Kawasaki Moto GP - Mugello

Circuit: Mugello
Date: 31/05/2007


FULL STRENGTH KAWASAKI LOOK FOR SUCCESS AT MUGELLO
Kawasaki Racing Team riders, Randy de Puniet and Olivier Jacque, arrive at Mugello ahead of Sunday's Italian Grand Prix still recovering from injuries sustained in their Le Mans and Shanghai crashes.

Jacque, who will make his racing return this weekend after missing the French Grand Prix, has regained full strength in his damaged right arm, but is still suffering discomfort as a result of the burn injuries sustained in his last corner crash during free practice in China.

De Puniet arrives in Mugello keen to make up for the mistake that saw him crash out of the lead during his home race at Le Mans but, like his more experienced teammate, the 26-year-old Frenchman is carrying a reminder of his crash, in the form of a damaged right shoulder, for which he has been receiving treatment since leaving Le Mans.

Despite their injuries, both Frenchmen are determined to finally show the true potential of Kawasaki's Ninja ZX-RR this weekend around the twists and turns of the Mugello circuit, which is unrivalled for atmosphere on the Grand Prix calendar due to the amphitheatre effect of the surrounding Tuscan hills.

Before his Le Mans crash, de Puniet and the team managed to find an optimum set up on the Kawasaki 800cc Ninja ZX-RR, teamed with excellent performance from the Bridgestone tyres. It bodes well for the 26-year-old Frenchman as the bike is steadily improving as the season progresses. Hoping to improve on his two best eighth positions of the championship so far, de Puniet is confident he and the team can find a perfect set up to suit the track and conditions at Mugello.

The Mugello circuit always guarantees top racing action in front of a large and enthusiastic Italian crowd. At the very least, this weekend's race is sure to prove one of the most exciting and enjoyable rounds of the year. The Kawasaki team are ready to show what they can do but, for now, they're crossing their fingers and hoping for some spectacular, sunny conditions after the waterlogged setting of Le Mans.


Kawasaki MotoGP Pilot #14
"Crashing in Le Mans was such a shame. I was confident I could get a good result at my home GP, and I lead the race, but once again, I didn't finish. What is more, as a result of the crash, my right shoulder was damaged and I couldn't complete our two-day testing programme afterwards. Thanks to the doctor and the physiotherapy I've had since then, I'm now almost fully fit. I will need to check the situation when I get on the bike on Friday but I hope there won't be any problems regarding riding. Mugello is one of the best races of the season. The atmosphere there is amazing: you can feel all the fans' support and the track is one of the most exciting. Last year, the bike was good but we lacked top speed. In Mugello, top speed and having a good handling bike are really important and, this season, the Ninja ZX-RR has shown it meets both requirements. Braking stability is also important, especially just after the fast, main straight. It's not a critical track in terms of tyres and, even though we couldn't test them fully in Le Mans, we really trust in Bridgestone as they're doing a great job. I'm confident we can run a good race in Mugello, although we will have to work very hard, step-by-step, from Friday onwards. The target is to finish among the first eight again, although I hope to get a better result than in Istanbul and China."



Kawasaki MotoGP Pilot #19
"I'm really looking forward to arriving in Mugello on Wednesday. It was so hard for me to withdraw from the race in Le Mans, my home Grand Prix, because of my injured arm but it was physically impossible for me to race. I saw it on television, though, and I was so proud of the Kawasaki Racing Team's performance during practice, qualifying and the beginning of the race. But, on the other hand, I was really disappointed, as I really like riding under those conditions! I also felt sorry for Randy because it was a good opportunity for him to get a good result. Anyway, now I am ready to get back on the bike. The doctor removed the stitches from my arm last week and since then I have worked really hard, following an intense programme of physiotherapy. I've recovered the strength in the arm and, even though it's still stiff, I can almost extend it fully. I am fit enough to ride a MotoGP bike at a good level. The Ninja ZX-RR has showed its potential and the Bridgestone tyres have been highly competitive since the beginning of the season. Now it is our turn and Mugello is one of my favourite tracks. The location is magnificent, the atmosphere is one of the best and the layout is great. High-speed, long curves, uphills and downhills, banking corners… I can't anticipate what will happen this weekend but I'll work tirelessly to get my confidence and speed back throughout the practice sessions, ready to put in a good performance for the race."

