The lap record at Mugello was completely shattered over the last few days. Casey Stoner set the lap record of 1'48.034 to claim the pole position this weekend, but the Honda rider broke that record yesterday at the final testing session of the 2011 MotoGP season. Stoner completed a 1'47.326 lap time on his 800cc RC212V, beating his pole position time by .7 seconds.
“We had a few things to test here today, a new front tire 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,” Stoner said. “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."
Andrea Dovizioso, who joined Stoner on the podium on Sunday, put in 60 laps around the Mugello track.
“It was a very good test day,” Dovizioso said. “I was very motivated from yesterday’s result so as soon as I went on track, I rode consistently at a good pace in the mid 1'48's with used hard tyres. We worked on engine braking and improved the stability and then we tested a new swing arm, which gave positive feedback.
“I think we are going to use it in Sachsenring because with the new swing arm lap times come easier even if the bike moves more in the rear. I’m still not so strong with the soft tyres, but I’m very happy with my feeling of the bike. We worked on the set up of the machine and I think we will arrive in Sachsenring with a good base that we will fine tune for the characteristics of the German track, which is very different to Mugello."
Dani Pedrosa, who was understandably sore after the race on Sunday, put in 26 laps during the test.
"It was a short but very interesting and positive test for us,” Pedrosa said. “We basically wanted to use this test to improve our suspension. Unfortunately, due to the issues with my shoulder, we decided not to test the front fork as I am not able to brake on the limit, so there is no point in trying it now. This is the modified Ohlins fork from the Estoril test, where I was also unable to test it due to injury. However, Casey and Andrea have been using it since then and it looks like it's a big step forward, so as soon as my fitness improves, I'll try to use it also as it improves the braking, perhaps I will try it in Sachsenring during the practice sessions together with a new swing arm that I also tried today but I need to complete more laps with it make a final decision. We also tested two rear shocks and got positive feedback. We have good data that we can use for the coming races to give us more edge grip and also on corner entry to reduce the sharpness when I flick the bike, two aspects I'm looking to improve. That was pretty much all we tested today."
