2011 MotoGP Prep
Now that winter break is in session, MotoGP riders are not allowed to conduct any riding until the first official tests of the 2011 MotoGP season, which occur at Sepang in February.
But that doesn’t prevent the MotoGP teams from further preparing their 2011 machines.
And on Tuesday, Honda Racing Corparation (HRC) will be testing with the RC212V at Sepang in Malaysia, using World Superbike rider Jonathan Rea as the pilot.
The Northern Irishman who is currently signed with Ten Kate Honda for the 2011 WSBK season spoke of the upcoming MotoGP HRC test on his Twitter page.
Jonathan Rea says: "First day of MotoGP test at Sepang tomorrow. Got my riding position sorted today. Lets hope the weather holds up."
This will be Rea’s first outing on a MotoGP bike, as team riders Casey Stoner, Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso are not able to participate due to regulations.
Earlier in the 2010 MotoGP season, Rea was heavily rumored to be taking Ben Spies spot on the Monster Tech 3 Yamaha team (Spies replaces Valentino Rossi on the factory Yamaha team for 2011). But the Tech 3 team chose Cal Crutchlow to fill Spies spot.
Rea will be in the third and final year of his Ten Kate Honda contract for the 2011 World Superbike season, and the team is hoping to turn the Northern Ireland native from race winner to championship holder.
For 2010, Rea finished fourth with 292 points behind Althea Ducati rider Carlos Checa, Alstare Suzuki rider Leon Haslam and the 2010 WSBK Champ Max Biaggi.
Since entering World Superbike in 2009 on the CBR1000RR, Rea has a total of six race victories and 18 podium finishes.
Rea, who currently resides in the Isle of Man, also has been on a Honda for his entire professional motorcycle racing career; Rea finished in second in the championship during his inaugural professional year while racing a Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR in World Supersport in 2008.
