TEAM SUZUKI MOTOGP ON THE PACE AT SEPANG
16 February 2006 - Suzuki Racing

Team SUZUKI MotoGP has completed the final pre-season test at Sepang with many positive pointers to take forward into the new season.

John Hopkins was consistently competitive throughout the three day test and his quickest time of 2’01.94 established him firmly amongst the fastest riders. The Anglo-American star conducted more thorough tests on the ever-improving latest generation Bridgestone tyres and worked hard on finding the correct set-up for his new Suzuki GSV-R prototype race bike.

Team-mate Chris Vermeulen continued his impressive form as he adapts to the riding style and technical requirements of a MotoGP racer. The rookie Australian recorded a best time of 2’03.10 which is almost one and a half seconds quicker than his fastest time from his first test at Sepang in November. Vermeulen was unable to complete the final day of testing due to a minor injury to his right shoulder.

Team SUZUKI MotoGP was joined in Sepang by Suzuki’s Racing Department General Manager Masahito Imada, who attended the test and hand-delivered vital new parts to assist in the ongoing development of the new bike.

Team SUZUKI MotoGP will now return to Europe for the Official MotoGP Test at Catalunya from the 3rd to the 5th March. The first round of the 2006 MotoGP World Championship begins at Jerez in Spain on Sunday 26th March.

John Hopkins:

“Everything seems to be going in the right direction at the moment. I’m pleased with my times and that I can keep doing them consistently on the new Bridgestones. We still need that bit more grunt out of corners and down the straightaways but I know Suzuki are working on that and we should hopefully have something when we get to Spain. We lost a bit of time here due to the weather which really frustrated me as I had a good rhythm going and was as quick as anybody out there. I just now want to get racing and show what we can do!”

Chris Vermeulen:

“I’m really getting on well with the Suzuki. Whenever I get on it I’m comfortable and feel like I am able to go quicker each time I ride it. My times are coming down to be more competitive, but at the moment I’m trying to learn as much as I can about the GSV-R and the way it handles, accelerates and performs in different scenarios. I know that each session is important for me as I have to get as much time as possible on the bike, so to miss today due to a shoulder injury is really annoying. I now need to get back on bike and continue my learning process, so the next test can’t come quick enough for me.”

Paul Denning – Team Manager:

“This has been another encouraging test for all the team. John has been consistently fast throughout the whole three days and has shown maximum commitment to making sure that the GSV-R is the best that it can be. Chris is still improving at a fast rate and his best lap was recorded during the hottest part of the day when the track had very little grip. This shows the potential that he has and the way he is improving himself and the bike setting every time he goes out.

“We are still looking for that extra acceleration and power from the bike and to have Mr Imada at the test was a bonus for us. He can now translate the performance he has seen on the track back to the factory development staff. Hopefully then it will be able to give John and Chris that bit more that they need to finish the package off and make us more competitive – Suzuki is serious about getting this new bike to its full potential. As it sits, we’re not far away now and John’s been in the top four all week, so roll-on the IRTA tests.”

www.suzuki-racing.com

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