| Author | Message | ||
     Trojan |
Fresh from his rally win at Monza, Valentino Rossi has topped the time sheets for both days so far at the official MotoGP tests at Jerez. Hayden is missing the tests due to a shoulder operation, but Rossi looks in top form already  Nice new helmet design featuring the sword 'excalibur' too. Who's head is looking to lop off I wonder?    Ilmor looks very weak and lacking direction considering the times they were doing earlier. Chaz Davies gets to test the Ilmor today (Thursday)so hopefully he can improve the teams times. The bike is so small it even makes Jezza look big!  Day 2 (Wed) times: 1. Valentino Rossi ITA Camel Yamaha Team 1min 40.688 secs 2. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team 1min 40.799 secs 3. Colin Edwards USA Camel Yamaha Team 1min 41.186 secs 4. John Hopkins USA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1min 41.205 secs 5. Chris Vermeulen AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1min 41.619 secs 6. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team 1min 41.702 secs 7. Loris Capirossi ITA Ducati Marlboro Team 1min 42.244 secs 8. Marco Melandri ITA Gresini Honda 1min 42.469 secs 9. Shinya Nakano JPN Konica Minolta Honda 1min 42.528 secs 10. Alex Barros BRA Pramac d'Antin MotoGP 1min 43.182 secs 11. Tady Okada JPN Honda 1min 43.316 secs 12. Vittoriano Guareschi ITA Ducati Marlboro Team 1min 44.449 secs 13. Jeremy McWilliams GBR Ilmor SRT 1min 45.265 secs 14. Andrew Pitt AUS Ilmor SRT 1min 47.110 secs | ||
| Jscott |
Trojan, what is your best guess as to whom Ilmor will pick as their final two riders? My guess is McWilliams and Davies. It seems as though Davies recommendation for the AMA came through McWilliams. Do you think the Ilmor test came from an McWilliams recommendation as well? | ||
| Trojan |
I hope they pick Davies, because he is young, talented and upcoming. McWilliams is a good development rider and was a good (but not great) GP rider, but he is 42 years old and isn't going to get any faster than he already is. Chaz needs a good leg up into the premier class and hopefully he can persuade Ilien that he is the man for the job. I can't see Andrew Pitt getting the gig, but you never know who is bringing money with him to the team. I think they may go for Davies/McCoy. Davies will be the cheapest to employ and the biggest future prospect, and with no outside sponsor that will be a major factor. McCoy has the most experience on the bike, is a GP winner and did the last two races of this year, so must be seen as the number one pick. I think Davies' test came about more because he is a known GP regular and he is currently available rather than through any recommendation from Jezza (especially as they are in competition for the same job), and I'm pretty sure Chaz's agent would have been very busy trying to get him on any top competitive ride that was available. (Message edited by trojan on November 30, 2006) | ||
| Jscott |
***BREAKING NEWS*** McWilliams down with apparent broken leg... http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2006/Nov/tb/061130q .htm | ||
| Trojan |
Ouch, that could be a career ending injury for Jezza then  | ||
| Blake |
!#@%! That sucks! Here's hoping Jeremy will heal well and heal quickly. | ||
| Daves |
CRAP! Hope he recovers fast. | ||
| Rocketman |
Every cloud has a silver lining. Shit, gotta go. My phone's ringing! Troy Freakabout | ||
| Jscott |
I wonder if McWilliams' misfortune also put a damper on Davies chance at testing the Ilmor. I have not read anything about his time on the bike. | ||
| Diablobrian |
To the contrary, it improves Davies' chance at getting the ride for the 07 season. | ||
| Jscott |
"To the contrary, it improves Davies' chance at getting the ride for the 07 season." My question remains... "I wonder if McWilliams' misfortune also put a damper on Davies chance at testing the Ilmor. I have not read anything about his time on the bike." | ||
| Diablobrian |
I thought they had 2 test mules at the track. | ||
| Jscott |
I'm positive that they had two mules at the track as Pitt was riding the other. However there has been no mention as to whether Davies had any seat time today. | ||
| Trojan |
There is no mention anywhere that Chaz even got to turn a wheel on the Ilmor, probably because of the McWilliams crash. A shame as he will not get another chance to test until January now, which may be too late for a decision on his future within the team. I hope Jezza makes a swift recovery, although first reports do sound like it is a serious incident and that he could be out for some time. | ||
| Jscott |
Finally... http://www.crash.net/news_view~t~Chaz-denied-Ilmor -debut-~cid~6~id~140876.htm Poor Chaz, do you think he has a chance or is he AMA bound? | ||
| Trojan |
What a great shame. Of all the riders scheduled to test the Ilmor Chaz probably had the most to offer and the brightest future. I can't see him getting the ride now unless some 'financials' come into play. Ilmor will be more than busy enough getting the bikes ready over the winter and won't be able to give Chaz a ride until January at least (unless they can sneak a private test in at Silverstone perhaps?). Celtic racing will also need to know what Chaz is doing pretty soon, as they may be looking for a replacement if he gets the Ilmor gig. Personally I think Chaz will plump for the AMA ride to play safe, although it would have been nice to see him back in GP's in 2007. Mind you, as the only Englishman to win a major title worldwide in 2006 was Jamie Hacking in AMA, it obviously isn't a bad place to be for us Brits  | ||
| Davegess |
(unless they can sneak a private test in at Silverstone perhaps?). Can thay do that? I would think the MotoGP testing ban would include them since they actually raced this year? Or do teams get away with cheating on the ban? | ||
| Trojan |
I think the testing ban only extends to circuits that they actually race on during the year, so Ducati/Honda/Yamaha could in theory test at their own facility but not at the GP circuits. I may be wrong but that is how it used to work in F1 racing. Silverstone is in Ilmors back yard and they were initially spotted testing there ridden by Eskil Suter during the summer during a public track day. Imagine getting overtaken by a GP bike on your first track day! | ||
| Rocketman |
Imagine getting overtaken by a GP bike on your first track day! So that's who it was. I thought it was Dave S  Rocket | ||
| Daves |
 Daves,official rider for "Ignorant Petrol Head Racing" |
