Kawasaki Racing Team prepares 2012
Sunday 04 November: KRT went to Southern Europe for several testing sessions, it's the best opportunity to test all new factory parts a few months prior the new season.
The entire staff moved to Spain and later to
South of France, where several tracks were selected for this test
session. Due to some showers during these sessions, the riders were able
to work and test on hard, soft and wet tracks!
For François Lemariey,
team manager, this period is always important as there are many
prototype parts to test and develop.
"We used several tracks in
Spain and south of France, so our riders have tested on different
layouts and conditions. Both Xavier (Boog) and Gautier (Paulin) were surprised to have
soo much work to do, as we received from Kawasaki Japan six boxes full of
special parts and we also had new parts from our technical partners.
Takashi Maruyama, a Japanese engine engineer and Theo Lockwood, who is
dedicated to electronical ignition at Kawasaki Motors Corporation in the
US stayed with us and it was a positive experience to work with them as
we could share many informations.”
"We’ve changed
some members of our technical staff, with a new engine tuner – David
Raymond – while Brad Graham is now dedicated to the electronical
ignition. Concerning the mechanics Luc Bruggeman works with Xavier,
and Jorg Pyka is now alongside Gautier. It was our first
experience with Gautier, and we’re delighted to work with him; he has
great human qualities, and gave to the mechanics and engineers many
informations. He has a huge testing experience, and it was very
interesting to mix Gautier and Xavier remarks; Xavier will enter his
third season with the team, and he knows what he wants. The atmosphere
was very good during this period, on the tracks as well as at the hotel,
and everyone has a great motivation for next season” he added.
Sport
manager of the team, Yves Demaria was also pleased to work with such a
motivated group. "We worked hard on the bikes during the season, and as
we raced with the 2012 models since the French Grand Prix we never
thought that we would have so many parts to test! The factory has also
work hard to prepare so many novelties, and Xavier who is now used to
the team and the bike was also surprised; it’s for us a great motivation
to know that at the factory everyone is pushing hard, and also to enter
a true cooperation with Kawasaki US. I was also testing with Xavier and
Gautier, and I can say that the bike is improved; the engine is more
powerful but not aggressive, the frame and suspensions are more
comfortable and we’ve worked on many other details. As we could imagine
it was a pleasure to work with Gautier, he knows exactly what he wants;
as Xavier has more experience he is now more involved in the development
of the bike, and it was great to compare both opinions” analysed Yves
who will enter his second season with KRT.
"I would say that
these sessions were better than last year; it’s easier to work with two
riders than three, the relationship is better and stronger between the
team members. Everyone is motivated and has the same goal: to offer the
best results to Kawasaki and of course to win races. We will receive the
new parts in a few weeks, and we have scheduled other tests later in
March on sandy tracks” continued Yves who has now more experience as
sport manager.
The Riders and mechanics have a break after these
tests but soon they will be back at the workshop and on the tracks to
prepare the first pre-season races scheduled in February.
Xavier Boog