Cycle News

Win And Get Parts I talian Marco Melandri will get extra support from Honda for next year's MotoGP season, but only if he keeps winning! The British-based Italian ended the 2005 season in sensational form, claiming victo- ries at the final two races in Turkey and Valencia. Despite his brilliant conclusion to his debut Honda year, he won't get the same technical backup as factory duo Nicky Hayden and Dani Pedrosa. But HRC has had a change of heart, though it won't run three factory bikes like in 2005 for Hayden and departed veterans Sete Gibemau and Max Biaggi. "I haven't spoke to HRC about new parts or anything," Melandri said. "I will just do my job on my bike and wait to see what happens." Melandri continued his good form in Sepang, clocking the fastest time on the first day despite being struck down with a high fever he picked up on a promotional visit to Japan before he arrived in Malaysia. The illness dogged him throughout the test, though he was stili able to clock the second-best time overall, his 2:02.6S on day two beating his best Malaysian GP lap time by a second. Riding the same-specification RCV he finished the season on, he was still too physically drained by his virus to complete a scheduled 21-lap race simulation on the final day. "I had nothing new for this test and spent most of the time working with Michelin on tires," Melandri said. "I fell ill in Japan last week. I'm not sure what happened. I think it was [that] I had a bad fever, because my temperature was 39 degrees [centigrade; 102.2 degrees Fahrenheit], and on the first day I stopped really early. I went to sleep for IS hours on Monday night but still wasn't 100 percent for the rest of the test." Pedrosa, meanwhile, showed why Honda believes he can emulate Valentino Rossi's domination of MotoGP when he clocked the third-fastest time at the Sepang test session. Only Italian duo Rossi and Marco Melandri set lap times faster than those of the 20-year-old Spaniard, who proved that he could be a major force to be reckoned with in his rookie premier-class season. The reigning 2S0cc World Champion clocked a best time of 2:02.77 to dip under new factory Honda teammate Nicky Hayden's Sepang lap record by two-tenths of a second on only his fourth day on the RCY. Although his time was impressive, it was believed that he slipped in a Michelin qualifying tire in the final hour of the last day to get his lap time. And while he was quietly delighted with his time, which proved to be after he set the ninth-fastest time in Malaysia. Although his first ride on the new Suzuki was less than earth-shattering, his best time of 2:03.10, set on a rain-beset final day, beat his best lap in September's race by half a second. And things can only get better for Suzuki's new number-one rider, who now has to shoulder the burden of leading development of the GSV-R after the firing of experienced former World Champion Kenny Roberts Jr. at the end of last season. The new Suzuki in Sepang was only what bosses branded the "Stage One" prototype. It was effectively the new GSV-R minus the much-improved new V-four motor that is still undergoing intensive development work in Japan. riding position on his bike after the Valencia test. Modifications to the bike - which is one of Max Biaggi's old 2005 machines included a new fuel-tank shape, a new seat unit, higher footpegs, and new handlebars. Pedrosa struggled to reach the handlebars on his debut in Valencia last month, but he said: "I feel much more comfortable than I did in Valencia, but I've yet to decide whether or not I need more changes. The bike is so high, I need to get more over the bike rather than under the bike. I need to find a position where I am in control." Matthew 81rt (Left) Dani Pedrosa .howed that he may be a factor next year. Hopkins On The Brink Suzuki's MotoGP star John Hopkins reckons he could be on the brink of making his big breakthrough after an impressive debut aboard Suzuki's new prototype GSV-R during the recent test in Sepang, Malaysia. The 22-year-old is still chasing his elusive first premier-class podium but was brimming with confidence about his 2006 prospects the fastest on the final day, the pint-sized rider looked physically drained at the end of a grueling three-day test. Pedrosa admitted the extra physical demands of the much heavier and more powerful Rev, coupled with the extreme heat of the Malaysian climate, had taken a huge toll on his body. "This bike is so much different [than] what I am used to," he said. "The riding style is completely different as well, and I'm just trying to get used to the bike and get familiar with it. It is very tiring. I am much more tired riding this bike [than] when I was riding the 2S0. I actually think riding the bike in Sepang was easier than in Valencia. Valencia is a short and tight track, so I was having a lot of wheelie trouble with the bike. But compared to the 250, this bike slides a lot more, and that makes it much more difficult to handle physically." He admitted that his main priority during the winter months before the season kicks off in front of his home fans at Jerez at the end of March will be to build up his body weight to cope with the demands of the RCY. "This is 100 percent the biggest challenge for me in MotoGp," he added. "Unfortunately I am not going to get any taller now, so I must get wider." At least Pedrosa felt more comfortable on the RCV that dwarfs the lOB-pound rider. HRC engineers made several changes to the John Hopkins wh_Ii•• hi. new Suzuki GSV·R. With the new engine due to arrive at the next Sepang test in January, Hopkins concentrated his attentions on assessing the heavily revised chassis and swingarm. Suzuki flew in two different chassis and swingarms for the new bike, and new engine parts were also fitted to the 2005-spec motor. "The chassis seems to be a big step forward," Hopkins said. "The way we had our bike handling last year was where we made up all of our time, because we had to rely on corner speed because we didn't have the horsepower to fire us down the straights like the other guys. With the new chassis, I was still able to get close to my race times on the first day, which 10 DECEMBER 14,2005 • CYCLE NEWS shows we have made a step [forward]." Hopkins must now keep his fingers crossed and hope that the new engine is an equally significant leap forward. "I've been told it's alreacly a lot faster on the test track in Japan," Hopkins said. "If we've got a bike that can make the horsepower and still react like last year's bike in the corners, then it will be a major step forward. There's still another two months of development before I get to ride it in January, but it's supposed to have five to 10 horsepower more. It should react much better on the throttle as well, because it is a Big Bang engine. Controllable horsepower is what we need. That's our big downfall at the moment, and that's supposed to be coming in January. Everybody is going to be better, but it's about whether we can make two leaps in one bound." Matthew 8irt Ducati's Controlling Stake Changes Ducatl Motor Holding S.pA says it is satisfied with the announcement of the preliminary agreement to transfer the Texas Pacific Group's (majority shareholder of the Bologna motorcycle manufacturer) controlling stake in Ducati to Investindustrial Holdings, according to a press release from the company. "We had always hoped to have Investindustrial as our partner for the relaunch of the company," said Federico Minali, president and CEO of Ducati Motor Holding. "The transfer ofshares provides the guarantees that Ducati needs in order to continue its growth and reach the goaJs it has been working towards. The agreement is subject to the approval of Ducati's banks. We will be working with all of our main banks, with the assistance of Unicredito Banca Mobiliare - UBM to finalize the agreement as efficiencly and quickly as possible. We expect to operate in a calm and harmonious way, combining forces and sharing results with those partners who have our same passion and pride for the worldwide success of Italian bikes."

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