Their luck has got to turnaround Its our turn for a win..

Go team green !

7.00 PM FOX SPORTS 3 for all the Pay TV guys

Sometime Monday/Tuesday morning for everyone else...



GO TEAM GREEN!

7.00 PM FOX SPORTS 3 for all the Pay TV guys

Sometime Monday/Tuesday morning for everyone else...



GO TEAM GREEN!

Locked and Loaded

Will be interesting to see what there new bodywork looks like and how it goes with the extra horsepower they have found.

Will be interesting to see what there new bodywork looks like and how it goes with the extra horsepower they have found.

new bodywork and extra power?? sounds like a good thing...

Will be interesting to see what there new bodywork looks like and how it goes with the extra horsepower they have found.

new bodywork and extra power?? sounds like a good thing...

I'll txt ya Neka

Will be interesting to see what there new bodywork looks like and how it goes with the extra horsepower they have found.

new bodywork and extra power?? sounds like a good thing...

I'll txt ya Neka

tis ok mate...heading to a mates place to watch it...

Circuit: Mugello
Date: 01/06/2007




RAIN AND PAIN FAIL TO DAMPEN SPIRITS AT MUGELLO
Kawasaki's Randy de Puniet and Olivier Jacque completed today's two free practice sessions, on combined times, in 15th and 18th positions respectively, as the Italian MotoGP weekend kicked off at Tuscany's Mugello circuit.

A dry morning practice proved physically demanding on both Frenchmen. Randy crashed at Le Mans two weeks ago and Olivier at Shanghai in early May and both are still suffering the after effects: a predicament clearly reflected in their lap times.

De Puniet continues to experience discomfort in his right shoulder, making riding his 800cc Ninja ZX-RR around this fast track particularly difficult. However, after a torrential downpour, the afternoon session was run in full wet conditions. This proved to be a blessing of sorts: riding in the wet lessening the physical demands on the upper body, and both riders were able to push themselves and their bikes without putting undue pressure on their injuries.

Encouragingly, Randy completed a tough 23 laps in the morning session but still managed an impressive 12 in the afternoon. Many of the racers gathered for the Grand Premio d'Italia Alice failed to notch up even ten laps in the appalling conditions of the later practice.

Jacque, meanwhile, still bears the painful scars of his crash in China and, like his teammate, found the morning session to be particularly demanding. His combined practice times fail to illustrate, however, his achievements in the afternoon, when he put in 11 laps of the circuit and finished within the top ten fastest riders.

The team continue to work closely with Bridgestone, aiming to maximise improvements to the Ninja's performance throughout the season. So far, both riders have expressed great satisfaction with the tyre manufacturer and, partnered with increasingly favourable set ups on the bikes and continued development of the their 800cc engines, look forward to progressively improving performance throughout the year.

As for this weekend at Mugello, the weather forecast predicts further unsettled weather. For now, at least, it seems wetter is better for the Kawasaki men, neither of whom is on top physical form quite yet. But the team look forward to the third practice session tomorrow morning and perfecting the bikes, ready for qualifying practice in the afternoon.


Kawasaki MotoGP Pilot #14
"Due to my shoulder injury, this morning's session was hard, especially when changing direction and entering right hand corners. Because of that my lap times weren't as good as I'd have liked and I couldn't properly evaluate the improvements we've made to the Ninja ZX-RR. However, as I did more laps and my body warmed up, I felt better, making me feel more confident for the rest of the weekend. It rained like hell before the afternoon session but that gave us the opportunity to try the new engine in wet conditions and the first impression has been positive. It needs some adjustments, though, as it's still quite aggressive. Because of that, I couldn't get a good lap time in but I'm optimistic for tomorrow as we know the way we need to go."



