Andrea Dovizioso tops Catalunya test on new Honda chassis

Andrea Dovizioso made an instant impact on Honda’s new RC212V chassis in Catalunya today, the Repsol Honda rider topping the timesheets ahead of reigning world champion Valentino Rossi.

With injured team-mate Dani Pedrosa missing the test to recuperate ahead of the next round in Assen, evaluating the new chassis fell to Dovizioso. And it was an impressive debut from the former 125GP world champion, Dovizioso clocking a best time of 1.42.230. That was 0.2s quicker than Rossi’s Fiat Yamaha, with Jorge Lorenzo in third place.

His best lap was a full second faster than he managed during yesterday’s 25-lap Catalunya clash in which he finished fourth for the third successive race, narrowly missing a podium by a sick Casey Stoner.

Dovizioso told MCN: “I’m really happy with today. The new chassis is the improvement I’ve been looking for and it is much on the initial entry to the corner. We still have a lot of work to do but it is clear that Honda has been working and finally we have something that improves our situation.

“The stability under braking can still be improved but when I initially turn into the corner it is much easier with the new chassis. I don’t have to force the bike to turn so much now, so it is a step.”

Rossi was second as he tested a revised longer life Yamaha YZR-M1 motor in readiness for new rules to be introduced at the Czech Republic GP in Brno in August. Rossi clocked a best time of 1.42.434 to edge out Lorenzo for the second time in just over 24 hours by 0.012s. Rossi, who won a thrilling Catalunya race yesterday with a superb last corner overtake on Lorenzo, also tested some new electronics on his YZR-M1 and a dual compound Bridgestone rear tyre for the Australian GP in Phillip Island.

The Italian told MCN: “I was happy with the electronics and for me it is a good step. It helps me open the throttle earlier in the corner and it was particularly good when the tyre is worn.”

A best lap of 1.42.446 gave Lorenzo third, with the big surprise of the day provided by Pramac Ducati rider Mika Kallio. Casey Stoner was fifth quickest on his GP9 Ducati as he again tried some more development miles on the carbon fibre swingarm he campaigned earlier in the season.

The Aussie was still way off 100 per cent fitness after severe stomach cramps on his way to third place in yesterday’s race. It was a disappointing day for his factory Ducati team-mate Nicky Hayden though. The American was the only rider testing today who didn’t manage to go quicker than his best race lap.

A best time of 1.44.157 was 0.1s slower than his best race lap and the 2006 world champion said: “It wasn’t the day I was hoping for. I found a couple of rear shock settings I liked but to not go faster than I did in the race is a bit disappointing. I’d really hoped to take a few steps forward today and I ended up going backwards.”