MotoGP news - "Olivier, you're late! We raced yesterday"
Discussion
Earlier today
The Kawasaki Racing Team is seeking answers fro Olivier Jacque after the former 250cc world champion, promoted from test to race rider for the 2007 season, effectively finished last in Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix. The Frenchman qualified 16th, but had slipped to 19th and last by lap 12 of 27. OJ was only relieved of finishing in that position when Suzuki's John Hopkins rejoined behind him after falling from fourth. Jacque eventually crossed the line 18th, five places and 35 seconds behind team-mate Randy de Puniet - and some ten seconds behind 17th placed Suzuki wild-card Kousuke Akiyoshi.
"We need to sit down with [Jacque] and find out why he wasn't able to match Randy's lap times today," said Kawasaki competition manager Michael Bartholemy. "Kawasaki isn't here to finish so close to the back of the field, so if there is a problem then we need to find a solution."
This afternoon at a wet Jerez.
1. Olivier Jacque FRA Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 1min 51.422 secs
2. Randy de Puniet FRA Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 1min 51.502 secs
3. Chris Vermeulen AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 1min 51.536 secs
4. Kenny Roberts USA Team Roberts (M) 1min 51.567 secs
5. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 1min 51.736 secs
6. Carlos Checa SPA Honda LCR (M) 1min 51.827 secs
7. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team (M) 1min 51.899 secs
8. Alex Barros BRA Pramac d'Antin MotoGP (B) 1min 52.129 secs
9. Toni Elias SPA Gresini Honda (B) 1min 52.198 secs
10. Shinya Nakano JPN Konica Minolta Honda (M) 1min 52.212 secs
11. Nicky Hayden USA Repsol Honda Team (M) 1min 52.637 secs
12. Marco Melandri ITA Gresini Honda (B) 1min 52.842 secs
13. Alex Hofmann GER Pramac d'Antin MotoGP (B) 1min 52.904 secs
14. Colin Edwards USA Fiat Yamaha Team (M) 1min 53.104 secs
15. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team (M) 1min 53.240 secs
16. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Dunlop Tech 3 Yamaha (D) 1min 55.992 secs
17. Makoto Tamada JPN Dunlop Tech 3 Yamaha (D) 1min 57.917 secs
18. Kousuke Akiyoshi JPN Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 1min 58.635 secs
19. Vittoriano Guareschi ITA Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 2min 0.291 secs
Never mind Olivier.
Crash.net said:
The Kawasaki Racing Team is seeking answers fro Olivier Jacque after the former 250cc world champion, promoted from test to race rider for the 2007 season, effectively finished last in Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix. The Frenchman qualified 16th, but had slipped to 19th and last by lap 12 of 27. OJ was only relieved of finishing in that position when Suzuki's John Hopkins rejoined behind him after falling from fourth. Jacque eventually crossed the line 18th, five places and 35 seconds behind team-mate Randy de Puniet - and some ten seconds behind 17th placed Suzuki wild-card Kousuke Akiyoshi.
"We need to sit down with [Jacque] and find out why he wasn't able to match Randy's lap times today," said Kawasaki competition manager Michael Bartholemy. "Kawasaki isn't here to finish so close to the back of the field, so if there is a problem then we need to find a solution."
This afternoon at a wet Jerez.
Crash.net said:
1. Olivier Jacque FRA Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 1min 51.422 secs
2. Randy de Puniet FRA Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 1min 51.502 secs
3. Chris Vermeulen AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 1min 51.536 secs
4. Kenny Roberts USA Team Roberts (M) 1min 51.567 secs
5. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 1min 51.736 secs
6. Carlos Checa SPA Honda LCR (M) 1min 51.827 secs
7. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team (M) 1min 51.899 secs
8. Alex Barros BRA Pramac d'Antin MotoGP (B) 1min 52.129 secs
9. Toni Elias SPA Gresini Honda (B) 1min 52.198 secs
10. Shinya Nakano JPN Konica Minolta Honda (M) 1min 52.212 secs
11. Nicky Hayden USA Repsol Honda Team (M) 1min 52.637 secs
12. Marco Melandri ITA Gresini Honda (B) 1min 52.842 secs
13. Alex Hofmann GER Pramac d'Antin MotoGP (B) 1min 52.904 secs
14. Colin Edwards USA Fiat Yamaha Team (M) 1min 53.104 secs
15. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team (M) 1min 53.240 secs
16. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Dunlop Tech 3 Yamaha (D) 1min 55.992 secs
17. Makoto Tamada JPN Dunlop Tech 3 Yamaha (D) 1min 57.917 secs
18. Kousuke Akiyoshi JPN Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 1min 58.635 secs
19. Vittoriano Guareschi ITA Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 2min 0.291 secs
Never mind Olivier.
Olivier's always been a bit of a demon in the wet, remember his ride in the Chinese GP the year before last? Damn near took the win he did... To be perfectly honest I clean forgot he even raced on Sunday, never saw him on the telly and the commentators never mentioned him!
Edited by runnersp on Tuesday 27th March 08:38
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