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.