Submitted by David Emmett on
A weather front moving in put an early end to today's MotoGP test at Brno, clearing the track after 3:30pm, meaning that times no one improved their time from the morning.
Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi tested a new engine for the Yamaha M1 with more top end power, which could form the basis for the 2011 bike, and both said it was an improvement, but only a small one. With Rossi now officially signed for Ducati for next year, he did not get to test the new bike that Yamaha had at the test, but Lorenzo did. The Spaniard said that the new chassis was more stable in braking, but this had come at the cost of rear grip on corner exit.
Dani Pedrosa tested a new chassis for the Honda RC212V, and set his fastest time on it. The new chassis is much more similar to the one currently being used by Andrea Dovizioso, being designed around the same concept. Despite being faster on the new chassis, Pedrosa does not expect to be using it in the next races, but it could make an appearance later in the year.
Final times from the Brno MotoGP test:
| Pos | No. | Rider | Bike | Time | Diff | Diff Previous |
| 1 | 99 | Jorge LORENZO | YAMAHA | 1'56.269 | ||
| 2 | 27 | Casey STONER | DUCATI | 1'56.844 | 0.575 | 0.575 |
| 3 | 26 | Dani PEDROSA | HONDA TEST | 1'56.944 | 0.675 | 0.100 |
| 4 | 46 | Valentino ROSSI | YAMAHA | 1'57.129 | 0.860 | 0.185 |
| 5 | 26 | Dani PEDROSA | HONDA | 1'57.424 | 1.155 | 0.295 |
| 6 | 5 | Colin EDWARDS | YAMAHA | 1'57.512 | 1.243 | 0.088 |
| 7 | 4 | Andrea DOVIZIOSO | HONDA | 1'57.691 | 1.422 | 0.179 |
| 8 | 65 | Loris CAPIROSSI | SUZUKI | 1'57.700 | 1.431 | 0.009 |
| 9 | 11 | Ben SPIES | YAMAHA | 1'57.753 | 1.484 | 0.053 |
| 10 | 69 | Nicky HAYDEN | DUCATI | 1'57.991 | 1.722 | 0.238 |
| 11 | 40 | Hector BARBERA | DUCATI | 1'58.017 | 1.748 | 0.026 |
| 12 | 33 | Marco MELANDRI | HONDA | 1'58.070 | 1.801 | 0.053 |
| 13 | 58 | Marco SIMONCELLI | HONDA | 1'58.160 | 1.891 | 0.090 |
| 14 | 41 | Aleix ESPARGARO | DUCATI | 1'58.612 | 2.343 | 0.452 |
| 15 | 7 | Hiroshi AOYAMA | HONDA | 1'58.830 | 2.561 | 0.218 |
| 16 | 36 | Mika KALLIO | DUCATI | 1'58.926 | 2.657 | 0.096 |
| 17 | 19 | Sylvain GUINTOLI | SUZUKI | 1'59.454 | 3.185 | 0.528 |
Comments
#7
not a bad result for hiro coming off of a scary injury. i had a chat with him in the morning and he said he was feeling good after a 10 lap run and he's happy to be back on the bike.
Not so much a CE fan
He's so consistently in the top 7 riders on the time sheets (not necessarily in all races) that it seems a shame if he were to be out of the series. Sure the Yamaha may be a great bike. But I'd like to see him run on a Satellite Honda again. I'd understand that he'd rather be challenging for wins in WSBK if he gets a good ride there (or just spending time with family in retirement). I just get the feeling that he's as deserving of a spot in MotoGP as much as 9 other riders that will be riding in the series next year.
Yes but...
Slow bikes suck. I agree that CE is worthy of MotoGP but I also can understand his point. I know how frustrating it is to outride someone but have them pass you (or stay in front of you) on the straights due to factory sponsored power advantage.
If he can get a decent salary and a decent bike in WSBK it is a lot more FUN being a big fish in a small pond than a small fish in a big pond.