Fonsi Nieto and Max Neurkirchner get first taste of Alstare Suzuki

Alstare Suzuki’s 2008 riders got their first taste of the factory Suzuki GSX-R1000 in preparation for next years championship campaign.

Spaniard Fonsi Nieto and German Max Neukirchner completed a one-day test at the Valencia circuit in Spain onboard this year’s bikes, which were ridden by Max Biaggi and Yukio Kagayama.

Fonsi Nieto rode the ex-Biaggi bike and despite having a 250GP background like Max Biaggi made a number of changes to improve the feel on the bike.

Fonsi Nieto said: “My initial feeling is that the bike is very good and I have a lot to learn. I started with the Biaggi settings, but I didn’t get on with them, so we’ve changed them quite a lot – more in the Yukio Kagayama direction I guess. 

“The Alstare Suzuki feels more of a race bike than my bike of last year and it has a lot of potential. I am not thinking about lap times at this test, because I want to learn this bike first.”

Max Neukirchner had a head start having raced Yukio Kagayama’s bike at the final round of the championship at Magny Cours last month, but still set about changing the set-up of the factory Suzuki to suit his size and riding style.

Max Neukirchner said: “I know I’ve ridden the Alstare Suzuki before, but this is a different situation for me here. Today we spent most of the time getting the bike right for me.

“That meant changes to the riding position, bars, levers, foot pegs etc. I enjoyed riding the bike in the last race of the year, but now it’s time to get the bike dialled in for me properly.”

With no new title sponsor announced both riders run in Corona Extra livery as used during 2007.