Skip to main content
Home

MotoMatters.com | Kropotkin Thinks

... that MotoGP is going to miss Mike Trimby

User Menu

  • Log in

Tools

  • Home
  • Subscriber Content
  • Round Ups
  • Features
    • Analysis
    • Interviews
    • Opinion
  • Photos
  • More
    • Search
    • Riders & Teams
      • 2023 MotoGP Rider Line Up So Far
    • Calendars
      • 2023 MotoGP Calendar
      • 2023 WorldSBK Calendar
    • Championship Standings
      • MotoGP Standings
      • Moto2 Standings
      • Moto3 Standings
      • MotoE Standings
      • WorldSBK Standings
      • WorldSSP Standings
    • Race Results
      • MotoGP Race Results
      • Moto2 Race Results
      • Moto3 Race Results
      • MotoE Race Results
      • WorldSBK Race Results
      • WorldSSP Race Results
    • News
      • MotoGP News
      • WorldSBK News
  • Subscribe!
  • Patreon
  • Forums
  • Contact
  • Old Forums

Breadcrumb

  • Home
  • News

Rookies-Only Test Approved For November

By David Emmett | Sat, 07/11/2009 - 18:38

The reduction in testing has been a double-edged sword in MotoGP, allowing costs to be cut on the one hand, but punishing the six rookies due to enter the class for the 2010 season. With so many rookies coming, the factories - or at least one of them - have been keen to bend the rules to help the incomers adapt to MotoGP. The request for more testing for the rookies faced a lot of opposition, and up until this morning, it looked like it would be denied.

Once in the Grand Prix Commission, held at Valencia this afternoon, things swung the other way. At the request of Suzuki, the MSMA put the request to the Permanent Bureau (consisting of Dorna CEO and FIM president Vito Ippolito), bypassing the Grand Prix Commission, and the Permanent Bureau approved one extra test to be held at Estoril in the middle of November. This was a compromise proposal, as the MSMA had initially requested one extra test for the rookies, plus one day extra prior to the three official MotoGP tests to be held at Sepang and Qatar in February and March of 2010. The Permanent Bureau rejected the extra day of testing for the rookies at the three official tests, but allowed two days of testing at Estoril.

The Estoril test is likely to be a very quiet affair, though. So far, only Alvaro Bautista and Suzuki test rider Nobuatsu Aoki are certain to be present, although there is a very good chance that the new MotoGP team being run by Daniel Epp of the Caffe Latte team will be present with Hiroshi Aoyama. The other rookies could potentially be present, though given Herve Poncharal's opposition to the tests, the likelihood of Ben Spies  being present is very close to zero.

Opposition to the new tests remains, however, and not just among the team owners. When asked about the tests at the post-qualifying press conference, Casey Stoner voiced the opinion of all of the front rown, saying "I don't think it's right. I think a lot of people use the excuse that they haven't had enough time on the bike. I've had the situation that I had to miss the whole of preseason testing after surgery, and in the first race I still arrived in the sixth position. Dani's had injuries before and missed a lot of the preseason and still arrives good in the beginning."

Stoner felt that it wasn't necessary, because it wouldn't make very much difference. "You know, a bike's a bike," he said. "It's got two wheels and a handlebar. I think you need three or four days to get accustomed to it. Ben Spies has been a good example here this weekend. I don't think it's necessary to have that much testing and have more than us."

MotoGP
Estoril, Portugal
Honda
Suzuki
Dorna
FIM
IRTA
  • Log in or register to post comments
↑Back to top

Log In or Register

  • Create new account
  • Reset your password

MotoGP.com latest

  • Team up with Marc Marquez for an exclusive MotoGP™ stay
  • Start masters KTM leave rivals in the shadows
  • Who's adapted best to their new surroundings so far?
  • All wrapped up! The results are in for Online Challenge #3!
More

Follow MotoMatters on Twitter


Mastodon

Buy Neil Spalding's essential guide to the technology of MotoGP bikes, MotoGP Technology.

Recent comments

  • Agree. Such topics should be…Matonge2 hours 21 minutes ago
  • Really loved the anekdotes,…Matonge2 hours 31 minutes ago
  • Indeed DE.
    De soep wordt…
    Matonge2 hours 41 minutes ago
  • Any news of Adam?jonoabroad5 hours 11 minutes ago
  • Riders' first impressions…David Emmett5 hours 25 minutes ago

Turkey & Syria Relief Funds

The massive earthquake which hit the border region between Syria and Turkey has killed over 45,000 people and left millions with their homes destroyed. If you would like to help, you can use these lists, found via motorsports journalist Peter Leung.

Charity Navigator's Shortlist of Charities for Turkey & Syria categorized by relief & aid types:
https://www.charitynavigator.org/discover-charities/where-to-give/earthquakes-turkey-syria/

Council on Foundations' Shortlist of Organizations providing humanitarian and disaster relief to Turkey & Syria
https://cof.org/news/philanthropys-response-turkey-and-syria-earthquake

UNICEF:
https://www.unicef.org/emergencies/Syria-Turkiye-earthquake

All content copyright of MotoMatters.com unless otherwise stated. MotoGP is a trademark of Dorna Sports s.l. and MotoMatters.com is not associated with it.

Site hosted by