Shinya Shines In Sepang

Try to say that three times really quickly.

Source : crash.net

Finally. At last. I see a glimmer in the distance that is racing onward. This three-day test in Sepang, the third and final pre-season test session, was attended by almost the entire 2006 MotoGP grid, the exception being WCM. So topping this crowd means much more than before.

Sepang III test times - day one:

1. Marco Melandri ITA Fortuna Honda 2min 1.66 secs
2. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team 2min 1.89 secs
3. Colin Edwards USA Camel Yamaha Team 2min 2 secs
4. John Hopkins USA Team Suzuki MotoGP 2min 2.15 secs
5. Valentino Rossi ITA Camel Yamaha Team 2min 2.2 secs
6. Loris Capirossi ITA Ducati Marlboro Team 2min 2.64 secs
7. Randy de Puniet FRA Kawasaki Racing Team 2min 2.75 secs
8. Nicky Hayden USA Repsol Honda Team 2min 2.86 secs
9. Carlos Checa SPA Tech 3 Yamaha 2min 3.4 secs
10. Casey Stoner AUS Honda LCR 2min 3.4 secs
11. Sete Gibernau SPA Ducati Marlboro Team 2min 3.51 secs
12. Toni Elias SPA Fortuna Honda 2min 3.52 secs
13. Kenny Roberts USA Team Roberts 2min 3.58 secs
14. Makoto Tamada JPN Konica Minolta Honda 2min 3.66 secs
15. Shinya Nakano JPN Kawasaki Racing Team 2min 4.02 secs
16. Chris Vermulen AUS Team Suzuki MotoGP 2min 4.1 secs
17. Alex Hofmann GER Team d'Antin Pramac 2min 5.4 secs
18. Jose Luis Cardoso SPA Team d'Antin Pramac 2min 5.81 secs
19. Tadayuki Okada JPN HRC 2min 5.89 secs
20. James Ellison GBR Tech 3 Yamaha 2min 5.9 secs

Source : crash.net

Alrite so Day One was not so great, but erm expected. Forgive me, Shinya ;| I've twisted my digits crossing my fingers for you last year.

Sepang III test times - day two:

1. Shinya Nakano JPN Kawasaki Racing Team 2min 1.8 secs
2. Loris Capirossi ITA Ducati Marlboro Team 2min 1.87 secs
3. Valentino Rossi ITA Camel Yamaha Team 2min 1.89 secs
4. John Hopkins USA Team Suzuki MotoGP 2min 1.9 secs
5. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team 2min 1.93 secs
6. Carlos Checa SPA Tech 3 Yamaha 2min 2.06 secs
7. Colin Edwards USA Camel Yamaha Team 2min 2.20 secs
8. Randy de Puniet FRA Kawasaki Racing Team 2min 2.37 secs
9. Makoto Tamada JPN Konica Minolta Honda 2min 2.56 secs
10. Toni Elias SPA Fortuna Honda 2min 2.62 secs
11. Marco Melandri ITA Fortuna Honda 2min 2.65 secs
12. Sete Gibernau SPA Ducati Marlboro Team 2min 2.87 secs
13. Nicky Hayden USA Repsol Honda Team 2min 2.93 secs
14. Kenny Roberts USA Team Roberts 2min 2.95 secs
15. Chris Vermulen AUS Team Suzuki MotoGP 2min 3.18 secs
16. Alex Hofmann GER Team d'Antin Pramac 2min 4.23 secs
17. Jose Luis Cardoso SPA Team d'Antin Pramac 2min 4.65 secs
18. James Ellison GBR Tech 3 Yamaha 2min 5.08 secs

Source : crash.net

Sound the trumpets ! Raise the roof ! My devotion has not been in vain !

Sepang III test times - day three:

1. Loris Capirossi ITA Ducati Marlboro Team 2min 1.92 secs
2. Valentino Rossi ITA Camel Yamaha Team 2min 2.06 secs
3. Shinya Nakano JPN Kawasaki Racing Team 2min 2.2 secs
4. Colin Edwards USA Camel Yamaha Team 2min 2.33 secs
5. John Hopkins USA Team Suzuki MotoGP 2min 2.34 secs
6. Randy de Puniet FRA Kawasaki Racing Team 2min 2.47 secs
7. Sete Gibernau SPA Ducati Marlboro Team 2min 2.65 secs
8. Carlos Checa SPA Tech 3 Yamaha 2min 2.66 secs
9. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team 2min 2.7 secs
10. Nicky Hayden USA Repsol Honda Team 2min 2.86 secs
11. Makoto Tamada JPN Konica Minolta Honda 2min 2.87 secs
12. Marco Melandri ITA Fortuna Honda 2min 3 secs
13. Toni Elias SPA Fortuna Honda 2min 3.64 secs
14. Alex Hofmann GER Team d'Antin Pramac 2min 4.18 secs
15. Kenny Roberts USA Team Roberts 2min 4.3 secs
16. Jose Luis Cardoso SPA Team d'Antin Pramac 2min 4.82 secs
17. James Ellison GBR Tech 3 Yamaha 2min 5.7 secs

Source : crash.net

And just to prove that it wasn't a fluke, there he is in the 'top podium' spot again.

