LCR Honda Qatar test notes day two

PRE-SEASON TEST AT LOSAIL ENDS WITH DE PUNIET 8th FASTEST Doha, 19th March: The two day of pre-season test held at the floodlit 5.380 km Losail circuit in Qatar came to a close at midnight local time tonight with Stoner recording the best lap time ...

PRE-SEASON TEST AT LOSAIL ENDS WITH DE PUNIET 8th FASTEST

Doha, 19th March: The two day of pre-season test held at the floodlit 5.380 km Losail circuit in Qatar came to a close at midnight local time tonight with Stoner recording the best lap time of the day. The 17 MotoGP riders continued their busy schedules to try and ensure their prototypes are prepared in time for the first race at the circuit in just over three weeks.

Weather conditions were close to perfect when the session opened at 18.00 local time with air temperature of 22 degrees. LCR Honda MotoGP racer Randy de Puniet was able to concentrate on engine performance with new mapping options and suspension setting during the six-hour test period. He steadily improved his fastest lap posting a best time of 1'56.504 in a 66-lap spell. The Frenchman aboard the GIVI liveried RCV was the second highest Honda behind Dovizioso (3rd).

De Puniet -- 8th: "This morning when I woke up I felt okay (no more cramps) so I could work hard with my crew to fine tune the bike before the first round here. I am very satisfied as we made good progress especially on suspension setting and race pace. The bike is smoother now whilst in Sepang the feeling was quite nervous. We lapped a race simulation (20 turns) and I have posted my best time at the end of it... this is quite positive! I could do better today (probably 4th) but I found Barbera on my line in the last corner. Our issues are still with making the rear suspension work well for us and the bike feeling quite nervous going into the corners but I am delighted with the improvements of this test".