Kawasaki Moto GP - Losail

[MadKaw]

Circuit: Losail
Date: 05/03/2008


KAWASAKI READY FOR THE START OF A NEW SEASON
The first round of the 2008 MotoGP World Championship takes place this weekend and the Kawasaki Racing Team is ready to launch itself in to the new season with a new rider and an updated Ninja ZX-RR.

Qatar's Losail circuit will host the inaugural round on Sunday 9th March and will do so, historically, at night. The track got the go ahead last year to erect a lighting system the likes of which the sporting world has never before seen and, when the whole circuit is illuminated, it uses up a mammoth 5.4 million watts of power to light its 16 corners.

All the teams spent two days last week testing in preparation for the forthcoming race and Kawasaki's John Hopkins and Anthony West are ready for the challenge, despite a few setbacks.

Hopkins, who will be racing the 800cc Ninja ZX-RR for the first time, is still suffering the after-effects of a crash at Phillip Island last month. Muscle damage in his groin is still causing the 24-year-old Anglo-American some discomfort but he's making a rapid recovery now and is sure he'll be fit enough to give it his all come Sunday night.

West, meanwhile, has been making great headway on his newly-updated machine but has doubts about the effect the cold, desert night conditions may have on his Bridgestone tyres. The 27-year-old Australian was one of many crashers during last week's test as temperatures at the circuit drop considerably as evening falls, lessening grip. However, he is hugely excited to soon be racing again and feels any such obstacles can be overcome with the set up he and his crew have been working on.

Losail is close to the Qatari capital, Doha, and was opened as recently as 2004. The circuit, at 5.38kms is the longest in the MotoGP calendar and, fast and flowing, will suit the ZX-RRs well.

Overall, the mood in the Kawasaki camp is optimistic and the team are looking forward to the new season. The weekend kicks off with the first practice session this Friday at 19:00 hours, local time, while the race itself will be held on Sunday night, starting at 23:00 hours, local time.




Kawasaki Pilot #21
"I'm real excited to start the year! I feel my injury should be fine come race day as the pain has subsided a lot compared to how it was feeling a week ago. We have had a restful few days, which I feel has helped it, and I have been doing small exercises to strengthen the muscles which have improved the condition dramatically. I feel good. Plus, once the adrenaline kicks in, I know I will be ready to go! As for the machine? I couldn't be keener. We made some successful steps forward with race tyres and a few other parts at the test last week and I'm ready to get the first race under my belt with the Kawasaki. Fingers crossed."



Kawasaki MotoGP Pilot #13
"I'm not feeling as good as I'd like as my lap times in testing weren't what I was hoping for. I'm quite concerned about the temperatures at night in Qatar as it was so cold and that affected the tyres more than I was comfortable with. But we still made loads of big improvements to the bike. I'm really pleased with the feeling I'm getting from the new chassis and the set up generally has really come together over the testing season. But I'm keen to get back to racing now. Physically, I'm feeling fit and a lot stronger so I'm ready to get on with it."



Kawasaki Competition Manager
"We didn't have the easiest time at the tests last week. John's injury has obviously been an issue for us and the temperatures at the track caused some problems, too, grip-wise. Anthony in particular suffered a lack of confidence in the grip available, as it was so cold that he struggled to get the tyres up to temperature. We weren't the only team to struggle with this but, on the positive side, it seems the night temperatures are now rising a bit so hopefully we will see an improvement in available grip for the race. The biggest step we can take for now is to hope John, after an extra week for recovery, is in good shape for Sunday. It's the start of a new season and I'm looking forward to the racing and, hopefully, plenty of good results."

[Bogan]

I'll be away this weekend, what time east coast Aussie time will tbe main event start? I'll have to set the recorder.

[Ticketyman]

Have you seen the first and second session practice times? Looks like another long year AARRGGGGGG.

[mfzx6r]

I'll be away this weekend, what time east coast Aussie time will tbe main event start? I'll have to set the recorder.

The show starts either 3:30 am or 3:45 am on foxsports monday

[Lone Wolf]

Main Race supposed to kick off at 7am

[Greenblood]

Just checked Wests position LAST
so don't expect too much

[Ticketyman]

AAAAARRRRRGGGGGGG

[MadKaw]

Circuit: Losail
Date: 09/03/2008



GRIPPING STUFF FROM QATAR QUALIFYING
The qualifying session for the first MotoGP round of 2008 took place tonight at Qatar's Losail International Circuit and it was not short on surprises. Rookies Jorge Lorenzo and James Toseland took pole and second position on the grid, while some older hands struggled to find form at the 5.38km desert track.

But John Hopkins, riding the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-RR in his first race weekend for the squad, came over the line with the tenth fastest time of the session on the 21st of 23 laps. He was also the third highest placed Bridgestone rider, with only current world champion, Casey Stoner, and Valentino Rossi ahead of him on similar rubber.

