| Harris WCM set for first shakedown
test next week |
With just under two months remaining until the 2003 season kicks
off in Suzuka, the Harris WCM team is rapidly bringing its brand
new prototype machine to the testing stage. Christophe Bourgignon,
one of WCM´s crew chiefs revealed exclusively to motograndprix.com
today that by as soon as next week the four-stroke racer could be
out having its initial tests in the UK.
`The first test engine is currently running on the dyno, and the
first full spec engine is well on its way to being finished´,
said Bourgignon, who last year took care of Garry McCoy´s
Yamaha effort. `Meanwhile the first prototype chassis is due to
be finished by the end of this week, meaning that hopefully the
bike will be able to get out for its first test by Friday next week´.
The Belgian crew chief is currently working hard on the MotoGP
project at the team's new headquarters in Belgium and added, `At
first we will be running the bike on an old airfield in England
for its initial shakedown, and assuming everything goes to plan
we should be able to test at a track elsewhere in the UK during
the following week´.
So as to clear up any confusion about the legitimacy of the machine
as a prototype, Bourgignon added, `While there was a lot of talk
about us using a Yamaha R1 or similar, the fact is that we took
our inspiration and ideas from there, and that the entire bike including
the engine will be made by the Harris WCM team´.
The team is also scheduled to test with its two new riders Ralf
Waldmann and Chris Burns at Valencia on 6-8 March, four days later
in Barcelona alongside Suzuki, and then also at the official IRTA
test at the Catalunya circuit on 15th and 16th of next month. |
