Repsol Honda riders ready for season opener after staggering performance – MotoGP news
Ending the all three pre-season tests on a high note, all three Repsol Honda riders are ready to hit the tracks.
Casey Stoner has come out to be the fastest man on among all MotoGP riders on his new 2011 RC212V, followed by the teammate Dani Pedrosa. Stoner was the first rider to break the two-minute barrier at the Sepang International Circuit during the second
preseason test, after him was only Pedrosa to fall in the same circle. At the final preseason test held at Losail Circuit, Stoner and Pedrosa were the only riders to ride under 1:56” mark, leaving behind the Factory Yamaha Racing rider Ben Spies on third place.
Stoner has won races on this track including 250cc class in 2005 and 2007, 2008, 2009 in MotoGP premier class. Stoner shifted to MotoGP premier class in 2006 and was able to score a pole position in his second race of the season.
Stoner said, “When the flag drops, we will see the true pace of all our competitors and know where we stand and I can't wait. Usually, I feel comfortable here at the Losail circuit and I hope that this year - my first with the Repsol Honda Team, we
can achieve a good result.”
Dani Pedrosa has been performing steady and fast on the pace throughout the off-season winter testing. Pedrosa has also got good times to enjoy at the desert track of Losail, where he has scored two podium positions in 2007 and 2008 on MotoGP category,
and one for 250cc class in 2004. Having confidence on the RC212V, he feels ready for the inaugural race of the 2011 MotoGP season on March 20.
“I'm really looking forward to starting the season. I’m expecting very windy as it's been during testing. Both the bike and I are in a good shape and I hope we can take this occasion to start the season strongly,” he said.
Andrea Dovizioso is also one of the smooth dangers, unseen for the title battle. Dovizioso has also been to podium finishes on the Losail track, in all three MotoGP categories. He has a third place finish in 2010 after strong battle at track, and in
2008 he was at fourth place after overtaking Rossi in the final lap, which was also his debut Grand Prix with the Honda satellite team.
“Racing in Qatar is special because it’s the first round of the season and we race at night. Here in Losail, the bike slides a lot and it’s important to find the specific setting for this track. The race will be long and physically demanding, but I
am looking forward to starting the Championship,” he added.
The Japanese Grand Prix has been shifted from April to 2 October later in the event calendar of MotoGP, after the Japan faced the shocking earthquake and tsunami devastation. The country has seen thousands of deaths and the country’s infrastructure
has been damaged heavily. A nuclear reactor in north of the Tokyo, has also been breached increasing the problems Japanese nation is facing at the moment.
The Motegi circuit is about 160km south of the reactor. Giants of automobile manufacturing industry such as Honda, Toyota have shut down their plants, for undefined period. Everyone at Honda Motor Company has shared their condolence to their fellow
natives as the trauma sighted.
Tags: