TEAM SUZUKI MOTOGP SEARCHING FOR IDEAL SET-UP
11 June 2005 - Suzuki Racing

Team SUZUKI MotoGP used Friday''s free practice sessions for the Catalonian MotoGP to work on settings and tyre choice for Sunday''s race

Both crews worked vigorously throughout the day on setting up the Suzuki GSV-R prototype race bike to get the best performance and usability from the new engine development parts - being used for the first time this weekend.

John Hopkins (P8, 1''44.138) was also pleased with the progress he made with the new Bridgestone race tyres. He said: ''This track is suiting the Suzuki a lot better than Mugello did. We have some new parts and we have been working on getting them set-up right.

''We''ve been doing long runs on race tyres. We ran through a handful of tyres and I''m pretty sure we''ve found what we will use a race tyre. So that''s good considering we''ve now got all tomorrow morning and half of the afternoon session to work on the final adjustment - before everybody goes for it with the qualifiers.

''The Suzuki seems to be working fine around here at the moment and it''s certainly pulling its weight.''

Hopkins'' Chief Technician Stuart Shenton was equally pleased with the day''s work: ''We still have some settings to work on and more engine mapping to do. This will get the new parts working better than they have done today.

''John was consistently lapping in the high 44''s and we need to get him in the low 44''s or even better high 43''s and I''m sure that will be possible.

''We have done a lot of laps this afternoon on race tyres and I''m fairly confident we have got the tyre that we will use on Sunday already sorted.''

Both sessions were held in brilliant sunshine and high temperatures at the fast and technically demanding Montmelo circuit. Marco Melandri on a Honda set today''s fastest time.

Kenny Roberts Jr (P14, 1''44.668) also had success with finding - what his team believe - to be the best tyres for Sunday''s race. Roberts Jr was again one of only a few riders who improved on his fastest morning time in this afternoon''s session. Roberts Jr said: ''Today has been the same as last Friday at Mugello. We have been trying settings and getting the bike the best we can get it for the race.''

Team SUZUKI MotoGP will have another practice for the Gran Premio Gauloises de Catalunya tomorrow morning before the serious business of qualifying for Sundays race gets underway in the afternoon. The race - round six of the MotoGP World Championship - is at 14.00hrs CET on Sunday 12th June.

Gran Premio Gauloises de Catalunya Combined Free Practice Times

1. Marco Melandri (Honda) 1''43.317: 2. Makoto Tamada (Honda) 1''43.408: 3. Colin Edwards (Yamaha) 1''43.467: 4. Nicky Hayden (Honda) 1''43.638: 5. Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) 1''43.652: 6. Loris Capirossi (Ducati) 1''43.885: 7. Alex Barros (Honda) 1''44.105: 8. JOHN HOPKINS (TEAM SUZUKI MOTOGP) 1''44.138: 9. Sete Gibernau (Honda) 1''44.139: 10. Max Biaggi (Honda) 1''44.145: 14. KENNY ROBERTS JR (TEAM SUZUKI MOTOGP) 1''44.668:

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