Still struggling with a muscular injury in his groin, it was a great show of strength and determination by the 24-year-old. With conditions on the track being compounded by rapidly decreasing temperatures as the historic night time sessions progress, grip has, on occasion, been hard to find. Combine this with dust coming in off the desert and there's ample opportunity for a slip. But Hopper kept his cool and, after further testing of different compounds, found enough confidence in his tyres to get his elbow down on his final lap!

Anthony West struggled, as he has been at Qatar so far, to find his confidence on the 2008 Ninja ZX-RR but managed to improve on his earlier best times, putting in his fastest lap on his last outing: a sign that improvements continue to be made in the Kawasaki pit box.

The headstrong Australian remains absolutely determined to make headway in the race itself having, with the assistance of his crew and Bridgestone, made steps in conquering the traction problems he's been suffering of late.

Tomorrow night's race will be the first Grand Prix, on either two wheels or four, to be run at night and, while those actually at Losail are able to witness this phenomenal spectacle from the ground, it is surely the stunning aerial TV shots of the illuminated track which fully reveal the enormity of the lighting system which has been installed for the event.

The Kawasaki Racing Team is striving to overcome the minor difficulties it has encountered and will be determined to prove itself, and its Ninja ZX-RR, at the inaugural race of the 2008 World Championship.




Hopkins
#21– 10th – 1'55.263
"We went out tonight with the task of finalising our race tyre. The track grip has increased considerably since the test last week and the tyre we started with was a little too soft, so we're now going to opt for a harder compound. We then started using the qualifying tyres, which have been difficult in the cold as, while riding, I have to try to keep the front end hot but the rear cool to make a good lap. We did the best we could and I gave it my all, although we just missed out on the third row. The fourth row isn't exactly where we wanted to be but we have a good race pace and I didn't feel the injury tonight once the adrenalin was pumping, so I'm confident we can do a good job tomorrow. We've got a few improvements to make overnight and the plan is to get a good start and be in the midst of the action. I'm really looking forward to it."


West
#13 - 18th - 1'57.445
"I certainly didn't expect to come into the new season and qualify dead last on the grid and, obviously, I'm far from happy with how things have gone over the past two days. John has shown that it's possible to get the bike and the tyres working here but, if I'm completely honest, for me it's been more a problem of confidence than set-up. I just don't feel comfortable on the bike; every session I've come close to crashing in the strangest places and I just don't know why. Of course, I'll sit down with my crew tonight to see if we can come up with some options to try in warm-up tomorrow but it's difficult when there isn't a specific problem we can point to and then work to resolve. Despite the problems we've had over the past two days, I'll still be going out in tomorrow's race to push as hard as I can for a good result because that's what I'm here for."



Hopkins Crew Chief
"We have had a little bit of a grip problem at this track, so tonight we used the time to improve our setting to give John a better feeling, which we achieved. With qualifying we finally improved our time thanks to Bridgestone, who have made modifications to the qualifying tyre since testing. The last run John did was his best, although he lost a little time in the first sector as he made contact with the track with his elbow. He made up for this in the final few sectors so we know that had he had the possibility to go even faster, which is positive for tomorrow's race."



1. Jorge Lorenzo (SPA) Fiat Yamaha 1'53.927; 2. James Toseland (GBR) Yamaha Tech 3 +0.255; 3. Colin Edwards (USA) Yamaha Tech 3 +0.572; 4. Casey Stoner (AUS) Ducati Marlboro Team +0.806; 5. Randy De Puniet (FRA) Honda LCR +0.891; 6. Nicky Hayden (USA) Repsol Honda Team +0.953; 7. Valentino Rossi (46) Fiat Yamaha +1.206; 8. Dani Pedrosa (SPA) Repsol Honda Team +1.243; 9. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA) JIR Team Scott +1.258; 10. John Hopkins (USA) Kawasaki Racing Team +1.336; 18. Anthony West (AUS) Kawasaki Racing Team +3.518

[Ticketyman]

Does that mean we're barracking for the seppo?

[robracer]

wooo hooo Ch 10 is showing the GP starting from 6.45 am Monday morning:D

[Cath]

The last run John did was his best, although he lost a little time in the first sector as he made contact with the track with his elbow.

As if I already didn't feel inadequate enough at not yet touching my knee down

[Zoidberg]

Because of the significant likelyhood that we won't get to see the Kwaks during the race, here's how good they look under lights.



Also, the track goes from craptacular to spectacular at night.



Not a great start to the year for team green up I don't think that this round will be particularly representative of the season except for Stoner dominating. I think the green bikes will score multiple podiums this year.

