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Hayden gets RC212V chassis dialed in at hot and humid Sepang

In MotoGP

07 febbraio 2008

The second day of MotoGP testing at Sepang was run in extremely high temperatures and high humidity the thermometer registering mid 30 degrees with a track temperature rising from an early 46 to peak at an incredible 60 degrees at one point.

Despite the sweltering conditions Nicky Hayden was an early starter managing to get in 90 laps at Sepang today completing the chassis comparison test the HRC engineers had planned for this test. The Repsol Honda team technicians managed to improve the chassis specification of the factory RC212V and find suitable Michelin rubber to suit the set up in the extreme conditions. Hayden ended the day in positive mood and with nothing more to learn he heads for home in the US for a break but eager to get to the next test at Jerez, Sothern Spain in nine days time.

The Gresini Honda all new rider line-up of Shinya Nakano and Alex De Angelis for the 2008 season have gelled with the team technicians quickly establishing a good working relationship with the squad and have made impressive progress during winter testing.

De Angelis makes no secret of the fact that the Sepang circuit is not one of his favourite’s but despite that the MotoGP debutante has knuckled down working hard refining chassis settings to try and cure a persistent niggling front end chattering problem around the 5.548 km track. De Angelis put in 57 laps today and managed to better his best lap time of yesterday. The Sanmarinese also tested qualifier tyres for Bridgestone but could not get the best from the sticky rubber with the set up he used in the high temperatures.

Nakano worked on suspension set-up mainly and now finds the machine more comfortable to ride. The Japanese star then moved on to do some tyre tests for Bridgestone. But at the end of 59 laps he could not find better tyre performance than during yesterdays test - either with race rubber or qualifying tyres.

Gresini Racing will remain at the track to complete the three-day test.

Honda rider lap times and quotes.

Nicky Hayden, Repsol Honda: 2m 00.900s – 90 laps. “Not too bad all in all a positive two-days testing. The team have worked extremely hard for me from day one of testing this year, the HRC engineers and the mechanics . Today we didn’t focus on just one thing but worked on chassis comparison tests and working on tyres with Michelin. The track surface temperature was as high as it’s ever been here and we got some positive feedback on tyres in the conditions. We found a good rear that gives good grip on the edge of the tyre. The front we tried was OK but we went back to the front tyre we had used at the last test. The chassis is now OK and we will have the new engine ready for the next test. It’s been a pretty busy time and we go at it again in Jerez before the big show opens.”

Shinya Nakano, Gresini Honda: 2m 02.049s – 57 laps. “We started the day on the same base set up we ran yesterday then made some changes to the suspension before testing for Bridgestone. I was more comfortable on the bike today but we did not find any tyre combinations better than we ran yesterday and I didn’t better my lap times on either race tyres or qualifyers. We have one more day of testing here so I hope we improve a little tomorrow.”

Alex De Angelis, Gresini Honda: 2m 02.646s – 55 laps. “We worked mainly on the chassis today but could not improve on yesterday. We have quite a lot of chattering at this track and it made it impossible to run consistently good lap times. Later I tried the Bridgestone qualifying tyres but could not use them effectively. Tonight we will check the data to see which direction we take in testing tomorrow.”