2011 Honda MotoGP Prep
Three days of MotoGP testing wrapped up Friday for Honda Racing Corporation. The Sepang, Malaysia, testing was supposed to be completed on Thursday, but heavy rains soaked the track, forcing HRC to finish Friday.
Due to MotoGP regulations, the standard riders for Honda – Casey Stoner, Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso – are not allowed to participate in any testing procedures throughout winter break.
Honda used their standard test rider, Kousuke Akiyoshi, and a guest, World Superbike rider Jonathan Rea, to gather date for the 2011 RC212V. This was the first time Rea ever piloted a MotoGP machine.
All and all, Honda was said they were happy with the data gleaned while verifying information and technical data gathered at the last team test session held at Valencia in early November.
As for Rea, who competes on the Ten Kate Honda World Superbike team, the Ulsterman completed 40 laps on the final day of testing under a sunny sky. After testing the RC212V, Rea commented on his first MotoGP experience.
Jonathan Rea says: "Riding the RC212V has been an unbelievable experience for me! A four days test is a dream that became true and I am really happy that HRC invited me here in Sepang."
"Yesterday the rain didn’t allow us to be on track that much and we stayed one more day. Today I start feeling the bike is ‘my bike’ and I had some good feeling riding it. I hope I have been able to give to the engineers some useful comment, even if my physical conditions were not the best because my wrist is still not 100 percent."
"Now I will have some rest for the End of the Year, and then I will be focused on my job of 2011 that is the World Superbike Championship. Thanks again to everybody in Honda for the great experience!"
Rea now returns to England to rest before WSBK testing begins. As for Honda, they will continue working on the development of the RC212V for the first official test of the 2011 MotoGP season held at Sepang Feb. 1-3.
