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Rizla Suzuki heads to Spain |
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Posted by Staff
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Wednesday, 13 February 2008 |
Rizla Suzuki MotoGP heads to Spain for first ‘official’
test
Rizla Suzuki MotoGP is on its way to Jerez in Spain to attend the opening
IRTA test of 2008, an event that will also see the first competitive action of
the season.
Chris Vermeulen and Loris Capirossi will be onboard their new Rizla Suzuki
GSV-Rs in Europe for the first time this year during the three-day test. The
Jerez IRTA test will not only give the two riders and their machines a tough
workout over the 4.4km Spanish circuit, but will also feature a televised
40-minute against-the-clock qualifying type session, where the fastest rider
will walk away with a brand new BMW car.
Vermeulen and Capirossi will be making their first appearances on the newly
liveried 2008 Rizla Suzuki GSV-R - and in their latest riding apparel – and it
will also be the first time the duo have tested in Europe this season following
two tests in Malaysia and Australia. The Jerez circuit in Andalucía, Spain is
certainly a track to test the 800cc machine to its limit, with fast, medium and
slow corners over its undulating layout, providing many hard-braking areas both
up and downhill, plus countless camber changes throughout its 13 challenging
bends.
Rizla Suzuki MotoGP will be in action from Saturday 16th February,
with the televised session getting underway at 14.05hrs local time (13.05hrs
GMT) on Sunday. The Team will then travel to Losail in Qatar for the second IRTA
test on the 28th of February in readiness for the first round of the
season – also at Losail on Sunday 9th March. Both the Qatar test and
the race will become the first ever MotoGP events staged under floodlights.
Chris Vermeulen:
“I can’t wait to get to Jerez and get on the bike. I just want to be riding
again and the sooner the better! It will be great to get back to testing as we
need to get as many miles in as possible before the season starts. This test
will also be good because we have a bit of competition with all the other bikes
and riders on Sunday so we will be able to get an idea of where we are at the
moment. I know we have a lot of work still to do, but I am more than ready for
it!”
Loris Capirossi:
“I am really looking forward to this weekend. It
is officially my first time in Europe as a Suzuki rider and I am really excited
about everything. The bike is coming along good and we have lots of things to do
at Jerez and then Qatar before we go into the first race. We don’t get any
points from events like this but for sure it is good to be in action and to take
on the other guys on Sunday to see how we are progressing.”
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