Kawasaki MotoGP Pilot #19
"It was great to be back on the bike, although this morning was hard. After a few laps, I lost strength in my arm and tried to compensate for it with the shoulder. I lost precision in changing direction, and probably overloaded it, so I had to stop in the box a couple of times to get some rest. I'm not worried about that, though, as I know the strength will soon come back. Physically, the afternoon session was easier for me, as riding in the rain is less demanding, although the amount of water on the track was unbelievable and it was really difficult to control the bike. Things got better as the rain decreased, and I improved my lap times, but I wasn't totally confident as I didn't have much rear traction. We'll need to improve that tomorrow if we're to be ready for a wet race."



Kawasaki Technical Manager
"We expected the riders not to be in the best physical condition, and we already knew it was going to rain, so we haven't been surprised by today's results. We collected some important information in this morning's session for dry conditions and we know we have to improve the balance of the bike, rear feeling in particular, to enhance the Ninja ZX-RR's turning. The new engine specification looks like it's working well, with a marked improvement in acceleration. However, we need to adjust it for rain conditions. Apparently, the weather will be the same tomorrow so this is what we will work on, as well as finding the best set up with the chassis."



1. Dani Pedrosa (SPA) Repsol Honda Team 1'50.743; 2. Valentino Rossi (ITA) Yamaha Factory Racing +0.158; 3. John Hopkins (USA) Rizla Suzuki MotoGP +0.279; 4. Casey Stoner (AUS) Ducati Marlboro Team +0.613; 5. Carlos Checa (SPA) Honda LCR +0.671; 6. Toni Elias (SPA) Honda Gresini +0.810; 7. Alex Barros (BRA) Pramac d'Antin Ducati +0.878; 8. Nicky Hayden (USA) Repsol Honda Team +0.977; 9. Loris Capirossi (ITA) Ducati Marlboro Team +1.060; 10. Makoto Tamada (JPN) Tech 3 Yamaha +1.080; 15. Randy De Puniet (FRA) Kawasaki Racing Team +1.653; 18. Olivier Jacque (FRA) Kawasaki Racing Team +2.668

WESTY HAS QUALIFIED 2ND IN THE RAIN!!!

I HOPE IT PISSES DOWN....

motogp qualifying

stoner, vermeulen, rossi, then Jacque!!!!!

Olivier must be on drugs!!!

(and yes i know he did well in the wet at china or wherever it was)

randy in 7th......

looks like we have a possibility of being happy on 2 fronts: aussies and kwakkas in a good position...

motogp qualifying

stoner, vermeulen, rossi, then Jacque!!!!!

Olivier must be on drugs!!!

(and yes i know he did well in the wet at china or wherever it was)

randy in 7th......

looks like we have a possibility of being happy on 2 fronts: aussies and kwakkas in a good position...

get a gobbie and itll be like winning the lottery!!

Circuit: Mugello
Date: 02/06/2007




KAWASAKI QUALIFIERS REAP THE REWARDS AFTER HEAVY RAIN AT MUGELLO
Kawasaki Racing Team riders, Olivier Jacque and Randy de Puniet, will start tomorrow's Grand Premio d'Italia Alice from the front of the second and third rows of the grid, respectively.

After a session during which the weather was as changeable as the leader board, both riders have been rewarded for their tactical riding as track conditions veered between dry and drenched. After an initial downpour at the scenic Mugello circuit, the qualifying session began with slower laps as riders bade their time while the track dried. But both Randy and Olivier used the time wisely, putting in early fast laps, which paid off when the clouds opened, yet again, and racers were forced back in to the pits to await the passing of the deluge. By the time the track had started to dry again, many of the field were unable to improve on their earlier times, with only a fraction of the session remaining, leaving the Kawasaki men comfortably within the top ten. However, rather than resting on their laurels, both were still able to improve on their earlier attempts, each one running their best time on their final laps.

Jacque, returning to the fray having missed the race at Le Mans due to injury, laid claim to fourth place on the grid: the highest qualifying position yet for the 800cc Ninja ZX-RR. With both bikes running the new Kawasaki engine, the team have liberated even more power at the top end and this was reflected in their performance today. With a final time of 2'01.709, Jacque, a former 250cc world champion, is 1.350 seconds behind leading man, Casey Stoner, and just 0.014 seconds behind Valentino Rossi.

