Detail

Jerez Tests, Day One (Mar. 23, 2013)
Lorenzo Leads The Way as Final Pre-Season Test Begins at Jerez

Yamaha Factory Racing rider Jorge Lorenzo kicked off day one of three of the final pre-season test of 2013 at the front, leading the MotoGP field by over a second in the timesheets. ?
?Following a successful team launch yesterday, today’s first day of action was a disappointing affair for the MotoGP riders with black clouds, heavy rains and a waterlogged track hampering testing efforts.
Despite the adverse weather, Lorenzo managed to achieve 39 laps whilst working on the wet set up of his YZR-M1, achieving a competitive set up fairly quickly.?
Valentino Rossi’s first day in the official 2013 colours of the Factory Team were similar to Lorenzo’s, the Italian working on his wet set up. Rossi was able to find a good pace but ended the session needing to reduce rear tyre wear in the wet to last race distance at a fast pace.

Test Times (Mar. 23)
(Ambient temperature: 13 degrees Track temperature: 13 degrees)

Jerez Record Lap: D. Pedrosa 2010, 1'39.731
Jerez Best Lap: J. Lorenzo 2008, 1'38.189

Jerez Tests, Day Two (Mar. 24, 2013)
Yamaha Factory one-two as Rossi returns to the top in Jerez

The second day of the final pre-season MotoGP test was again played out in difficult weather conditions today with riders having to splash through a water-filled morning before being able to enjoy some dry track time later in the afternoon.?
Valentino Rossi was finally given the conditions that allowed him to show his pleasure at being back on the YZR-M1. In the afternoon’s dry spell and on a European circuit he knows well, the nine-time Champion rose quickly to the top of the timesheets, staying there until the close of the day and reminding everyone that the special relationship between ‘the Doctor’ and the M1 has not lost its magic.
Teammate Jorge Lorenzo, yesterday’s fastest rider in the wet, was just 0.015 seconds behind Rossi as today’s session ended, the reigning World Champion continuing to stay on the pace at the sharp end of the time scores.?
Tech3 satellite rider Cal Crutchlow was next in the standings, making a Yamaha 1,2,3.

Test Times (Mar. 24)
(Ambient temperature: 18 degrees Track temperature: 34 degrees)

Jerez Record Lap: D. Pedrosa 2010, 1'39.731
Jerez Best Lap: J. Lorenzo 2008, 1'38.189

Jerez Tests, Day Three (Mar. 25, 2013)
Final Pre-Season Testing Concludes Successfully for Yamaha in Jerez

A final day of complicated weather conditions restricting track action has signaled the end of pre-season testing for the MotoGP Championship at the Jerez de la Frontera Circuit in Spain.
Despite reduced track time because of the conditions, both Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo leave Jerez satisfied with the YZR-M1 package and feeling competitive as the first race of the 2013 season approaches.
Having climbed dramatically to the top of the timesheets yesterday for the first time in two years and sent a clear message that a new chapter had begun for him, Rossi put in another impressive ride this afternoon to leave the test second fastest in the combined times.
Reigning World Champion Lorenzo had kicked off the Jerez test as the fastest man before spending the next two days working on honing his skill at delivering unbeatable pace over distance. He leaves as the third fastest rider, less than two tenths of a second from his teammate in second and making it a Yamaha one, two, three in the combined times.

Test Times (Mar. 25)
(Ambient temperature: 17 degrees Track temperature: 27 degrees)

Jerez Record Lap: D. Pedrosa 2010, 1'39.731
Jerez Best Lap: J. Lorenzo 2008, 1'38.189

Valentino Rossi (Day Three Position: 2nd, 1’39.735, 30 Laps)

“I’m so happy because at the end of today’s session we had some quite good conditions to make some laps in the dry and especially because for us it was very important to try the new chassis.?? The feeling is generally ok; I was able to be competitive in difficult conditions and I also made good lap times with the used tyre. The new chassis has some good and bad points but I think I will start the season with the one I used yesterday and test this one again during the season.?? I am happy about the test; I was competitive all three days so I am looking forward to going to Qatar.”

Jorge Lorenzo (Day Three Position: 4th, 1’40.105, 42 Laps)

“We didn't think we would practice so much today because the weather was so bad but finally we had two hours to practice and improve some things on the bike.?? I made a long run that I think was positive to understand the behaviour of the bike with old tyres. We are not the fastest but I think we are very consistent.?? It’s been a positive test for us to gain some motivation after Austin; that was a difficult three days. It shows that every track is a different world so let’s see what happens in Qatar. There can be a lot of sand on the track there so we’ll see how it is.?? Like every year you feel a little nervous at the beginning, it’s so important to start in a good way and get some points!”

Cal Crutchlow (Day Three Position: 1st, 1’39.511, 30 Laps)

“It is obviously very satisfying to finish the test with the fastest time because it shows what a really good job I did and what a great job my Monster Yamaha Tech3 Team did too. It is a shame we didn't get the chance to get in a lot more dry laps but I have been very fast and consistent and that gives me a lot of confidence for when we return to Jerez for the third race. This morning's rain meant the track wasn't in a great condition in the last two hours and I felt I could have definitely gone faster if there was more grip available. But it is the same for everybody and we came out on top, so that's positive. Each time I tried to improve my pace at the end I came across some traffic, so I've no doubt I could have gone faster. It has been a positive pre-season and I think I have shown I have made another big improvement for this year. This result gives me a lot of confidence going to Qatar but my goal will be to finish in the top six and get some early momentum like I did last season. It is going to be a very exciting season and now I can't wait to get to Qatar.”

Bradley Smith (Day Three Position: 11th, 1’41.134, 56 Laps)

“The really important aspect of today was that I did eventually get some dry time on track. I was reasonably happy with my performance in the wet because it is all about building my experience of the bike and tyres in those conditions. But I was really happy the track dried because I badly need seat time and the weather has definitely not helped my preparations. I'm still searching for a base setting but we have it clear the direction we need to move in with the bike and that's to move away from what Andrea Dovizioso used and make the bike more like how Cal has his. I'm gradually getting more comfortable and at this test I've followed Cal, Jorge and Valentino to get a really understanding of how the Yamaha needs to be ridden. Now I'm really looking forward to going to Qatar. I'd have preferred to have done a few more dry laps in testing but I am confident and optimistic that I can start the season with a strong result.”