MotoGP: 2009 Brno Test Results

Trailing Valentino Rossi by 50 points, Lorenzo set a top time of 1:56.171 at the Aug. 17 test, nearly half a second faster than his Fiat Yamaha teammate. The results may do little to make up for crashing out of the Brno race, where he set the official race lap record of 1:56.622, but development on new parts and settings may help Lorenzo over the final six races of the season. Lorenzo tested a new clutch and engine maps, as well as some chassis parts for the 2010 Yamaha M1.

It was a profitable day and we worked on a lot of different things, especially electronics. I felt comfortable and I could ride in the 56.1s, which was good after Sunday, says Lorenzo. In the last hour I worked on my starts because this is something I need to improve. After lunch it began to rain and so I didnt go back on track until 1630, but I hope that everything weve done will help us in Indianapolis. Im not thinking about the championship now because its very difficult unless something strange happens, but I want to try to be back at the front and Im looking forward to the next race.

Brno race winner Rossi was second fastest in the session while testing the 2010 chassis and engine.

Its always hard to go back to work after a great win like Sunday but it was an important chance to try some things for the future. Before lunch we did a run with the new chassis, it has some good points and some bad ones and we were able to collect some data. Unfortunately it rained in the lunch break and so we couldnt ride for a lot of the afternoon because of the wet rack, but it dried enough for us to do some more work at the end. This time we could really concentrate on doing a proper job testing the chassis and the new engine specification, and I was quite fast.

Repsol Honda s Dani Pedrosa, the runner-up in the Brno race, was third fastest in the test. Pedrosa and his teammate Andrea Dovizioso (fifth in the session) tested a new Ohlin suspension system as well as the teams usual Showa suspension.

In the morning we worked on some set-up improvements from the race weekend and we were able to find some more speed. After lunch we were set to try some new suspension components which we managed to do when the track dried after the rain, says Pedrosa. Of course it takes time to perfect the set-up when you try new things, but our pace was quite good and the feeling was promising. Overall, this was a worthwhile test.

Loris Capirossi continued to develop the new chassis and engine. The Rizla Suzuki rider matched his season best result with a fifth-place finish at Brno racing with the new parts. Capirossi was fourth fastest in the test, riding an unpainted Suzuki GSV-R.

Nicky Hayden was the fastest Ducati rider with the eighth-best time of 1:57.928. Hayden crashed during the session but was unhurt. Mika Kallio continued to fill in for the injured Casey Stoner and was tenth on the Ducati Marlboro GP9.

The 2009 MotoGP season continues Aug. 30 in Indianapolis.