Yamaha step forward in the post-Grand Prix Test
Spies Lorenzo and discusses the progress made in the official test day held the day after the Portuguese GP.
The men of the Yamaha Factory Racing took the meteorological boom in Estoril on Monday to carry out an intensive program of work with his YZR-M1. Ben Spies Jorge Lorenzo and his work focused on testing a new swingarm and suspension components updated. The Spaniard also took the opportunity to test new electronic settings in the search for better grip in the saddle. And like many of the drivers present in the day, both drivers also tested some new Bridgestone tires.
With the same speed that allowed him to climb the podium in Sunday’s race, Lorenzo was fast from the start and finished the morning round as the fastest man on track with a lap of 1’37 .170. The afternoon session continued the same course. The Spaniard took advantage of the new configuration to cross the barrier of 1.37 and down to 1’36 .316 at the end of the day, with a deficit of just 0.105s on the fastest of the day.
Spies had a day much better than Sunday, when his involvement in the Portuguese race with a fall. Texan pilot and his team tested all new parts in the afternoon. Even had the opportunity to reduce nearly seven tenths of a second off his previous best time and finish with a 1’37 .421 which stood at seventh place in the timesheets.
Jorge Lorenzo
“I’m very happy with the test we did today. Before, I felt so safe and comfortable when entering curves as last year and in 2009. Now we have found something with the chassis setup that works much better, so I I feel comfortable again. I think I can be faster through the corners now, so I’m looking forward to going to France to fight for more podiums.
Ben Spies
“It was a decent test day for us after what happened on Sunday. I’m happy with the sessions. This afternoon, at the last minute, we found something we had not been proven yet and I think that really will benefit in Le Mans. Today we have improved the lap times. I’ve done the best I could and now have to wait for Le Mans for a fresh start.