2011 MotoGP: Mugello Official Test Results

2011 MotoGP

After taking third in Mugello on Sunday, Casey Stoner returned with vengance on Monday for an official MotoGP test.

The Repsol Honda rider posted a best lap of 1:47.326 around the Italian circuit, a time six-tenths faster than his pole-position time for Mugello MotoGP. Stoner did crash at Turn 1 in the morning, but was able to rejoin the test; he completed 47 laps while testing a new swingarm on the RC212V.

Casey Stoner (Repsol Honda RC212V MotoGP) says: "This morning the track was very dirty and I had a small incident going into turn one, but nothing major. We had a few things to test here today, a new front tyre from Bridgestone which wasn’t so different to the one we are currently using, perhaps just a little more contact feeling so it could be a good direction they are working in.

"We tested a new swing arm and had positive feedback, we found more traction and some more grip delivered a little earlier so I don’t need to pick up the bike so much, which could help us in a track like Sachsenring where you spend a lot of time on the edge.

"In general we didn’t test so much, the bike was very similar to the race day set up, we also tried something small on the rear suspension and this was also a small step forward."

The second fastest rider – and the only other to post under the 1:48 mark Monday – was San Carlo Honda Gresini’s Marco Simoncelli. The third- and fourth-fastest riders were also piloting Honda RC212Vs, Stoner’s teammates Andrea Dovizioso and Dani Pedrosa, respectively.

Rounding out the top five was Cardion AB Motoracing Ducati’s Karel Abraham, the rookie testing front suspension and seat settings.

Ducati Team’s Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden did not participate in the test, the Ducati duo having tested last month in Mugello.

World Superbike rider Sylvain Guintoli (Team Effenbert) was also at Mugello during the MotoGP test. The Frenchman is in line to substitute for Pramac Racing Ducati’s Loris Capirossi at Sachsenring in two-weeks time, so the test allowed him to ride an 800cc MotoGP machine. Guintoli’s best time was a 1:59.398.

Also on track was Moto2 rider Mika Kallio, although the Finn was on board a 1000cc Suter prototype as the Marc VDS team continued the development of the Swiss manufacturer’s 2012 project. Kallio turned just over 60 laps throughout the day, with a best time of 1:53.668.

2011 Mugello MotoGP Official Test Results (Monday, July 4, 2011)