18: 125CC TESTING AT OFFICIAL TEST IN JEREZCONCLUDES WITH WASHOUT
22 February 2007 - Moto GP

Today saw the final session of two-stroke action at the MotoGP Official Test in Jerez and, as has seemingly become the norm for lower cylinder category preseason testing, the second day of 125cc action was one blighted by bad weather.

Early rain meant that it was only at 10.40am local time that the first riders emerged from their pit garages, with Randy Krummenacher, Sandro Cortese and Tomoyoshi Koyama the opening trio on track. Bouts of further wet weather meant that the track never had the opportunity to completely dry out, and a large number of the more experienced riders elected against putting in laps today. A halt was called to the proceedings just after 4pm local time, after another downpour.

None of the top ten improved on their times from day one, and the timesheets remained largely unchanged despite the absence of the top four riders on track today. Mattia Pasini’s 1’47.727 lap from yesterday was untroubled, and those pushing him in the first session- Gabor Talmacsi, Lukas Pesek and Simone Corsi, didn’t risk injury in the wet conditions.

Sergio Gadea was today’s fastest rider, over a second off his best time from yesterday. He was closely followed by 2006 Rookie Of The Year Bradley Smith, gaining valuable experience in the wet. Both Smith and new team-mate Esteve Rabat suffered crashes towards the end of the day, as did Humangest Honda’s Mike di Meglio, but both walked away unharmed.

The 125cc category will have their final chance to put their bikes through their paces next week in Qatar, at the final Official Test of the 2007 preseason alongside a selection of 250cc outfits.

The MotoGP premier class have their turn on track from tomorrow, as they look to further fine tune their 800cc bikes. Three days of MotoGP action will be rounded off with a 40 minute “qualifying session” on Sunday afternoon, where the talented riders of the World Championship get their chance to win a brand new BMW.

One rider who won’t be riding this weekend is John Hopkins. Rizla Suzuki’s Anglo-American star is still recovering from a crash suffered last week in Qatar, and has decided to leave final testing duties to regular rider Chris Vermeulen and test rider Kousuke Akiyoshi in order to recover further from his bumps, bruises and breaks.

MotoGP Official Test 125cc
Combined Official Times

1. Mattia Pasini (Polaris World) - 1''47.727
2. Gabor Talmacsi (Bancaja Aspar) - 1''47.803
3. Lukas Pesek (Valsir Seedorf Derbi) - 1''47.948
4. Simone Corsi (Skilled Racing Team) - 1''47.999
5. Tomoyoshi Koyama (Red Bull KTM) - 1''48.175
6. Joan Olive (Polaris World) - 1''48.227
7. Hector Faubel (Bancaja Aspar) - 1''48.242
8. Bradley Smith (Repsol Honda) - 1''48.298
9. Pol Espargaro (Belson Campetella Aprilia) - 1''48.351
10. Michael Ranseder (Ajo Motorsport) - 1''48.532
11. Esteve Rabat (Repsol Honda) - 1''48.551
12. Sergio Gadea (Bancaja Aspar) - 1''48.661
13. Alexis Masbou (FFM Honda GP) - 1''48.854
14. Raffaele De Rosa (Multimedia Racing) - 1''48.855
15. Federico Sandi (Skilled Racing Team) - 1''49.141
16. Mike Di Meglio (Humangest Racing Team) - 1''49.157
17. Nicolas Terol (Valsir Seedorf Derbi) - 1''49.201
18. Simone Grotzkyj (Multimedia Racing) - 1''49.327
19. Lorenzo Zanetti (Team Sicilia) - 1''49.485
20. Pablo Nieto (Blusens Aprilia) - 1''49.532
21. Hugo Van Den Berg (Blusens Aprilia) - 1''49.680
22. Daniel Webb (Arie Molenaar Racing) - 1''49.704
23. Robert Muresan (Ajo Motorsport) - 1''49.731
24. Stefano Bianco (WTR Team) - 1''49.739
25. Randy Krummenacher (Red Bull KTM) - 1''49.854
26.Andrea Iannone (WTR Team) - 1''50.070
27. Sandro Cortese (Emmi Caffe Latte) - 1''50.490
28.Dominique Aegerter (Multimedia Racing) - 1''50.988
29.Steve Bonsey (Red Bull KTM) - 1''51.897
30. Joey Litjens (Arie Molenaar Racing )- 1''52.203
31. Roberto Tamburini (Team Sicilia) - 1''52.682

www.motogp.com

More News
  For February 2007
  From Moto GP
  For Testing
  Biker247.com Home Page