Rizla Suzuki: Hopkins to join Bautista in Qatar test – MotoGP news
Rizla Suzuki is heading to Losail in Qatar for the final three-day pre-season test session followed by the first race on the 18-race 2011 MotoGP season, also having a compact testing schedule ahead.
The solo primary, Rizla Suzuki rider Alvaro Bautista has shown some big steps of improvement at the first two pre-season tests held at Sepang and Malaysia last month.
Bautista is hoping to resume his effort in the final test, which opens the MotoGP season later this March. He has finished at eighth place in the second pre-season test at Sepang. He got sick during the first test and finished 10th overall.
As the fact remains that the Sepang International Circuit has been the strongest track for the Suzuki team as considering the high temperatures, will the team be able to perform well at the cooler temperatures.
The test will be held on Saturday, March 13 and Sunday, March 14. The cooler evening temperatures at Qatar will give the engineers to test the improvements made in GSV-R in the cooler temperatures, which has previously proven hard for the machine to maintain
grip at the rear end under those situations.
John Hopkins is expected to be seen with Alvaro Bautista during the final test. The Anglo-American rider finished fourth on his Suzuki in the MotoGP World Championship of 2007.
Other than this, Hopkins recently joined the Crescent Racing Suzuki team in British Superbikes in aim to resurrect his two-wheel career, following a wrist surgery to keep him riding long. Hopkins is also due to assist Rizla Suzuki in some PR filming planned
at the test weekend and will be watching the upgrading done to GSV-R on the 5.380m long track of Losail, Qatar.
Qatar is the only floodlit track on the 2011 MotoGP schedule. The next testing will give the riders helpful information, what to expect and how to ride on the track when they return on the same track following weekend after the test for the first race of
MotoGP 2011 season on Sunday, March 20, in flood lights.
“After the two good tests at Sepang we have a better idea about the bike and a good setting to start with at Qatar. This final test will be very important for us, as it will be the last time we can make some more improvements to the GSV-R before the first
race. I am really looking forward to racing again and that can't come soon enough for me. The team has worked very well in the pre-season and we need to carry this on and into the rest of the year.”
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