Positive GSX-R100 K9 Test For Suzuki
Alstara
December 12th 2008
Yukio Kagayama, Max Neukirchner and the Suzuki Alstare
team left Kyalami circuit in South Africa in a positive
frame of mind after three days of testing the all-new
2009 GSX-R1000 K9.
A lot of work was completed in the three days, but
the team used the available time well and gathered
a lot of information and data, which they will take
back the workshops and begin the work analysing all
the information before preparing the bikes for the
next test in January.
Italian Michel Fabrizio (Ducati) posted the fastest
lap of the test with a time of 1:39.714. Second quickest
was American Ben Spies (Yamaha) with Noriyuki Haga
(Ducati) third.
Max Neukirchner:
"Generally I am happy about this test and the
work we did here. It's always difficult testing or
racing at altitude, but we managed to try lots of
different things and made a lot of progress. We changed
the balance of the bike for the afternoon and I was
doing a long run when the red flag came out and that
prevented us getting some valuable data. We had some
problems yesterday, but still went fast, but today
we had problems and could not go fast! It wasn't so
hard to do good lap times, but it was hard to then
shave off those fractions of a second and go even
quicker. We have learned a lot about this new bike
and my team and I are happy because we know that we'll
improve further at the next test. For me, it was important
for me to understand this bike and I feel that I have
achieved that goal."
Yukio Kagayama:
"We changed the set-up today and in the morning
we definitely improved from yesterday. For me, one
of the problems was the bumpy track because that upset
the bike a lot and made it difficult to ride smoothly.
I wanted to do a lot of work with the engine, but
maybe high altitude is not so good for working with
the engine because we didn't get the answers we wanted.
We tried some tyres in the afternoon but when it was
very hot - the track temperature went over 57 C -
so the bike was not so easy to ride. But, don't forget
that this is a new bike and we have a lot to learn
before we push at the front.
"I feel positive though that we will meet this
challenge."
Fastest laps of the 3 days:
- Fabrizio (Ita-Ducati) 1'39"714;
- Spies (USA-Yamaha) 1'39"978;
- Haga (Jpn-Ducati) 1'39"984;
- Rea (GB-Honda) 1'40"035;
- Checa (Spa-Honda) 1'40"170;
- Max Neukirchner (Ger-Suzuki Alstare) 1'40"394;
- Yukio Kagayama (Jpn-Suzuki Alstare) 1'40"675;
- Biaggi (Ita-Aprilia) 1'40"768;
- Nakano (Jpn-Aprilia) 1'40"968;
- Kiyonari (Jpn-Honda) 1'41"067;
- Corser (Aus-BMW) 1'41"102;
- Sykes (GB-Yamaha) 1'41"562;
- Xaus (Spa-BMW Motorrad Motorsport) 1'41"996.
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