Kawasaki Moto GP - Assen

[MadKaw]

Circuit: Assen
Date: 26/06/2008


KAWASAKI'S HOPKINS ON THE PACE AT ASSEN
Kawasaki's John Hopkins completed the opening practice day at the Assen circuit in a confident mood, having made further improvements to his Ninja ZX-RR and finishing in eighth place overall.

Hopkins was pleased to be challenging for top positions after finding a good machine setting. With only half a second separating second and 12th position on the timesheet, competition is already fierce on the opening day of the Dutch TT.

Hopkins is running an upgraded version of Kawasaki's Ninja ZX-RR engine this weekend and this, together with improvements in set-up over the last two races, means that Hopkins is confident of improving further his position ahead of the race.

The Anglo-American, who is slowly recovering from a back injury, spent the sessions today dialling in the new specification parts while running through many Bridgestone tyre options to identify the best race tyre option. The 25-year-old is looking forward to tomorrow when he will refine his machine set-up, as well as check the longevity of his chosen tyre with a race simulation.

Teammate West, who was feeling buoyant after a top ten finish last time out, has suffered with some difficulties around the 4.555km Circuit van Drenthe, finishing today's practice in 15th position. The 26-year-old Australian used the base setting he found at the British Grand Prix, but is struggling with chatter and a lack of exit grip at this complex track, which features many long, negative-camber turns.

West will work closely with his crew to make some alterations to the set-up of his Ninja ZX-RR overnight and they hope to resolve the issues that have thwarted the Kawasaki pilot's progress today.





John Hopkins: #21 - 8th - 1'37.251
"It's been a good start for us today. We have had some new specification engine parts to test and these have definitely shown an improvement. We're running pretty much the same set-up as last time out and the Kawasaki seems to be getting around here really well. This afternoon we ran through every tyre we had allocated to us to make a decision for the race, because we are unsure of what the weather might do during tomorrow. The last tyre we tried worked really well and we'd like more dry time to do a long run to test it for durability. The competition is close and apart from Casey (Stoner), who is a long way ahead, we're running the same times as everyone else so I'm pretty happy with that. The injury is starting to feel better now and I'm really feeling confident ahead of qualifying tomorrow."



Anthony West: #13 - 15th - 1'38.413
"I'm a bit frustrated to be honest. I came here thinking that our set-up from Donington Park would be a good starting point for this circuit, but that's not been the case today. We've had some problems with chatter that we haven't had before, and we're struggling a little bit with drive out of the turns. But, my crew already have some ideas on how we can improve things tonight, which we'll check out during practice tomorrow morning. It looks like we've got a bit of a fight on our hands this weekend, but that's all part of the job. I really like the Assen circuit, so I hope we can get things sorted ready for qualifying tomorrow."



Kawasaki Technical Manager
"We've made some upgrades to John's engine since last weekend and the performance of his machine has definitely improved. He is also recovering well from his injury, which means we can make further steps forward in set-up. Anthony has used the base setting from Donington but the circuit here features a lot of banked turns and we need to find a better machine balance to help him enter and exit the corners quicker. The chatter problem arose later on in the session and we need to find a compromise to improve this. Anthony will also receive the engine upgrades to his machine for tomorrow's sessions, and we will continue work overnight to find a solution to his grip troubles."



1. Casey Stoner (AUS) Ducati Marlboro Team 1'36.087; 2. Valentino Rossi (ITA) Fiat Yamaha +0.732; 3. Colin Edwards (USA) Tech 3 Yamaha +0.844; 4. Nicky Hayden (USA) Repsol Honda Team +0.925; 5. Alex De Angelis (RSM) San Carlo Honda Gresini +1.039; 6. Shinya Nakano (JPN) San Carlo Honda Gresini +1.050; 7. Randy De Puniet (FRA) LCR Honda MotoGP +1.100; 8. John Hopkins (USA) Kawasaki Racing Team +1.164; 9. Dani Pedrosa (SPA) Repsol Honda Team +1.193; 10. Chris Vermeulen (AUS) Rizla Suzuki MotoGP +1.195; 15. Anthony West (AUS) Kawasaki Racing Team +2.326

[MadKaw]

Circuit: Assen
Date: 27/06/2008




QUALIFYING CRASH RULES HOPKINS OUT OF ASSEN RACE
Kawasaki's John Hopkins has been ruled out of tomorrow's Dutch TT at Assen, after sustaining a fractured left ankle and suspected compression injuries to his left knee in a high-speed crash during this afternoon's qualifying session.

