Simoncelli happy with testing progress
Added on Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009 by Carole Nash Editor
Simoncelli happy with testing progress
Marco Simoncelli believes that he is getting to grips with MotoGP motorcycles after testing at Sepang this week.
Simoncelli is one of just two riders taking advantage of a specially sanctioned “rookies test” that allows riders making their first step into the MotoGP class an additional testing session to help them get used to the machinery, despite current testing restrictions.
He and Hiroshi Aoyama putting their respective Honda RC212Vs through their paces and the Italian, who will ride for the San Carlo Gresini team in 2010, was pleased with the consistency that he demonstrated throughout the session.
Simoncelli posted a best lap of 2:03.70 on day two of the three day session and although that was slower than the 2:03.25 set by Aoyama, the former 250cc man seemed unperturbed.
“Lap after lap I feel better on the bike and the fact I was consistently inside my best time from yesterday is evidence of that,” he claimed yesterday. “[In the] morning we started early and worked at an intense pace, allowing us to get through the entire programme we had planned.
“Despite the changeable weather we were able to make some improvements to the balance of the chassis and took some more steps forward during the heavy afternoon downpour, which you always get here in Malaysia. The lap time of 2:03.70 is encouraging but I must insist once again that this is not my objective at the moment. The most positive thing is that I have lapped at a consistently fast pace for all 56 laps and I started to enjoy it.
“Tomorrow we’ll make a couple of changes aimed at improving the traction on the front and rear and then try a race simulation. Not a bad second day all round – everything is going to plan.”
