TEAM SUZUKI MOTOGP MAKES FURTHER ADVANCEMENTS ON FINAL DAY
08 February 2006 - Suzuki Racing

Team SUZUKI MotoGP has finished its test in Qatar with John Hopkins and Chris Vermeulen completing long test runs on their new Suzuki GSV-Rs.

Both racers finished off their respective test programmes with full race length runs to assess the race distance performance of their respective new GSV-R prototype race bikes at the Losail International Circuit. Hopkins also tested a new evolution Bridgestone race tyre over a full distance and was pleased with the consistency of the new rubber.

Vermeulen concluded his testing schedule by knocking almost another second off his previous best time to record a fastest lap of 1’57.88. The young Australian star also completed further long tests on the newest generation Bridgestone tyres and was happy with the improvements he made throughout the test.

Team SUZUKI MotoGP now head off to Sepang for its third and final private test before returning to Europe for the Official MotoGP tests in March. The first round of the MotoGP World Championship will be at Jerez in Spain on Sunday 26th March.

John Hopkins:

“We didn’t do quite as much as we would have liked today for one or two reasons. But nevertheless it was good to get a long run completed and to see that Bridgestone has improved tyre consistency compared to the race here last year is a big bonus. I feel that the new bike has so much more potential than last year’s. It is more consistent and easier to ride and I know that I am now ready to race it at a higher level. We still need a certain amount more performance out of the bike and a bit more durability in some areas. But I am confident that Suzuki will make big steps prior to the first race in Jerez. I’m looking forward to going to Sepang next week – one of my favourite tracks – and see what I can do there, that’s for sure!”

Chris Vermeulen:

“We got through lots of work here at Losail and I’m beginning to feel that I’m getting to know the GSV-R and the Bridgestone tyres really well. I am very pleased with how my guys are working and Tom O’Kane and I have managed to get the bike set up to suit my style well. My technique has improved since the start of the test at Sepang in January and this has helped me to find more consistency from the bike. We still need more speed from the GSV-R, but it is certainly a very nice package to ride at the moment and I am looking forward to the Sepang test and getting back to Europe.”

Paul Denning – Team Manager:

“We got through a lot of work at this test and we now have a better motorcycle and a better Bridgestone tyre than we did for the race last year. The team has done a fantastic job over the three days and we now need to maximise the benefits from this test and to keep things pointing in the right direction.

“The bike still needs more performance but the potential in this machine is massive compared to last year’s bike. For me one of the most positive points of this test has been the performance of both riders. They have given full effort and application and have made no mistakes – which is really all you can ask of them. John is riding superbly well and if Chris can keep closing the gap on John as he has done over the last three days, then we should have two very competitive riders come the first race at Jerez.”

www.suzuki-racing.com

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