De Puniet's qualifying session resulted in a seventh place on the grid: far stronger than the 14th position he achieved in Italy last year. The 26-year-old Frenchman enjoys riding the fast, Tuscan circuit and managed a top speed of 304.48 km/h, despite the unpredictable grip on the waterlogged track. Finishing just 0.442 seconds behind Marco Melandri, de Puniet beat Dani Pedrosa to his place on the start line.

Both Kawasaki riders are still bearing the scars of injuries sustained at Le Mans and Shanghai. Given wet weather riding puts less physical strain on the upper body than full-on, dry conditions, both were hoping for some rain to level out the playing field in their favour and their prayers were most definitely answered.

Tomorrow's race will, no doubt, prove exciting and exhilarating as fanatical crowds gather at Mugello for what is, historically, one of the most entertaining rounds of the MotoGP season. Further unpredictable weather is forecast and could, again, play in to the hands of the Kawasaki riders.


4th - 20 Laps - Best Lap 2'01.709
"That was the most exciting qualifying session of the season so far. Our tactics worked perfectly and I got my best ever grid position in MotoGP. The feeling in the wet was good and we improved the set up both for wet and dry conditions during the course of the day. I have more rear traction and, working with the mapping, we managed to make the engine less aggressive under damp conditions. In the afternoon, we first went out with wet tyres and I took the opportunity to improve my lap times when the track was drying out, just before it started raining again. Our strategy paid off later, too, as we waited until 10 minutes before the end to go out again, this time with intermediate tyres. The track had dried out again and I almost got a first row spot. I must thank my crew as today everything worked perfectly. Physically, I felt on good form in the wet and even this morning was better than yesterday. My arm is not painful anymore, although I can still feel a lack of strength in the dry. The weather is quite unstable and, at the moment, we're not sure what it's going to be like for the race. Personally, I'd prefer a wet race, even though the conditions are trickier, as it's less demanding physically and I enjoy it."



7th – 21 Laps – Best Lap 2'02.443
"I'm really disappointed about how the qualifying session ended. We did a good job throughout the day, improving both the dry and the wet set up, and I was among the fastest riders for most of the qualifying session. But I got confused at the end when I saw on my pit board that there was one minute left. I pushed as much as I could and I improved my lap time. What I didn't know was that I just crossed the line with a couple of seconds left and, considering the track was drier and my bike was feeling fantastic, I'm sure I could have got a second or even a first row place… Today, my injury felt much better and I don't think I'll have any problems in tomorrow's race, even if it's dry. The target is to finish among the first eight, though this circuit has plenty of overtaking points and anything can happen if it rains."



Kawasaki Racing Director
"I'm really satisfied with Olivier's performance as, even though he is not fully fit, he's made a big effort and got a good qualifying position for tomorrow's race, which is really important. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same about Randy. He was improving his lap times, and he still had another chance, but he missed it. He needs to concentrate and if he has a chance, he must go for it. We are really satisfied with the Ninja's ZX-RR performance and the new engine is definitely a step forward, even if the set up still needs to be refined. We will see how the weather turns out tomorrow but the target is for both riders to finish in the top eight. It may be difficult if it's a dry race but, if it rains, we have shown that we can be up there."



1. Casey Stoner (AUS) Ducati Marlboro Team 2'00.359; 2. Chris Vermeulen (AUS) Rizla Suzuki MotoGP +1.022; 3. Valentino Rossi (ITA) Yamaha Factory Racing +1.336; 4. Olivier Jacque (FRA) Kawasaki Racing Team +1.350; 5. Loris Capirossi (ITA) Ducati Marlboro Team +1.438; 6. Marco Melandri (ITA) Honda Gresini +1.642; 7. Randy De Puniet (FRA) Kawasaki Racing Team +2.084; 8. Dani Pedrosa (SPA) Repsol Honda Team +2.417; 9. John Hopkins (USA) Rizla Suzuki MotoGP +2.573; 10. Alex Barros (BRA) Pramac d'Antin Ducati +2.666

Hmmm more disapointment !

There's always next race

bloody dickheads...