Aoyama and Simoncelli take part in rookie’s test
Added on Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009 by Carole Nash Editor
Aoyama and Simoncelli take part in rookie’s test
Hiroshi Aoyama and Marco Simoncelli took to Sepang circuit yesterday for the start of an official “three day” rookies test.
Aoyama, stepping up as the 250cc champion to the Interwetten satellite Honda team and Simoncelli, moving up from 250s to the Gresini Honda team, are taking advantage of a change in rules that, despite testing restrictions, allow rookie riders to test MotoGP machines ahead of the new season.
Under the new regulation, rookie riders are considered to be “test riders” by the FIM up to January 1, after which point they are considered to be contracted MotoGP riders and therefore banned from testing in anything other than official tests. The riders were however only able to test 2009 motorcycles, meaning that the teams were unable to gain any technical development advantage ahead of new season. The pair will not get to try the 2010 models until the second day of the first official test in Sepang on February 4. Other rookies, including Tech 3 Yamaha’s Ben Spies, declined the opportunity to test.
With just two riders on track, there was little grip on the Sepang surface which basked in 32°C temperatures.
Aoyama rode a total of 68 laps, clocking a best time of 2:04.38 with Simoncelli, who clocked just 44 laps, lapping at a fastest time of 2:04.48.
Testing will continue for the pair on Tuesday and Wednesday.
