Rizla Suzuki MotoGP is on the way to Losail in Qatar for the final pre-season test this week with a huge schedule to undertake at the 5,380m circuit
Loris Capirossi and Alvaro Bautista both made big steps during the last time out in Malaysia, but the forthcoming night-time test under the floodlights of the Losail circuit will be a completely different affair, especially with the cooler conditions that are expected during the two-day test.
Both riders will have a thorough agenda to complete at the test, including a full and detailed evaluation of the new-spec engine to further check its performance and durability, plus many other new and updated parts from the Suzuki factory to improve the performance of the GSV-R in time for the start of the season.
The desert circuit in Qatar is the only floodlit track on the calendar, so this week’s test will give all the riders a clear indication of what to expect when they return there next month for the first race of the MotoGP season on Sunday 11th April. The Qatar test will also mark the first outing of the Rizla Suzuki GSV-R in its new Troy Lee Designs.
Loris Capirossi:
“I am totally fired up for the next test; we have only had a few days on the bike this year so we need to get as much done as possible over the two days at Qatar. We have a lot of testing to do on the engine, chassis, electronics, in fact almost everything. It will be very important to see how the bike is performing this year in changeable conditions, so as it gets colder at night in Qatar that should be a good test of how we stand at the moment. The GSV-R worked well in the hotter conditions in Malaysia, but this time out it will be very different and we will all be looking very closely at the data to see how things have changed since we last came to the desert.”
Alvaro Bautista:
“After two tests at Sepang it will be good to go to a different circuit to ride the Suzuki and I’m really looking forward to getting out on the bike again. Each time I ride the GSV-R it feels better and I am starting to find my rhythm with every lap that I do. The team and Suzuki can’t do enough for me and I know it was a good decision to come to them because this is the support I need and a factory team is the best way to get it. I will feel very proud at this test because it is the first time that I will ride my bike with full Rizla colours, so I am really looking forward to that. I know we have a lot of work to do and I can’t wait to get started.”
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