Sepang III test times - overall best:

1. Marco Melandri ITA Fortuna Honda 2min 1.66 secs (Tues)
2. Shinya Nakano JPN Kawasaki Racing Team 2min 1.8 secs (Weds)
3. Loris Capirossi ITA Ducati Marlboro Team 2min 1.87 secs (Weds)
4. Valentino Rossi ITA Camel Yamaha Team 2min 1.89 secs (Weds)
5. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team 2min 1.89 secs (Tues)
6. John Hopkins USA Team Suzuki MotoGP 2min 1.9 secs (Weds)
7. Colin Edwards USA Camel Yamaha Team 2min 2 secs (Tues)
8. Carlos Checa SPA Tech 3 Yamaha 2min 2.06 secs (Weds)
9. Randy de Puniet FRA Kawasaki Racing Team 2min 2.37 secs (Weds)
10. Makoto Tamada JPN Konica Minolta Honda 2min 2.56 secs (Weds)
11. Toni Elias SPA Fortuna Honda 2min 2.62 secs (Weds)
12. Sete Gibernau SPA Ducati Marlboro Team 2min 2.65 secs (Thurs)
13. Nicky Hayden USA Repsol Honda Team 2min 2.86 secs (Tues/Thurs)
14. Kenny Roberts USA Team Roberts 2min 2.95 secs (Weds)
15. Chris Vermulen AUS Team Suzuki MotoGP 2min 3.18 secs (Weds)
16. Casey Stoner AUS Honda LCR 2min 3.4 secs (Tues)
17. Alex Hofmann GER Team d'Antin Pramac 2min 4.18 secs (Thurs)
18. Jose Luis Cardoso SPA Team d'Antin Pramac 2min 4.65 secs (Weds)
19. James Ellison GBR Tech 3 Yamaha 2min 5.08 secs (Thurs)

Source : crash.net

And in summing up the 3 days, he's still perched at the top.

"The first day was all about setting the bike up with the new engine components, so we didn't really get a chance to put in any fast laps. On the second day we switched to an engine setting that allowed more over rev and this made the bike a lot easier to ride, allowing me to set the fastest time of the day. The rain during the last two days of the test limited the number of laps we've been able to complete, but despite this we still managed to complete our engine and tyre test programme. The three overseas tests have been very positive for Kawasaki, and now I'm looking forward to travelling to Europe for the IRTA tests at Catalunya and Jerez."

- Shinya at the end of Sepang testing

Source : Kawasaki-Eckl

Needless to say, Mr Eckl himself is happy because the new Ninja ZX-RR has proved itself to be a "very competitive package". Next, travel to Europe. First, the Montmelo circuit in Catalunya from March 3rd to 5th and then to Jerez de La Frontera from March 10th to 12th.

Phillip Island Testing Session

Source : Kawasaki-Eckl

The second testing session of the year (the first one at Sepang) attended by the Honda, Kawasaki and Ducati teams saw Shinya showing some mettle, that'll hopefully bode well for the 2006 season. I find the word hope repeated much here :|

"The focus today has been on tyre testing with Bridgestone, and also continuing the work from Tuesday to find a good base setting on the new bike. I also spent a lot of time working on my riding today, trying different braking points and lines through the turns to see if I could improve on my lap time. Overall, I'm happy with what we've achieved here. Despite the rain yesterday we've managed to complete our test programme and we leave here with a good base set-up on the bike. We still have some work to do with a revised version of the new engine at the next test but, based on the two tests so far, I'm confident that we'll arrive at Jerez for the first race with a very competitive bike in the new Ninja ZX-RR."

- Shinya after Phillip Island test

Source : Kawasaki-Eckl

Phillip Island test times - day three:

1. Sete Gibernau SPA Ducati Marlboro Team 1min 30.06 secs
2. Loris Capirossi ITA Ducati Marlboro Team 1min 30.25 secs
3. Shinya Nakano JPN Kawasaki Racing Team 1min 30.59 secs
4. Marco Melandri ITA Fortuna Honda 1min 30.6 secs
5. Nicky Hayden USA Repsol Honda Team 1min 30.9 secs
6. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team 1min 31.1 secs
7. Casey Stoner AUS Honda LCR 1min 31.13 secs
8. Kenny Roberts USA Team Roberts 1min 31.64 secs
9. Randy de Puniet FRA Kawasaki Racing Team 1min 31.77 secs
10. Makoto Tamada JPN Konica Minolta Honda 1min 31.77 secs
11. Toni Elias SPA Fortuna Honda 1min 32.15 secs
12. Alex Hofmann GER Team d'Antin Pramac 1min 32.4 secs
13. Jose Luis Cardoso SPA Team d'Antin Pramac 1min 32.4 secs

Fastest day two time:

Shinya Nakano JPN Kawasaki Racing Team 1min 42.6secs (wet)

Weeeewitt. Fastest, eat that Sete.

Shinya and Kawasaki left the Phillip Island test with the third fastest lap time and will test a revised engine, designed to help rideability and top end power at Sepang next. Almost the entire 2006 MotoGP grid will attend that test which will take place from 14th to 16th February. Looks like he won't be having any Valentine plans then.