Vermeulen wants BHP

Extra horsepower is one critical area that factory Suzuki rider Chris Vermeulen believes the new GSV-R can still improve as the countdown to the 2007 MotoGP world championship gets closer.

Although lap times have already dropped drastically on the new 800 machines, riders are still asking for more horsepower to make them more competitive when the new season gets underway in Qatar on March 10, 2007.

And Vermeulen is no exception, telling MCN: “Both John (Hopkins) and I have been a couple of miles an hour quicker in the last tests so whatever they did has worked.

 “But I’m not going to tell them I’m happy with that, I always want more. I followed Kenny Roberts Junior recently and his bike was better in some areas and mine in others.

“Kenny’s bike was better on acceleration drive out of the slower turns. It got the power down better than our bike. My bike was better on top end on the straights, that’s the good thing!

 “It’s the easiest place to make time but we are losing bit off the turns.”