Honda roll out the pneumatic-valved engines but after yesterday's performance from Pedrosa, do they really need them?
YESTERDAY’S MotoGP winner Dani Pedrosa is one of a plethora of GP bigwigs starting a crucial two days of testing at Cataunya this morning.
Both Pedrosa and Honda team-mate Nicky Hayden will get a chance to test the updated RC212V pneumatic valve engine.
Pedrosa has already said publically that he wants more top-end power from the new motor, which has been designed to give higher revs and more mid-range grunt out of turns. Hayden, who has already tested the new motor in the 2008 chassis on the factory machine over the winter, will continue his tests of the RC212V chassis.
Ducati will also be taking part in the tests, putting its prototype GP9 through it’s paces with test rider Vito Guareschi. Vitto will give the all clear for Casey Stoner and Marco Melandri to try fast times on the new bike, hopefully later today.
The struggling Kawasaki set-up will also have test rider Olivier Jacque testing although the French former 250cc World Champion will concentrate of chassis development rather than running the factory’s new motor.
Rizla Suzuki will field Chris Vermeulen as their lone rider in the tests after team-mate Loris Capirossi broke bones in his right hand in Sunday´s race.
