Joined Sep 2005
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Lancashire UK
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After the thrills and spills of the opening race in Jerez, the Kawasaki Racing Team arrive in the blistering heat of the Middle East this week for the first of three consecutive overseas races, starting with the Grand Prix of Qatar on Saturday 8th April.
Last years race at the Losail International circuit saw temperatures rise to over 40 degrees on race day. This year the MotoGP riders won't face the same extremes of heat, as the date of the race has been moved from October to April, when temperatures are predicted to be ten degrees cooler.
Shinya Nakano arrives in Qatar determined to build upon his strong seventh place finish in the season opener at Jerez two weeks ago. The 28-year-old Kawasaki rider finished seventh in the Grand Prix of Qatar last season, but is confident that the combination of the new Ninja ZX-RR and the cooler track conditions mean a top five finish is a realistic target this time around.
Nakano will make good use this weekend of data collected by Kawasaki's test and development rider, Olivier Jacque, who has already completed two development tests at the Losail International circuit this year.
Nakano's Kawasaki teammate, Randy de Puniet, arrives in Qatar aiming to finish in Saturday's 22-lap race, after being forced to retire from the opening race of the season due to an injury sustained when he highsided his Ninja ZX-RR during morning warm up at Jerez. Despite treatment to the injury at home in France, de Puniet has not yet recovered full strength in his hand, but is confident that it will not prove a handicap this weekend.
The 25-year-old Frenchman has shown promising form during pre-season testing, and with his eighth place qualifying position for the Spanish Grand Prix two weeks ago, but de Puniet knows that these performances count for nothing if they are not converted into results come race day.
The 5.38 km Losail circuit presents some unique problems for the MotoGP riders during free practice, when sand blown across the track from the surrounding desert makes grip unpredictable. As practice continues, and more rubber is laid on the circuit, lap times invariably improve, but the slightest wind can quickly cover the track with a new layer of sand, catching riders unaware.
With its many twists and turns the Losail circuit demands a well-balanced bike that is capable of quick changes of direction. Based on feedback from Nakano and de Puniet during pre-season testing, the all-new Ninja ZX-RR should suit very well the characteristics of the Losail circuit.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <div class='quotemain'>Shinya Nakano:
"Because we are racing here earlier than last year, the conditions are definitely a little bit cooler, and that should benefit everyone. I like this track and we arrive in Qatar well prepared for the weekend. We have the data from Olivier Jacque's two tests here earlier in the year, and we have already tested potential race tyres for this circuit during our post race test in Jerez. Tyres are critical here, and I think our Bridgestone tyres may offer something of an advantage this weekend. This is also a good circuit for our Ninja ZX-RR, as you need a bike that handles well. For sure the straight is long, but we've had good speed here in the past, so I don't think it will be an issue. I feel confident that we can end up with a strong finish in Saturday's race."
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <div class='quotemain'>Randy de Puniet:
"For me, the most important thing this weekend is to finish the race. I like this track; it's very technical and I think that this suits the characteristics of the Ninja ZX-RR. I'm looking forward to the weekend ahead, and I hope that we can carry on the momentum we had before my crash during morning warm-up at Jerez. While the hand I injured in the crash has not recovered completely, it is a lot better now. I guess I won't know how much better until I get on the bike tomorrow, but I'm confident it won't cause me any problems this weekend."
After the thrills and spills of the opening race in Jerez, the Kawasaki Racing Team arrive in the blistering heat of the Middle East this week for the first of three consecutive overseas races, starting with the Grand Prix of Qatar on Saturday 8th April.
Last years race at the Losail International circuit saw temperatures rise to over 40 degrees on race day. This year the MotoGP riders won't face the same extremes of heat, as the date of the race has been moved from October to April, when temperatures are predicted to be ten degrees cooler.
Shinya Nakano arrives in Qatar determined to build upon his strong seventh place finish in the season opener at Jerez two weeks ago. The 28-year-old Kawasaki rider finished seventh in the Grand Prix of Qatar last season, but is confident that the combination of the new Ninja ZX-RR and the cooler track conditions mean a top five finish is a realistic target this time around.
Nakano will make good use this weekend of data collected by Kawasaki's test and development rider, Olivier Jacque, who has already completed two development tests at the Losail International circuit this year.
Nakano's Kawasaki teammate, Randy de Puniet, arrives in Qatar aiming to finish in Saturday's 22-lap race, after being forced to retire from the opening race of the season due to an injury sustained when he highsided his Ninja ZX-RR during morning warm up at Jerez. Despite treatment to the injury at home in France, de Puniet has not yet recovered full strength in his hand, but is confident that it will not prove a handicap this weekend.
The 25-year-old Frenchman has shown promising form during pre-season testing, and with his eighth place qualifying position for the Spanish Grand Prix two weeks ago, but de Puniet knows that these performances count for nothing if they are not converted into results come race day.
The 5.38 km Losail circuit presents some unique problems for the MotoGP riders during free practice, when sand blown across the track from the surrounding desert makes grip unpredictable. As practice continues, and more rubber is laid on the circuit, lap times invariably improve, but the slightest wind can quickly cover the track with a new layer of sand, catching riders unaware.
With its many twists and turns the Losail circuit demands a well-balanced bike that is capable of quick changes of direction. Based on feedback from Nakano and de Puniet during pre-season testing, the all-new Ninja ZX-RR should suit very well the characteristics of the Losail circuit.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <div class='quotemain'>Shinya Nakano:
"Because we are racing here earlier than last year, the conditions are definitely a little bit cooler, and that should benefit everyone. I like this track and we arrive in Qatar well prepared for the weekend. We have the data from Olivier Jacque's two tests here earlier in the year, and we have already tested potential race tyres for this circuit during our post race test in Jerez. Tyres are critical here, and I think our Bridgestone tyres may offer something of an advantage this weekend. This is also a good circuit for our Ninja ZX-RR, as you need a bike that handles well. For sure the straight is long, but we've had good speed here in the past, so I don't think it will be an issue. I feel confident that we can end up with a strong finish in Saturday's race."
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <div class='quotemain'>Randy de Puniet:
"For me, the most important thing this weekend is to finish the race. I like this track; it's very technical and I think that this suits the characteristics of the Ninja ZX-RR. I'm looking forward to the weekend ahead, and I hope that we can carry on the momentum we had before my crash during morning warm-up at Jerez. While the hand I injured in the crash has not recovered completely, it is a lot better now. I guess I won't know how much better until I get on the bike tomorrow, but I'm confident it won't cause me any problems this weekend."
