Comments (0) 1. Dani Pedrosa Honda 1’39.993
2. Valentino Rossi Yamaha 1’40.134
3. Shinya Nakano Honda 1’40.251
4. Alex de Angelis Honda 1’40.332
5. Andrea Dovizioso Honda 1.40.650
6. Nicky Hayden Honda 1’40.692
7. Randy de Puniet Honda 1’40.820
8. Casey Stoner Ducati 1’40.833
The Repsol Honda Team embarked on its final three days of testing in 2007 at the Jerez circuit in southern Spain today. Nicky Hayden continued to develop the new carbon-fibre clad RC212V – the 800cc machine that will contest in the 2008 MotoGP World Championship. Taking advantage of cool, sunny conditions at the famous Andalucian circuit, the factory Honda rider began analysing the latest engine and chassis updates to the HRC prototype racer.
Nicky Hayden was back on board the RC212V just ten days after the Sepang test and he too was encouraged by the latest developments to this all-new machine. The 2006 World Champion completed 63 laps today and finished the day with the fifth fastest time. His lap of 1m 40.923s was also inside his fastest lap from the March race when he recorded a best time of 1m 41.441s. The test continues at Jerez for two more days.
Nicky Hayden Fastest lap: 1m 40.923s – 63 laps
1. Casey Stoner Ducati 1’40.221
2. Dani Pedrosa Honda 1’40.355
3. Valentino Rossi Yamaha 1’40.514
4. Colin Edwards Yamaha 1’40.790
5. Nicky Hayden Honda 1’40.923
6. Alex de Angelis Honda 1’41.111
7. Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha 1’41,230
8. Shinya Nakano Honda 1’41.277
MotoGP Test
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14, 16, 26, 6
The Repsol Honda Team concluded its programme of testing at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia today with Nicky Hayden recording the fastest overall time of the three-day MotoGP test. Using Michelin qualifying tyres during his final run on the 2007 RC212V, Hayden made the most of favourable track conditions to post a lap time of 2m 00.592s – a remarkable 1.3s inside the 2m 01.877s Malaysian Grand Prix pole position time set by his Repsol Honda team-mate Dani Pedrosa in October.
aps to evaluate engine settings, test race tyre options and gather valuable data for the HRC technicians in preparation for the coming season. Following this positive track time at Sepang, the factory Honda squad now looks forward to a further three-day test at the Jerez circuit in Spain, beginning on November 27, where Hayden will once again be joined in the garage by Pedrosa. The intense 2007 schedule is then finally brought to a close by the winter MotoGP test ban which runs from December 1 2007 until January 20 2008.
Nicky Hayden
MotoGP Test
| 14, 16, 26, 6
A vibrant atmosphere is assured at the tradition season curtain-closer with huge numbers of fervent Spanish motorcycle fans once again expected to pack the vast grandstands that border the 4.005km (2.487 miles) Valencia circuit.
Nicky Hayden is relishing his return to the scene of his extraordinary World Championship victory last year. Few can forget the emotional conclusion to the spectacular 2006 season where the American overturned an eight-point deficit to Valentino Rossi and clinched his first world title. While 2007 hasn’t gone to plan for Hayden, he has regained front-running pace in recent races and that, combined with his confidence at the Valencia circuit, should make him a real threat this weekend. The 26-year-old likes Valencia and has a good recent record here, having finished second in 2005 and third last year.
There are certainly more challenging and scenic circuits on the MotoGP calendar than Valencia, but its status as the final race of the season combined with the jubilant atmosphere generated by the vast and passionate race-day crowd guarantees that the Grand Prix of Valencia is a special occasion. Last year’s attendance for the weekend was a stunning 233,399 fans, with 129,466 of those witnessing Hayden’s ride to the world title on race day. Largely characterised by tight second and third gear corners, the left-handed track keeps the MotoGP riders busy as they thread their 210+ bhp machines through Valencia’s relentless sequence of turns.