MotoGP Blog

Shortish and sweet, here’s my take on the winter testing. Jimmy’s got his slant on the Jerez test too.

Honda
Both riders looking good, fast and competent. Those at the head of Big H will be please to see the factory team topping the timing sheets before the winter break. Situation normal. Other Honda teams are looking strong, Dovizioso in particular making everyone wonder how many podiums he’ll get this year.

Yamaha
After a worryingly timid start, Toseland is finding his way and is now challenging Edwards, who may be showing his thoughts of retirement or need of a new challenge in his riding. Is the Tornado becoming more of a bit of light rain? Lorenzo is off and running now and is working hard and making sure everyone knows about it. The lad is fast. The Rossi/Yamaha/Bridgestone team have had their first outing but were hampered by the Special One’s broken hand. No conclusions can be drawn from this evidence.

Kawasaki
Team Green head into the winter needing to find some pace. West and Hopkins have been workmanlike in their application but the times are not there. West in particular needs to learn how to set up a bike and communicate better with his engineers. Will Hopper be able to help him with this? Will he want to? I he having any regrets?

Ducati
Early dominance across the tests was spoiled by a massive Stoner high-side spelling what Jimmy sees as a return to type for Stoner. Melandri appears to be lagging a little in his times, but perhaps he’s not used to riding at full fitness, preferring the handicap of a broken ankle or rib.

Suzuki
Blanking everyone else by heading to Phillip Island for the last test of the year, the Rizla boys surprised us all. No times released from the sessions means either they were dreadful or they are hiding their light under a bushel and protecting some new developments for their 08 bike from the gaze of the press.

Overall, little can be deciphered from this except Kawasaki are currently seeming to lag, and Suzuki might be. The Rossi on Bridgestones is as fast as the Rossi on Michelins at Jerez, but that is Jerez and not the other 17 tracks the show will visit next year. The show resumes in January in Sepang, we’ll know more (but not much) then.