanna10r]

Walker on the SS could be interesting, I hope the new 10 lives up to expectations or they'll have to dust of the "Crim's"

[MadKaw]

Day 1 - Kawasaki Report

At the end of this first day of Pirelli test on Phillip Island circuit in Australia Kawasaki PSG-1 Corse team had to face some problems with the set up of the bike.

This morning the team decided to adopt the same set up it had last season on this track but it seems the team had to change tactic. The ZX-10R 2008 is in fact very different from its previous model and the green team decided to continue on the results had in Jerez during last test.

Both the riders say to be satisfied of the bike but Regis Laconi is still bothered by a problem that followed the team during season 2007: “ We are still fighting against the chattering that seams not willing to disappear”.

Makoto Tamada feels the same problem specially entering the turns as Regis. So the team will focus its work programs on chattering problems during these 3 days.


Pirelli Development Winter Test – Phillip Island, Australia –8/10 January 2008

8th January 2008, Phillip Island (Australia) – On the most spectacular racetrack of the Championship, SBK and SSP riders have just ended the first of three days of Pirelli development test.

After Qatar where development riders tested many new solutions that are announcing a great season, here in Australia the first day has given some interesting news.

Both SBK and SSP riders used the first day for fine tuning the bike and to find the best setup. As always in the first day Pirelli technicians do not use the new material, but test the best solution selected from the current (2007) season different rubber.
This means that non-development teams taking part of the test have the same tyres, but starting from tomorrow things will change.

In the first day Ducati new bike confirmed to be more than an interesting project, with riders able to exploit the softest solution for many laps with no decay of the tyre. Best time of the day went to Troy Bayliss, able to stop the watch on 1’32.5.

Bayliss Fastest On Day One Of Testing

First Day Down For Leading SBK Contenders
Hometown hero Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) led the times on the first day of SBK testing at Phillip Island, securing a best time of 1'32.5; impressively close to the existing lap record of 1'31.826 at this early stage. Bayliss set a total of 66 laps on the new 1200cc Ducati 1098R, riding to find improvements in his new machine's rear set-up. Second best time came from another perennial SBK challenger, Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia) on a 1'32.8. Haga's compatriot Yukio Kagayama (Alstare Suzuki) scored third fastest time, putting three different machines in the top three places.

Nieto In The Top Echelon
Fonsi Nieto (Alstare Suzuki) set a best of 1'33.2 on his way to putting himself into the top four on the opening day at PI, running just a tenth ahead of current lap record holder Troy Corser (Yamaha Motor Italia) and Bayliss' new team-mate Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox). Fabrizio fell at the top of Lukey Heights, hurting on his right foot in the aftermath of his slide.

Biaggi Makes A Quick Transition
Max Biaggi (Ducati Sterilgarda Go-Eleven) enjoyed his first real experience of competing against his peers on a customer Ducati 1098R, securing a time of 1'33.5 late in the day, after the sun's power had lessened and the afternoon winds had died down. His team-mate Ruben Xaus (Ducati Sterilgarda Go-Eleven) set the same time.

New Kawasaki Making Progress On Day One
With just a short amount of testing on their new model ZX-10R machines completed so far, PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse riders Regis Laconi and Makoto Tamada sandwiched new Alstare Suzuki riders after only one day of action, with Laconi setting a 1'34 flat.

World Supersport
Broc Parkes (Yamaha WSSP Team) secured the fastest lap of day one after waiting for conditions to improve near the end, setting a 1'32.5 to keep Hannspree Ten Kate Honda rider Andrew Pitt from the top spot with his 1'35.5. Pitt's team mate and WSS class rookie Jonathan Rea scored third best time after a long lay off recovering from surgery, the former BSB rider proving to be a big hit first time out in his new role in racing life.

Josh Brookes (Stiggy Honda) secured an impressive fourth at a track he has won on in WSS wild card guise, while the progress of the Triumph Caracchi squad was such that it wrote its name large in the consciousness of the Supersport world once more. The 675ccc three-cylinder machine, in the hands of the vastly experienced Garry McCoy, went fifth fastest, ahead of names such as Fabien Foret, Chris Walker, Katsuaki Fujiwara and Robbin Harms. Walker and Fujiwara were having their first test against their 2008 opposition at PI. Fujiwara is new to the team, but Walker is new to Supersport racing in any form, making his 1'36.6 lap time a respectable start to his latest racing adventure.

DAY 1 Rider Bike Team Best lap
1 Bayliss Ducati 1098R F08 Ducati Xerox 1’32.5
2 Haga Yamaha YZF R1 Yamaha Motor Italia WSB 1’32.8
3 Kagayama Suzuki GSXR1000K7 Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra 1’32.9
4 Nieto Suzuki GSXR1000K7 Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra 1’33.2
5 Fabrizio Ducati 1098R F08 Ducati Xerox 1’33.4
5 Corser Yamaha YZF R1 Yamaha Motor Italia WSB 1’33.4
7 Biaggi Ducati 1098R F08 Sterilgarda Go Eleven 1’33.5
7 Xaus Ducati 1098R F08 Sterilgarda Go Eleven 1’33.5
8 Laconi Kawasaki ZX-10R Kawasaki PSG-1 Corse 1’34.0
9 Neukirchner Suzuki GSXR1000K7 Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra 1’35.5
10 Tamada Kawasaki ZX-10R Kawasaki PSG-1 Corse 1’35.8


RiderBikeTeamBest lap 1 Parkes Yamaha YZF R1 Yamaha Motor Italia WSB 1’35.2
2 Pitt Honda CBR1000RR Hannspree Ten Kate Honda 1’35.7
3 Rea Honda CBR1000RR Hannspree Ten Kate Honda 1’35.8
4 Brookes Honda CBR1000RR Stiggy Motorsport 1’36.3
5 Mc Coy Triumph 675 Triumph – SC 1’36.4
6 Foret Yamaha YZF R1 Yamaha Motor Italia WSB 1’36.6
6 Walker Kawasaki ZX6R Kawasaki Gil Motorsport 1’36.6
7 Fujiwara Triumph 675 Triumph – SC 1’36.9
8 Harms Honda CBR1000RR Stiggy Motorsport 1’36.7

[MadKaw]

Not sure if the last bit is right if thats supposed to be supersports...

