Suzuki and Roberts Jr. Make Progress

Team Telefónica MoviStar Suzuki rider Kenny Roberts Jr. was brimming withconfidence after two gruelling days of testing at the Catalunyan GP circuit. "The best tests so far with the new four-stroke machine."

Blazing heat and exhausting conditions were not enough to keep Roberts fromrunning more than 70 laps on both Monday and Tuesday, as a revised chassis anda series of other development changes kept levels of enthusiasm and excitementat fever pitch...

The factory's and the team's latest development work not only brought the2000 World Champion a significantly faster lap time than he had achieved at theGP on the weekend before. They also opened up a new level of competitivepromise for the powerful 990cc Suzuki GSV-R V4 -- newest of the three Japanesefactory four-stroke racing prototypes, after being brought to the tracks a fullyear earlier than originally planned.

"This was one of my best tests ever, and certainly the best with the newmotorcycle," enthused Roberts at the end of the second day. "I'm reallylooking forward to the next GP, at Assen in Holland.

"The team found some different directions, and a new chassis from the factoryalso seemed to help," he continued. "We made a lot progress in areas that wehadn't necessarily expected to, and it made the bike comfortable for me toride at a very fast pace.

"The lap times reflected it. I was able to go half-a-second faster than I hadin qualifying for the weekend's GP, but I could do so for a number ofconsecutive laps. That is what's really important.

“我们都很累,殴打我们ekend, but the progress overthe two days meant that I and the whole team ended on a very high note. We havethink we have the confidence to challenge for the top five, and we can carrythat over to Holland."

Team-mate Sete Gibernau also tested on the first day, but missed the second,after finally succumbing to an illness he had been fighting off all weekend.The bulk of the work -- testing next-generation prototype Michelin tires aswell as Suzuki's own development -- fell on Roberts, and team manager GarryTaylor was full of praise.

"Kenny ran almost three times race distance on both days, while the weatherjust kept on getting hotter and hotter. None of us had been looking forward tothe tests after a long and hot weekend, but Kenny showed a lot of grit anddetermination, and that inspired the whole team. When things are going in agood direction, you can see a lot of difference in Kenny, and in everyone elseas well.

"I think the whole team would like to thank him for his efforts."