The 25-year-old Anglo-American lost the front of his Ninja ZX-RR under braking for the left-hander at turn 12, one of the fastest corners on the Assen circuit, in the closing minutes of the timed session. Hopkins managed to separate himself from his sliding Ninja ZX-RR, but sustained the injuries to his left leg when he collided with the tyre wall on the outside of the corner.

The initial assessment in the Clinica Mobile was that Hopkins would be out of action for at least 20 days, but the Kawasaki pilot will return to Los Angeles tomorrow for a further medical examination by Doctor Art Ting. Only once full extent of his injuries is known will a decision be made as to whether Hopkins will return to action at the next race in Sachsenring, which takes place in just two weeks time.

Teammate Anthony West, who has struggled to recapture the form he found last time out at Donington Park, has suffered with cornering troubles around the technical 4.555km Circuit van Drenthe. The 26-year old had looked strong throughout the wet practice this morning, but with the clouds clearing for the afternoon, the dry conditions brought no joy to the Australian racer.

Despite overcoming some of the traction problems that hampered him in the opening part of the season with a new base setting, a frustrated West has found it difficult to turn his Ninja ZX-RR at high speeds, leaving him on the sixth row of the grid in 16th position.

As the sole Kawasaki starter for tomorrow’s Grand Prix, West will be fighting to repeat the top ten finish he achieved last weekend at Donington Park.




West

“This morning was wet and we found a good pace but it’s a completely different situation in the dry. We’ve not had many problems with the spinning that we have had in the past, which is one forward step, however, with the extra grip from the rear, I just can’t get the bike to turn. At Donington we could get away with this, but the Assen circuit is one where the corners flow together, and it’s vitally important to be accurate with the correct lines to set up each corner. The problem I’ve got means that it just isn’t possible, I can’t get on the gas because the bike just runs wide and it messes up an entire lap, which is really frustrating. I feel like I’m battling to get around here and the problem was exaggerated with a qualifying tyre because it has so much more grip. On a positive note we do have a lot more usable traction on a race tyre, so if we can find a compromise to have a more balanced set-up, then I am certain we can be in contention and I’ll be looking to achieve a good result tomorrow.”



Kawasaki Competition Manager
“In practice everything seemed to be quite positive and I felt confident that we would be able to achieve a good result here. However, things have not gone to plan today. Anthony has been struggling and John’s crash may affect the next two races, which is a real disappointment. The injuries to his ankle were not caused by the fall itself, but the collision with the unprotected wall on the outside of turn 12. John will now return to America for treatment and we’ll make a decision on Sachsenring once we know the extent of his injuries. Anthony is normally fast at this circuit, but he has encountered some new problems here and we will be working hard to help him find the rhythm he had last time out at Donington Park.”



1. Casey Stoner (AUS) Ducati Marlboro Team 1'35.520; 2. Dani Pedrosa (SPA) Repsol Honda Team +0.032; 3. Valentino Rossi (ITA) Fiat Yamaha +0.139; 4. Nicky Hayden (USA) Repsol Honda Team +0.455; 5. Randy De Puniet (FRA) LCR Honda MotoGP +0.465; 6. Colin Edwards (USA) Tech 3 Yamaha +0.758; 7. Jorge Lorenzo (SPA) Fiat Yamaha +1.012; 8. Chris Vermeulen (AUS) Rizla Suzuki MotoGP +1.248; 9. Shinya Nakano (JPN) San Carlo Honda Gresini +1.284; 10. Sylvain Guintoli (FRA) Alice Teamw +1.303; 15. John Hopkins (USA) Kawasaki Racing Team +2.123; 16. Anthony West (AUS) Kawasaki Racing Team +2.273

[fireyrob]

Just when it looked promising, another lot of crap Ill have to take from the Ducati connection........