BTW, I hears Chris Seaton is going to be racing in the world superstock class this year... unfortunately on a Suzuki, but good luck to him anyway..

[ZX-10R_04]

Phillip Island WSBK test times - Tuesday

[MadKaw]

Day 3 - FG Sport Report

KAGAYAMA FASTEST AS BAYLISS BREAKS HIS COLLARBONE

YUKIO IMPROVES TIMES DESPITE HOT TEMPERATURES

Yukio Kagayama (Alstare Suzuki) scored the fastest time of all three days of testing today, despite temperatures that climbed to 38°C, as Phillip Island felt the full weight of an Aussie summer. His 1'32.1 just beat the previous best, set by Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) but that was the least of the 2001 and 2006 champion's worries, after he fell at the bottom of MG and broke his right collarbone. Bayliss was in the process of overtaking another rider, but when he realised he could not make the pass, he got on the rear brake and was highsided off. Initial X-Rays at Melbourne Hospital are not 100% conclusive, as the bones are not displaced, but circuit medics say his injury should be healed in around 21 days - enough time for Bayliss to be fit for the start of the season.

CLOSE TIMES PROMISE EXCITING ACTION FOR 2008 SEASON

Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox), Fonsi Nieto (Alstare Suzuki) and Ruben Xaus (Ducati Sterilgarda Go-Eleven) all shared the lap time of 1'32.3, ensuring that there should be close and intense competition when the season kicks off in Qatar on 23 February. Only one tenth of a second behind this trio of talent came Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia), the 2007 season runner up. Yamaha were testing their variable intake system at PI and should race with it in 2008.

CORSER CLOSE BUT CONCENTRATING ON RACE TIMES

Troy Corser (Yamaha Motor Italia) was the early pace maker in the previous Qatar tests, but this time around he was not quite in with the fastest, but still only 0.0.6 seconds from Kagayama's best time over three days. The second Ducati Sterilgarda Go Eleven rider Max Biaggi had a good test, despite Ducati twin-cylinder power being a new experience for him, and the multiple 250GP champion set a 1'32.8, only 0.7 seconds from the very fastest.

KAWASAKI MEN HAPPY AFTER FIRST TEST AGAINST MAIN RIVALS

Regis Laconi (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse) could not improve on his best of 1'33.0 today, but that was still an impressive time for such a relatively new ZX-10R machine, in its first real test against the very best of its rivals. Makoto Tamada (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse) made great leaps in his set-up and pace today, setting a 1'33.4, almost two seconds up on his earlier marks. Illness affected Max Neukirchner's entire test, and thus the Alstare Suzuki rider only scored a best time of 1'35.5.

WORLD SUPERSPORT

Broc Parkes (Yamaha WSSP Team) shaved two tenths of a second from his best time from day two to leave the tests the fastest man, his 1'34.6 a clear 0.4 seconds faster than Hannspree Ten Kate Honda duo Andrew Pitt and Jonathan Rea.

On the new Yamaha R6, 2007 PI WSS race winner Fabien Foret (Yamaha WSSP Team) made adjustments in set-up to take him to a new best of 1'35.2, while the man who took his GIL Kawasaki ride over, Katsuaki Fujiwara, was top man in green, securing a best of 1'35.6. Fujiwara's new team-mate Chris Walker proved to have good WSS skills at such an early stage in his first WSS season, setting a best of 1'35.7, equalled by local hero Josh Brookes (Stiggy Motorsports Honda).

Garry McCoy (Triumph Caracchi) set a best of 1'35.9, with Robbin Harms propping up the times, on a 1'36.4.

SUPERBIKE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP- TIMES COMBINED
1. Kagayama (JPN-Suzuki) 1'32”1
2. Bayliss (AUS-Ducati) 1'32”2
3. Fabrizio (ITA-Ducati) 1'32”3
4. Xaus (ESP-Ducati) 1'32”3
5. Nieto (ESP-Suzuki) 1'32”3
6. Haga (JPN-Yamaha) 1'32”4
7. Corser (AUS-Yamaha) 1'32”7
8. Biaggi (ITA-Ducati) 1'32”8
9. Laconi (FRA-Kawasaki) 1'33”0
10. Tamada (JPN-Kawasaki) 1'33”4
11. Neukirchner (GER-Suzuki) 1'35”5

SUPERSPORT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP - TIMES COMBINED
1. Parkes (AUS-Yamaha) 1'34”6
2. Rea (GBR-Honda) 1'35”0
3. Pitt (AUS-Honda) 1'35”0
4. Foret (FRA-Yamaha) 1'35”2
5. Fujiwara (JPN-Kawasaki) 1'35”6
6. Walker (GBR-Kawasaki) 1'35”7
7. Brookes (AUS-Honda) 1'35”7
8. McCoy (AUS-Triumph) 1'35”9
9. Harms (DEN-Honda) 1'36”4

[Phil]

Do these kind of test open for public ? Never heard of any announcements.

no Andi, it is closed to the public. I had an invite but couldnt get time off work to get there, nor could i afford to fly down just to swan around

[dave#3]

Do these kind of test open for public ? Never heard of any announcements.

no Andi, it is closed to the public. I had an invite but couldnt get time off work to get there, nor could i afford to fly down just to swan around

I'll be the first to say it ... bastard