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MOTOGP LE MANS FREE PRACTICE
19 May 2006 - Yamaha Racing
MotoGP : Camel Yamaha Team riders set the pace at Le Mans
Round: 5 - 2006 MotoGP Le Mans
Circuit: LeMans
Date: 19 May 2006
Temp: 16ºC
Weather: Dry Camel Yamaha Team riders Valentino Rossi and Colin Edwards were the fastest two riders in each of the first free practice sessions on the opening day of action at the Grand Prix of France today. Rossi lapped the Le Mans circuit in a time of 1''35.288 during the morning, when Edwards was just behind him with the second fastest time, whilst in the afternoon the roles were reversed as the American set the pace with a lap of 1''35.170, followed closely by his Italian team-mate. The factory team have arrived in France in determined mood as they look to turn around their early season misfortunes, aided by the latest improvements to the YZR-M1 machine brought to this circuit by Yamaha. Rossi today ran back to back tests with a brand new chassis, designed to eliminate vibration problems suffered with the bike during the opening four rounds, and reported positive results. He will therefore incorporate the update into both of his machines tomorrow, when Rossi and Edwards try to repeat today''s success in the official Qualifying session. Colin Edwards (1st; 1''35.170, 52 laps)
''It wasn''t a bad day. We came here off the back of a good result in China, just brought the bike off truck this morning and everything seemed to work pretty well. Valentino is trying to fix a few things with the new chassis so we''re able to focus on working hard towards a race setting and seeing what we can get. I said yesterday that I''d know after four laps what my objective can be for the weekend and now I can say it''s to win. Why not? Since the test in Turkey we''ve hardly touched the bike and I''ve got a level of confidence and feeling that I know what the bike will do. This morning it worked really well and although the chatter started to come this afternoon when we got more grip, we were still able to push so that''s encouraging. We know this chassis has its limit but we can get it there pretty easily and at this track, where the Yamaha goes well, at least it should allow us to push as hard as anyone else.'' Valentino Rossi (2nd; 1''35.282, 36 laps)
''I''m happy because both Colin and I are fast from the start and it seems the M1 machine is working very well at this circuit. Now we are in the first and second places so this is a very good result for our team and it gives us some confidence. I was very fast in the morning and in the afternoon we spent the time making some tests for the setting with the new chassis for tomorrow. This job is very important because they say it might rain tomorrow, but we have already found a good base, so I''m very happy about that. I like the new chassis and I think it will help us to go faster. It is much better for the vibration and even at this early stage we can see it has a lot of potential. Yamaha have always gone well at Le Mans so now we wait for tomorrow and see if we can keep it going.'' Davide Brivio - Camel Yamaha Team Director
''We''ve made a good start today with both Colin and Valentino. Both specs of the bike are working well so this is a very positive thing for us. Today was a good chance for us to gather some data in the dry because it looks as though it will rain tomorrow and we at least know we have a good base setting if it is dry again for the race on Sunday. Tomorrow Valentino will have the new chassis on both bikes and Colin will remain on the standard version but it seems both are working well so we look forward to seeing what happens tomorrow.''
