MotoGP 2006 - Catalunya Test (March 3/4/5) -

Rizla Suzuki MotoGP racers John Hopkins and Chris Vermeulen both shone in this afternoon’s timed session at the Official MotoGP Test at a wet and cold Catalunya.

Hopkins was the quickest rider of the day in the dry with a time of 1’43.885 – his best of the weekend - and was challenging for the top spot in the wet as well, trading fastest times lap-by-lap with World Champion Valentino Rossi. Unfortunately a fall with ten minutes of the session remaining dashed his hopes of winning the BMW car that was up for grabs. The Anglo-American showed his commitment by setting the fastest speed in the braking area on the start/finish straight during the timed session and led the leader board until his crash. Colin Edwards on a Yamaha set the fastest overall time and won the BMW Z4 Roadster.

Vermeulen achieved a fantastic fifth fastest time in the wet conditions and the second highest top speed of all riders in the start/finish speed trap, just behind team-mate Hopkins. He clocked a time of 2’00.001 on the last of his 15 laps during the 40 minute session. In the morning free practise the rookie Australian was only able to complete five laps because the cold conditions aggravated his shoulder injury.

Rizla Suzuki MotoGP now move onto Jerez in Southern Spain for a further Official MotoGP test next weekend before the season starts with the first race, also at Jerez, on Sunday 26th March.

John Hopkins:
“It was pretty dangerous out on the track this afternoon as there was hardly any temperature on the surface. I went out and got comfortable in the wet and ended up staying out there. The track got better and better and I think I just got too greedy too early on. I made a mistake and ended up going over the top and making a small high-side. I’d like to say I was not trying too hard because the first race is not for two weeks but I ended up crashing – so I guess I must have been! We have done a lot of good stuff this weekend and it’s looking positive for Jerez - right now I’m pretty happy about the whole situation.”

Chris Vermeulen:
“Today from a test point of view was ok, in the fact that I got some wet time on the track which I needed. I’ve never ridden the new Rizla Suzuki GSV-R in the rain and have very little experience of the Bridgestones in the wet. The bike worked well and I was happy with my performance. I was not worried about winning the car as my goal was to get experience and to get quicker and quicker with every lap, but I am happy that I was quite competitive. This morning there was some dry time and I did five laps but my shoulder was quite stiff so I came in and got some treatment on it – it feels ok now. We still have a lot of things to test in Jerez - which is another new track for me – and I’m really looking forward to it.”

Paul Denning – Team Manager:
“The third and final day of this Official MotoGP Test only brings Rizla Suzuki MotoGP more encouragement for the season ahead. In the very cold but dry conditions this morning, John did his fastest dry lap of the weekend – again without a qualifying tyre. This afternoon in the wet timed session he had one target only and that was to win. It looked like a straight battle between John and Valentino Rossi, but I think they pushed each other to the limit and both ended up watching the last 10 minutes of the session.

“Chris had never ridden the Rizla Suzuki GSV-R in the wet and took a different approach to the session. He gained experience with every lap and his customary steady progress made him the quickest Bridgestone rider and the fifth quickest overall. It was a fantastic job which will give him more encouragement as we go to Jerez and head towards the first race of the year.”