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18th March 2009 |
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Phase One Albacete Test – YART Valencia Test New R1: “Vastly different from last years bike...” Two of the teams who will be fighting for the 2009 Endurance FIM World Championship have recently completed tests at Spanish circuits. Yamaha Phase One Endurance were at Albacete, while Yamaha Austria were at Valencia. Both teams were testing the new cross-plane crankshaft “Long Bang” Yamaha YZF-R1 for the first time. Yamaha Austria Yamaha Austria attended the official Michelin tyre test at Valencia with riders Igor Jerman, Steve Martin and Gwen Giabbani. The first sessions were held in cold and wet conditions but despite this all three riders were impressed by the bike's easy handling and very strong engine performance. 
Giabbanni heads out on the track while Jerman and Martin look on
The following day was dry, and lap times tumbled. The new Michelin tyres gave great feedback and wear resistance, perfect for endurance. All three riders described the Michelin wets as a revelation, allowing them to make full use of all the track sessions without any mishaps or slides. After the test the YART team declared themselves happy with their decision to switch to Michelin for 2009. Yamaha Phase One Phase One took riders Damian Cudlin, Pedro Valcaneras and Alex Cudlin to Albacete. The team tested a variety of Dunlop tyres, ultimately lapping under the World Endurance lap record set by Kawasaki France in 2007. Damian Cudlin: “I was really excited to ride this new R1, and after finally getting a go of it, the boys couldn’t wipe the smile off my face! It’s vastly different from last years bike, but it’s the best Superbike I’ve ever ridden and it’s going to make a great Endurance machine. I can’t wait to go racing on this thing. It’s awesome. We tested a lot of tyres for Dunlop and I was really pleased with the ones we chose for Le Mans. We just wanted data on race tyres- I didn’t even bother with a qualifier. These tyres work well with this bike and I’m confident this combination is going to be tough to beat this year.” 
Damian Cudlin in action at Albacete
Alex Cudlin: “For me it was very important to have this test with Phase One. For the past three years I have been on a different bike with a different team, and have been riding on a different brand of tyres. It was great to start afresh with this team. They have the right combination of bike, tyres, riders, mechanics and back up. It feels like a brand new chapter in my career. The new team and I worked well together from the first day and I feel like I'm already part of the Phase One family. With the progress that was made during the test I'm confident of a successful 24 hour race with the Phase One Yamaha Team – I can’t wait to get out there and show what I can do as part of this team. There is a lot more speed to come yet and I feel I made the right progression throughout the weekend. This is a great opportunity to work with a world class crew and I feel very privileged to do so” The Phase One Yamaha team will now be working hard from their base in England, to further develop the new Yamaha R1 and prepare a 2nd bike before the first round in a months time. With the 2009 Yamaha R1 having major changes in the chassis and engine department, initial testing at its first stage of development was very positive and it is believed to be the bike to beat in 2009. www.DamianCudlin.com
Left to right; Cudlin D, Valcaneras, Cudlin A Got some World Endurance news? send it to info@redleg.co.uk |
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