[robracer]

Awsome to watch & a great results cept kwaka i'd say they have a great idea there & have managed to make it happen, but imagine racing where the track Temp is the same as the ambient air temp of 18Deg c.... weird

[MadKaw]

Circuit: Losail
Date: 10/03/2008



HARD NIGHT FOR KAWASAKI IN QATAR
The 2008 MotoGP World Championship got off to a nail-biting start today at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar. The first race of the year saw new faces and old hands battling it out for podium places, providing some of the most gripping premier class racing for some time.

Kawasaki's John Hopkins started the night on great form, finishing fourth overall in the early-evening warm up, and things were looking positive as the #21 rider got a solid start when the race began at 23:00 hours, local time. He made it up to ninth position in the first few laps but, as the race continued under the extensive floodlights of the 5.38km circuit, he began having problems with front-end grip. Having to fight the bike and hold it up on his leg, the pain of his injured abductor muscle took its toll and he started losing time. Hopper eventually finished the race in 12th place, picking up four championship points.

It was a heroic effort by the 24-year-old Anglo-American, riding at considerably less than peak fitness and, although frustrated not to have finished further up the field, his performance gives an indication of what he will be capable of when he returns to full health and track conditions improve in warmer climes.

Meanwhile, Hopkins's team mate, Anthony West, also had a hard race, starting from the back of the grid after a difficult weekend in which he struggled to find his form on the Ninja ZX-RR. Having crashed during the weekend's earlier practice sessions, his confidence had dropped and he, like his team mate, struggled with the tricky conditions on the track, caused by low night time temperatures in the Qatari desert. The 27-year-old Australian crossed the line in 16th position at this, the start of his first full season in MotoGP.

Whilst it wasn't the night that Kawasaki was hoping for, lessons have been learned and injuries will hopefully soon be fully healed, enabling the squad to be on top form at the next round at Jerez, Spain, on 30th March.




Hopkins
Kawasaki MotoGP Pilot #21 - 12th
"The first half of the race felt good, and I was pretty comfortable running inside the top ten. But then, at about half race distance, the performance of the front tyre went off, and it started sliding in the turns. I had no option but to hold the bike up on my knee, but that put a lot of pressure on my injury. The pain built up very quickly, and by two-thirds distance it was excruciating. If it had just been pain then I could have ridden through it, but in the end I simply ran out of strength in the injured muscle, and I just couldn't maintain my lap times. It was hard to make it all the way to the end of the race, but although I'm disappointed not to have finished higher, at least I know that the injury wouldn't have been a limiting factor if it hadn't been for the tyre problem. This gives me some confidence going into the next race at Jerez."


West
Kawasaki MotoGP Pilot #13 - 16th
"What can I say? Obviously I'm bitterly disappointed with my result today, because I'm not here to finish at the back of the field. I was suffering with the same problems I had in practice and qualifying and I still didn't feel totally comfortable on the bike. At around half race distance I started to feel more confident, and in some sections of the circuit I was much faster than Guintoli and Elias, who were in front of me. Through the final section I could get right alongside them, but I just didn't have enough speed to pass. And then, as soon as we hit the straight, they cleared off. This has been a weekend to forget, but I need to put it behind me now and focus on the next race at Jerez."



Kawasaki Competition Manager
"It's been a difficult weekend for us, as throughout practice we struggled with the track conditions. But then John's fourth fastest time during this evening's warm-up session meant that we went into the race with increased expectations of a good result. Things were looking good, but then John's front tyre went off, and he struggled to compensate due to his groin injury. But even then he didn't give up; I don't think I've ever seen anyone lifted off a bike in so much pain at the end of a race. He's one hard rider. Anthony is obviously disappointed with his performance this weekend, but he needs to avoid the temptation to beat himself up over it, and instead focus on regaining his form for the next race at Jerez. We know he's capable of much more, and I hope he will fulfil his potential properly next time out."



1. Casey Stoner (AUS) Ducati Marlboro Team 42'36.587; 2. Jorge Lorenzo (SPA) Fiat Yamaha +5.323; 3. Dani Pedrosa (SPA) Repsol Honda Team +10.600; 4. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA) JIR Team Scott +13.288; 5. Valentino Rossi (46) Fiat Yamaha +13.305; 6. James Toseland (GBR) Yamaha Tech 3 +14.040; 7. Colin Edwards (USA) Yamaha Tech 3 +15.150; 8. Loris Capirossi (ITA) Rizla Suzuki MotoGP +32.505; 9. Randy De Puniet (FRA) Honda LCR +33.003; 10. Nicky Hayden (USA) Repsol Honda Team +38.354; 11. Marco Melandri (ITA) Ducati Marlboro Team +44.284; 12. John Hopkins (USA) Kawasaki Racing Team +49.857; 16. Anthony West (AUS) Kawasaki Racing Team +1'05.643

[red_dave]

Good to see a few of the newbies up there - Divisioso and Toseland etc...

On a positive note, Westy can't get any worse