The MotoGP riders will undertake their final preseason test of 2009 this weekend, and the stakes are high as they head to the Spanish circuit of Jerez. Dubbed ‘GP Zero’ within the FIM World Championship paddock, the Official MotoGP Test gives competitors from all three classes the chance to finetune their machines ahead of a grueling eight months of racing.
Taking place from March 25th-March 29th, the Jerez visit unites the paddock in one location for the first time since 2008’s season-closing race at Valencia. Split into two parts, the Official MotoGP Test will open with three days of 125cc/250cc action, before the MotoGP premier class have the track to themselves on the Saturday and Sunday.
With some notable exceptions, the famous names and expected title contenders will be in attendance to put the finishing touches to their 2009 bikes, and top of the bill is MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi. The Fiat Yamaha rider has been one of the fastest riders over the course of preseason, and is in peak condition whilst some of his rivals are battling for fitness.
Former titlist Casey Stoner is one such rider, expressing concern over the condition of his wrist following an operation at the end of 2008. Stoner has put in fast individual laps on his return to testing, but has been struggling with endurance onboard the Ducati Desmosedici GP9.
Repsol Honda’s Dani Pedrosa will miss the Official Test through his own injury woes, currently recuperating from injuries picked to his left hand arm and knee at the recent Qatar test. The Spaniard’s recuperation schedule does not allow for any riding between now until the opening race of the season at the earliest, leaving development of the factory Honda RC212V to new teammate Andrea Dovizioso and San Carlo Honda Gresini’s Toni Elias, along with HRC’s new test rider Kousuke Akiyoshi.
Riders in ruder health on factory machinery are Yamaha’s Jorge Lorenzo, Ducati’s Nicky Hayden and Suzuki’s Loris Capirossi & Chris Vermeulen, all having featured at the sharp end of the timesheets since the turn of the year. The extent of progression made with the latter pair’s GSV-R engine will become apparent on one of the longer straights of the preseason circuits.
New liveries will be presented by Rizla Suzuki and Monster Yamaha Tech3, and MotoGP teams will be making the most of the high attendance to officially unveil their 2009 projects.
The focal point of the Official MotoGP Test will be a 45-minute ‘qualifying’ shootout, the annual BMW M Award. Taking place from 2.05pm on Sunday, the riders will have a chance to take home a brand new BMW 135i ‘BMW Sauber F1 Team Edition’ sports car in return for clocking the fastest time of the session. Previous winners of the prize include Rossi, Stoner and Sete Gibernau.
The Official MotoGP Test begins with the 125cc and 250cc classes in action from Wednesday, March 25th, through to Friday, March 27th, with MotoGP taking centre stage for the following two days.
2009 MotoGP Calendar
April 12th – Qatar Losail
April 26th – Japan Motegi
May 3rd – Spain Jerez
May 17th – France Le Mans
May 31st – Italy Mugello
June 14th – Catalunya Catalunya
June 27th – Netherlands Assen
July 5th – United States Laguna Seca
July 19th – Germany Sachsenring
July 26th – Great Britain Donington Park
August 16th – Czech Republic Brno
August 30th – Indianapolis Indianapolis
September 6th – San Marino & Riviera di Rimini Misano
October 4th – Portugal Estoril
October 18th – Australia Phillip Island
October 25th – Malaysia Sepang
November 8th – Valencia Ricardo Tormo – Valencia
MotoGP Entry List
Nº Rider Nation Team Machine
3 DANI PEDROSA SPA REPSOL HONDA TEAM HONDA
4 ANDREA DOVIZIOSO ITA REPSOL HONDA TEAM HONDA
5 COLIN EDWARDS USA MONSTER YAMAHA TECH 3 YAMAHA
7 CHRIS VERMEULEN AUS RIZLA SUZUKI MOTOGP SUZUKI
14 RANDY DE PUNIET FRA LCR HONDA MOTOGP HONDA
15 ALEX DE ANGELIS RSM SAN CARLO HONDA GRESINI HONDA
24 TONI ELIAS SPA SAN CARLO HONDA GRESINI HONDA
27 CASEY STONER AUS DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM DUCATI
33 MARCO MELANDRI ITA HAYATE RACING TEAM KAWASAKI
36 MIKA KALLIO FIN PRAMAC RACING DUCATI
46 VALENTINO ROSSI ITA FIAT YAMAHA TEAM YAMAHA
52 JAMES TOSELAND GBR MONSTER YAMAHA TECH 3 YAMAHA
59 SETE GIBERNAU SPA GUINEA ECUATORIAL TEAM DUCATI
65 LORIS CAPIROSSI ITA RIZLA SUZUKI MOTOGP SUZUKI
69 NICKY HAYDEN USA DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM DUCATI
72 YUKI TAKAHASHI JPN SCOT RACING TEAM MOTOGP HONDA
88 NICCOLO CANEPA ITA PRAMAC RACING DUCATI
99 JORGE LORENZO SPA FIAT YAMAHA TEAM YAMAHA
