Yamaha Factory Racing Complete Aragon Test 07.06.2012: MotoGP Test at Aragon Motorland Circuit The Yamaha Factory Racing team wrapped up a successful one-day test at the Aragon

MotoGP Test at Aragon Motorland Circuit



The Yamaha Factory Racing team wrapped up a successful one-day test at the Aragon Motorland circuit today. Riders Ben Spies and Jorge Lorenzo spent the sessions re-confirming areas tested in Monday’s Catalunya test. The focus was again on a new engine specification, various chassis settings and some electronics. The riders also took time to work on set up for the Aragon track ahead of the race later in the season.


Spies led the majority of the day as the fastest rider on track, only overtaken by team mate Lorenzo towards the end of the session with a gap difference of 0.255 seconds. The Factory riders were followed by satellite Yamaha riders Cal Crutchlow and Andrea Dovizioso, making the top four all Yamaha.
 

Jorge Lorenzo
  Position 1st - Time: 1'49.187 - Laps 59

“This test has been very important because it’s not easy to find the best set up for the 1000cc bike here as there is so much change from the 800. We tried the engine again like we did in Barcelona, there wasn’t so much difference so the engineers now have to make a decision for moving forward. They will consider the data from today to help them.”
 


Ben Spies
  Position 2nd - Time: 1'49.442 - Laps 57

“Today was a good test, to come back after not such a fantastic race on Sunday and be consistently fast here and in the Catalunya test is important. We’ve worked really well with the bike and the electronics and just tried to change a few things and fine tune. The track was a lot better than we thought, we were expecting it to be quite dirty but it wasn’t. I feel like I’m getting back up to the potential of the bike and myself which is good.”
 


Crutchlow and Dovizioso complete successful Aragon test


The Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team enjoyed a successful ending to an intense period of MotoGP action in Spain this week, with Cal Crutchlow and Andrea Dovizioso working through a range of new parts and set-up options during a one-day test at Motorland Aragon track.


Gloriously sunny conditions enabled Crutchlow and Dovizioso to begin testing shortly after the track opened at 10am, and both took full advantage of the hot temperatures and better than anticipated grip levels to put in 121-laps between them.


Today's session gave Crutchlow the opportunity to gain a more accurate assessment of an electronics and YZR-M1 engine upgrade, having had his schedule disrupted by an early high-speed crash during Monday's Catalunya test.


The British rider completed 67-laps and was impressed with the new electronics package that gave him smoother mid-corner power delivery. He also evaluated a revised engine spec and was satisfied with improved acceleration performance.


He logged a best time of 1.49.687 to finish third fastest behind factory Yamaha duo Jorge Lorenzo and Ben Spies.


Dovizioso was able to confirm the new electronics package he used to top the timesheets in Catalunya on Monday were also a significant step at the Motorland Aragon, the Italian rider lapping at a quickest pace of 1.49.8 87.


Dovizioso, who scored his first Yamaha podium in last Sunday's Gran Premi Aperol de Catalunya, also spent more time on a revised YZR-M1 engine spec, giving additional feedback to Yamaha technical staff to focus on further improvements in the coming weeks.


Today's test was the fifth time in the last six days that Crutchlow and Dovizioso have been on track, and the pair will now enjoy a thoroughly deserved break before the 2012 World Championship resumes at Silverstone next weekend.
 


Cal Crutchlow
  Position 3rd - Time: 1'49.687 - Laps 67


“Today was really important for me because I was unable to make a proper judgement on the new parts after the early crash in Catalunya. To be honest I'm happy to have completed the test and put a lot of laps in because after the big crash I am not in the best physical condition.


My ribs are hurting and if I cough it is really painful, so leaving here with a positive test gives me good confidence to take to my home race in Silverstone. We were worried the track might be a little dirty here but the grip level wasn't too bad and it meant we could get a lot of important data.


I liked the new electronics and engine, so it was a positive day and I could have gone a bit faster but I made a couple of mistakes on one of my best laps at the end on new tyres. We spent a lot of time working on the set-up of the chassis today too because I'd like the bike to turn better. Yamaha is doing a great job though and the bike is working well at all tracks, so I am sure when I return for the race I will be challenging for a strong result."


 
Andrea Dovizioso
  Position 4th - Time: 1'49.887 - Laps 54


“Today's test completed a very positive week for me and I go home quite tired after so much time on track but also very happy. After the strong race and test at Catalunya it was important to understand our level here in Aragon. This has not been a strong track for me in the past but I was very fast and consistent and now I have a great feeling with the Yamaha and it is beautiful to ride this bike.


The strong points of the Yamaha like braking and corner entry is what you need at this track, so when we come back for the race later in the season I am sure I will be very competitive. We were able to confirm the improvement from the electronics here and I am looking forward to using them next week in Silverstone.


The upgrade gives me better control on old tyres and also the endurance of the tyre is longer, so this will be a good advantage over a race distance.”
 


Test Times

01. Jorge Lorenzo (ESP) Yamaha Factory Racing 1'49.187
02. Ben Spies (USA) Yamaha Factory Racing 1'49.442
03. Cal Cruthlow (GBR) Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1'49.687
04. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA) Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1'49.887
05. Hector Barbera (ESP) Pramac Racing 1'50.196
06. Nicky Hayden (USA) Ducati Team 1'50.204
07. Alvaro Bautista (ESP) San Carlo Honda Gresini 1'50.294
08. Valentino Rossi (ITA) Ducati Team 1'50.369
09. Stefan Bradl (GER) LCR Honda MotoGP 1'51.146
10. Karel Abraham (CZE) Cardion AB Motoracing 1'51.977
11. Michele Pirro (ITA) San Carlo Honda Gresini 1'52.452
12. Yonny Hernandez (COL) Avintia Racing MotoGP 1'52.502
13. Colin Edwards (USA) NGM Mobile Forward Racing 1'52.589
14. Ivan Silva (ESP) Avintia Racing MotoGP 1'53.929


Motorland Aragon Record Lap  Casey Stoner (2011) 1'49.046

Motorland Aragon Best Lap Casey Stoner (2011) 1'48.451
 
         
 Yamaha Motor Europe N.V.  Amsterdam - also photo