Hiroshi Aoyama adjusting to MotoGP electronics

Reigning 250GP world champion Hiroshi Aoyama reckons getting accustomed to the huge influence of electronic rider aids will be one of the biggest challenges ahead of his rookie MotoGP campaign in 2010.

The Japanese rider impressed during the last test at Sepang when he clocked the ninth best time to finish close to the time posted by factory Honda duo Andrea Dovizioso and Dani Pedrosa.

And preparing to conclude his winter preparations at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar later this week, the Interwetten Honda rider told MCN of the importance of adapting to the amount of electronics on his RC212V machine.

He said: “Electronics can help me a lot but sometimes I don’t like it because it feels a little bit strange.

“I don’t like it when I accelerate because sometimes I feel that traction control disturbs me. I have a feeling that I can make the turn easier with the tyre sliding, but I can’t with traction control because it tries to give me more grip. Then you have to modify the lines.

“But on the other hand going into the corner I need a little bit of help because the engine has a lot of engine braking and sometimes it is difficult to control everything by myself.

“I think understanding electronics is one of the biggest and most key points and I have to understand where and how I need the control.”