[MadKaw]

Circuit: Assen
Date: 28/06/2008



DOUBLE BLOW FOR KAWASAKI IN ASSEN
After the disappointment of the qualifying crash that sidelined John Hopkins, the Kawasaki Racing Team were dealt a double blow at Assen today when Anthony West crashed out of the Dutch TT just 7 laps into the race.

The 26-year-old Kawasaki pilot got a good start from the sixth row of the grid, but lost contact with the group ahead of him after losing time avoiding Alex De Angelis, who highsided himself out the race on the opening lap, right in front of West's Ninja ZX-RR.

With his head down and his lap times the same as the riders battling for fourth place, West fought his way back to 11th position and was starting to close the gap to the group ahead of him. Another top ten finish looked a distinct possibility for the Kawasaki pilot, until he lost the front under braking for the right-hand corner at Stekkenwal and crashed out of the race.

With Hopkins already on his way back to America for further medical treatment by the time West lined up to start the 26-lap race, the Australian's premature exit marks the first time this season that a Kawasaki has not made it all the way to the chequered flag.

While obviously disappointed with today's result, West remains confident that the recent engine upgrades to his Ninja ZX-RR will allow him to make amends in the next race in Sachsenring, which takes place in just two weeks time.

Whether Kawasaki teammate Hopkins will be riding alongside West in Germany remains to be seen. The 25-year-old Anglo-American will undergo a bone scan in Los Angeles next week that should reveal more about his two tibia fractures and the crack in the lateral malleolus bone of his ankle, sustained when he collided with the tyre wall on the outside of the ultra-fast Ramshoek corner.

Only once the full extent of Hopkins' injuries are known will a decision be made as to whether he will rejoin West for the German Grand Prix in Sachsenring.



West
#13 - DNF
"I got a good start to the race, although it was difficult from so far back on the grid because the first turn is quite tight. I had made up a few places when Alex de Angelis highsided in front of me and I had to almost stop the machine to avoid hitting him. The bike was feeling good and in the next few laps I managed to pass a few people into 11th place. I was sure I could catch the group ahead of me and be well within the top ten, but we were lapping at a similar pace and with the incident at the start, I had to push just that little bit harder. Unfortunately I lost the front of the bike and crashed out, which is a real disappointment because we were quite strong today. The new engine upgrades have made a difference and we still have more grip than previously, despite struggling a little bit in places with cornering. We just need some luck on our side and, hopefully, we'll be fighting for good positions next time out at Sachsenring."



Kawasaki Competition Manager
"We've made a lot of improvements this weekend, so it is quite disheartening to come away with no points. John's injuries from the crash yesterday ruled him out of the race, so all of our hopes were on Anthony, who I felt sure was capable of repeating his top-ten Donington success. The incident at turn one left him quite a long way back, but he rode hard to pass a few people into 11th place, and was catching the group ahead of him. His lap times were consistently fast and it's a real frustration because with the upgrades we've made this weekend, he was very capable of achieving a good result. We now have to focus on taking advantage of the developments we've made at the next round."



1. Casey Stoner (AUS) Ducati Marlboro Team 42'12.337; 2. Dani Pedrosa (SPA) Repsol Honda Team +11.310; 3. Colin Edwards (USA) Tech 3 Yamaha +17.125; 4. Nicky Hayden (USA) Repsol Honda Team +20.477; 5. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA) JIR Team Scot +27.346; 6. Jorge Lorenzo (SPA) Fiat Yamaha +28.608; 7. Chris Vermeulen (AUS) Rizla Suzuki MotoGP +32.330; 8. Shinya Nakano (JPN) San Carlo Honda Gresini +34.892; 9. James Toseland (GBR) Tech 3 Yamaha +38.566; 10. Sylvain Guintoli (FRA) Alice Teamw +38.817; DNF. Anthony West (AUS) Kawasaki Racing Team +19 Laps; DNS. John Hopkins (USA) Kawasaki Racing Team +26 Laps

[javaman]

carnt I missed this one ... I hate timezones

[Black Magic]

Well done again to the young Aussie. (I actually managed to catch this race!)

Poor Randy and Ant! (For once Randy was TAKEN out rather than doing the TAKING out! )

[lifeofcrimeguy]

Yeah, I was explaining about Randy's rep to the people sitting beside me until I saw the replay and had to apologise to the man. I almost missed this one myself, first race on instead of last for once.