planetearth
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Number of posts : 3271
Registration date : 2007-02-03
 |  Subject: Kawasaki quickest in wet, progress in dry.  Thu Mar 29, 2007 11:25 pm | |
| - Quote :
- After a disappointing Spanish Grand Prix weekend, the Kawasaki Racing Team enjoyed a much more positive two-day test at the same Jerez circuit - with Olivier Jacque fastest of all in the wet on Monday, and Randy de Puniet finishing top three in dry conditions on Tuesday.
Jacque and de Puniet crossed the line just 18th and 13th in the grand prix, with former 250cc world champion OJ then asked to provide the team with a detailed explanation of his problems to avoid a repeat of his effective last-placed finish (John Hopkins was officially classified 19th and last, but had fallen and remounted).
But the experienced Frenchman bounced back in style on Monday when the wet weather specialist recorded the fastest time of the day, in front of almost the entire MotoGP grid, with de Puniet next best in second - on their very first rain-ride with the 800cc ZX-RR.
"It was the first time on this bike in the wet for both me and Randy yesterday," confirmed Jacque, who finished second for Kawasaki in the wet 2005 Chinese Grand Prix. "We managed to improve rear traction throughout the day and, while there is still room for further improvement, I was happy with the feeling of the bike overall."
Further overnight rain meant that the circuit was still damp on Tuesday morning, but clear skies and warm conditions saw the track declared dry enough for constructive testing just after lunchtime.
The two Team Green riders went on to test revised engine components, designed by Kawasaki's development engineers back in Japan to provide a much-needed top speed boost, plus new rear suspension components - which de Puniet and Jacque agreed made the bike easier to turn through both fast and slow corners; an area which the pair had identified as being a problem in the run up to Sunday's race.
This combination of new engine and suspension components allowed both Kawasaki riders to improve on their best race laps by over half-a-second on race tyres.
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