Stoner breaks Mugello record in test
Added on Tuesday, July 5th, 2011 by Carole Nash Editor
Stoner breaks Mugello record in test
Casey Stoner posted a circuit record time in official testing at Mugello yesterday, lapping the Italian circuit seven tenths faster than his pole position-winning time from the weekend.
The championship leader posted a time of 1:47.326 on his penultimate lap during the session after recovering from a crash in the morning session.
“This morning the track was very dirty and I had a small incident going into turn one, but nothing major,” said Stoner.
“We had a few things to test here today, a new front tyre from Bridgestone which wasn’t so different to the one we are currently using, perhaps just a little more contact feeling so it could be a good direction they are working in.
We tested a new swing arm and had positive feedback, we found more traction and some more grip delivered a little earlier so I don’t need to pick up the bike so much, which could help us in a track like Sachsenring where you spend a lot of time on the edge.
“In general we didn’t test so much, the bike was very similar to the race day set up, we also tried something small on the rear suspension and this was also a small step forward.”
All three Repsol Honda riders were on track during the session, with Andrea Dovizioso achieving a consistently good pace after securing a second place finish in Sunday’s Grand Prix. The Italian finished with a third fastest lap time of 1:48.061, just over sixth tenths of a second slower than Gresini’s Marco Simoncelli.
Dani Pedrosa meanwhile continued his rehabilitation from a collarbone injury, combine short rounds of track time with long breaks in the garage, leaving the circuit after twenty six laps.
Also testing was Mika Kallio on a Marc VDS Racing bike, who posted a time of 1:53.668.
