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MotoGP: JiR Team Scot Make
More Progress at Sepang
Italian rider Andrea Dovizioso continued to make excellent progress
in his early winter test schedule today at the Sepang circuit
in Malaysia. With overnight rain once more affecting proceedings,
it wasn't until around midday that the 21-year-old former 125cc
World Champion was able to take to the track on his JiR Team
Scot Honda RC212V. Conditions were humid and difficult for all
the riders, but Andrea was still able to make 57 laps of the
3.447 mile (5.548 km) track on his four-stroke 800cc Honda. Tomorrow
the team hopes to make further progress before returning to Europe
and the Jerez MotoGP tests at the end of this month.
 Gianluca Montiron Director,
JiR Team Scot
"Tomorrow we will finish the job, but already we have
seen an impressive performance from Andrea with a best lap-time
of 2'02.591" and I think this was a good lap time that he
was able to be close to with a consecutive number of laps. We
are all very satisfied with Andrea and he is much faster than
our expectations. It was also good to see conditions so hot and
humid. Humidity was around 70%, but despite these hard physical
conditions and with a machine which is much heavier than
the 250 he is used to he did well. It is all good training.
Today Andrea also tested a new family of Michelin rubber, including
some front tyres. This collaboration with the French manufacturer
is excellent for us. They understand the potential that Andrea
is showing and are happy with the feedback he is giving them.
We know Andrea will continue to improve during the winter test
schedule and we hope to see a further improvement from him tomorrow."
Andrea Dovizioso Rider, JiR Team Scot MotoGP - Time:
2' 02.591", laps: 57
"Another good day for us. Once more I spent the day
getting acquainted with the RC212V. We are getting to know each
other better, but it is still difficult adjusting from the two-stroke
250. Engine braking is the big thing you have it on a four-stroke
800, but very little on a two-stroke 250! This affects my entry
into the corners, although I still feel fast in the middle of
the corner. It will all come with time! The team and I will look
at the data tonight and see where I can make up some more time
and improve my performance. The middle and exit of the corner
is still easier on the MotoGP bike than on a 250 thanks to the
electronics. I've improved my feeling from the front-end of the
Honda after some setting changes and after testing some new Michelin
tyres which is very important."
Gianni Berti Technical Coordinator, JiR Team Scot
MotoGP
"Today we began the test with the machine the same as yesterday
simply to confirm our early impressions with the Honda RC212V
machine. Then after a few laps we started to make some small
changes to the setting to the front-end of the bike, as we knew
Andrea wanted to get a better feeling from the front tyre. With
just a small change he could understand more what the front tyre
was doing and therefore get more from the bike. We also made
some small changes to the electronics to help the bike suit Andrea
more. Small changes are important, as if you make your changes
too big then you can soon lose your way. With a good bike like
the Honda, I believe you do not need to make such big changes,
so step-by-step is how we are doing things with Andrea and the
RC212V. "
Meanwhile back in Japan, Yuki Takahashi has undergone an operation
to remove a metal pin from his right leg. The pin was part of
the surgical procedure following the injury to his lower right
leg sustained at the 2006 Valencia race. The operation went well
and today Yuki will be discharged from hospital ready to start
his fitness training for the 2008 250cc GP season. Yuki, best
wishes from all your Team!
MotoGP Sepang day two test times
1) John Hopkins Kawasaki 2' 02.200"
2) Chris Vermeulen Suzuki 2' 02.344"
3) Randy de Puniet Honda 2' 02.550"
4) Andrea Dovizioso Honda 2' 02.591"
5) Loris Capirossi Suzuki 2' 02.698"
6) Colin Edwards Yamaha 2' 02.800"
7) Anthony West Kawasaki 2' 02.831"
8) Nicky Hayden Honda 2' 03.093"
9) Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha 2' 04.021"
10) James Toseland Yamaha 2' 04.278"
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