HomeNewsLatest Rizla Suzuki MotoGP fired up for first test
Rizla Suzuki MotoGP fired up for first test
Posted by Staff
Friday, 18 January 2008
Rizla Suzuki MotoGP fired up for first test of
2008
Rizla Suzuki MotoGP is heading to Sepang in Malaysia in an eager mood, to
begin this year’s testing in readiness for the 2008 MotoGPWorld
Championship.
Chris Vermeulen and new Suzuki signing Loris Capirossi will join up with the
rest of the crew from around the world at the 5.5km Sepang International Circuit
on Tuesday 22nd January, for the first test of a busy pre-season
schedule before the opening race of the season at Qatar on Sunday 9th
March.
The Suzuki Factory Engineers have been working in a methodical and focussed
manner during the enforced winter break to ensure Vermeulen and Capirossi can
continue with the positive testing on the 2008 Suzuki GSV-R, as shown in last
year’s post-season tests at Valencia, Sepang and Phillip Island. Team Test Rider
Nobuatsu Aoki will join the two Rizla Suzuki racers to assist with the thorough
test programme that the team will undertake during the three days in
Malaysia.
Sepang will be the first time that new signing Capirossi will appear in the
recognisable Rizla blue, as the experienced Italian star begins his Suzuki
career. It will also signal the first official sighting of Vermeulen running the
iconic crossed seven – made famous by Barry Sheene – on his GSV-R.
Chris Vermeulen:
“I can’t wait to get back on the bike and start testing again. We made really
good progress during the tests at the end of last year and I have been in
constant touch with my Crew Chief Tom O’Kane, and from what we have been told
the bike is looking good for this season. This is my third full year in MotoGP
so it is a very important time in my career and I need to be performing at the
top of my game from the start. I believe I am in the right team and with the
right bike and we can make a big impact in 2008!”
Loris Capirossi: “This is a great time to be with Suzuki, I believe that I have joined a team
that is very much on the way up. I was pleased with the way the bike behaved in
the tests last year and am very excited about what we will have to test in
Sepang. For sure it is not going to be easy this year as other teams will have
improved their bikes, but I feel we will be able to compete with anybody. We
need to get into the tests and make sure we can get the best set-up and
performance from the bike in time for the first race. You don’t win races in
tests but we have a good chance to make sure that we are in the best position to
win them when the season starts by using these upcoming days to make every
possible improvement that we can.”
