MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi says he's a worried man after finishing the final pre-season test in a lowly tenth position - and is crossing his fingers that Yamaha can cure their crippling chatter problems before the first race.
After having comfortably led the testing timesheets just one week earlier at Barcelona, Rossi - along with team-mate Colin Edwards - suddenly dropped down the timesheets at Jerez after vibration problems returned with a vengeance.
The root of the problem proved hard to pinpoint: Rossi initially felt that Michelin's latest tyres were the main cause of the chatter - and was confident of finding a cure at Jerez, saying that he would only worry if the chatter was still present on the eve of the season-opening Spanish Grand Prix (to held at the same circuit, on March 26).
However, as he left Jerez on Sunday, Rossi claimed to be "quite worried" after the combined efforts of the French tyre manufacturer and Yamaha failed to solve the vibration issue during three days at the racetrack.
Rossi is niet blij dus.
Yamaha heeft de geldkraan ook een stukkie dichtgedraaid. Het team moet het dus met aanzienlijk minder geld voor ontwikkeling van de machine doen.
De Kawa's hebben het goed gedaan tijdens de laatste test!
Jerez Test – MotoGP
Times: Day 3
1. Loris Capirossi - Ducati Marlboro 1'39.411
2. Sete Gibernau - Ducati Marlboro 1'39.663
3. Shinya Nakano - Kawasaki Racing 1'40.354
4. Dani Pedrosa - Repsol Honda 1'40.416
5. Randy de Puniet - Kawasaki Racing 1'40.468
6. Nicky Hayden - Repsol Honda 1'40.570
7. Colin Edwards - Camel Yamaha 1'40.721
8. Toni Elías - Fortuna Honda 1'40.732
9. Chris Vermeulen - Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1'40.750
10. Valentino Rossi - Camel Yamaha 1'40.907
Ik hoop zó dat Capirossi dit jaar een rol gaat spelen om de titel!