Tech 3 Yamaha Team closes gap to rivals
With two hours of almost perfect conditions during the opening free practice sessions for the MotoGP class, progress continued for the Tech 3 Yamaha Team with further improved performances in the Dunlop range of race tyres. The confidence boosting statistic from the day''s efforts for riders Carlos Checa and James Ellison, is that they are now closer to the leaders than at any time during the 2006 season, with Carlos''s time just over a second off fellow Yamaha YZF-M1 riders Colin Edwards and Valentino Rossi.. At every Grand Prix, practice and qualifying are a major exercise as besides endeavouring to determine an optimum race set up for the 2006 Yamaha YZF-M1, the Tech 3 Yamaha Team has the added responsibility of testing a new batch of Dunlop tyres at every race as the ongoing development continues. Carlos Checa (14th, 1''36.306, 31 laps)
''The Yamaha is working very well here and the gap to the leaders is coming down although the track is shorter than where we have been in the last two races. We still have limitations with the tyres in finding enough side grip and other areas in the rear tyre but the Dunlop people are trying very hard to keep improving. I''m sure they are not here for a holiday. Everyone is working hard but my hope and wish is that soon as possible we can keep improving the areas that need attention. I am pushing for that and to get a better feeling from the rear tyre. ''I would like to tell you completely the opposite, but the reality is that we still have some problems and need to improve to find something that gives us the chance to be even closer to the top guys. I tested many tyres today and I have found one that I like but now we have to make sure that we have the endurance for the race. I hope it can stay dry tomorrow so we can keep heading in this direction.'' James Ellison (17th, 1''37.986, 34 laps)
''I''m so happy with the way Yamaha handles this Le Mans layout. That''s also proven with Colin and Valentino up the front so that''s something in our favour. I like this track as I''ve done a lot of laps around here with a 24 hour race but the new chicane layout hasn''t changed it too much. We''ve got three different compounds that we''re going through at the moment. There''s a couple of things we want out of each tyre so if we can''t find one that suits for everything we have to change the bike to suit so we have to find the best compromise. ''There''s been a huge improvement in the tyres since the start of the year but everyone else has improved as well. It''s not as big as we would''ve hoped, but if you look at the big picture we''re doing a good job to be honest. That''s proven in the lap times. I''m getting closer to Carlos and he is getting closer in his times with the front guys but, admittedly being on the same equipment, I''d like to be right with Carlos. I''d also like some more heat in the track because the Dunlops seem to work better when it''s a bit warmer; not too hot but enough to keep the heat in the tyre as they work pretty good in those conditions. We tested a new style of tyre but it just wasn''t hot enough. Hopefully tomorrow will allow us to see how they go.'' Herve Poncharal - Tech3 Yamaha Team Director
''Today was a very good day. We are a lot closer to the front than we have been for the entire season, being just a second off. In session two we could''ve been closer. There is a possibility to be at least half a second closer to the front but we decided to stay on the track with a used tyre in case it is raining tomorrow and on Sunday the race is dry. Yamaha is doing well here as we have seen with both Colin and Valentino. On Dunlop we are not too bad as we have a couple of riders on other bikes and tyres behind us so it has been good but the big thing for everyone here is the weather as it is so very changeable . It''s still early days this weekend, but it''s good for the team spirit and good for Dunlop. We have two days testing here after the race, so hopefully we''re on the right track. I don''t want to say we''re on schedule but the most important thing for us is to keep improving and get closer to the opposition.''
Round: 5 - 2006 MotoGP Le Mans
Circuit: LeMans
Circuit Length: 4180
Lap Record: 1'' 33.678 (Valentino Rossi, 2005)
Fastest Lap Ever: 1'' 33.678 (Valentino Rossi, 2005)
Date: 19 May 2006
Temp: 16ºC
Free Practice :
Pos. Rider Manufacturer Nat. Free Practice
1 C. Edwards Yamaha USA 1'' 35.170
2 V. Rossi Yamaha ITA 1'' 35.282
3 S. Nakano Kawasaki JPN 1'' 35.447
4 J. Hopkins Suzuki USA 1'' 35.461
5 C. Stoner Honda AUS 1'' 35.546
6 M. Tamada Honda JPN 1'' 35.625
7 S. Gibernau Ducati ESP 1'' 35.628
8 L. Capirossi Ducati ITA 1'' 35.662
9 D. Pedrosa Honda ESP 1'' 35.796
10 M. Melandri Honda ITA 1'' 35.935
11 N. Hayden Honda USA 1'' 35.971
12 R. De Puniet Kawasaki FRA 1'' 36.159
13 T. Elias Honda ESP 1'' 36.191
14 C. Checa Yamaha ESP 1'' 36.306
15 K. Roberts Team Roberts KR USA 1'' 36.483
16 C. Vermeulen Suzuki AUS 1'' 36.904
18 J. Ellison Yamaha GBR 1'' 37.986
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