ASSEN TEST 2002

INJURY FORCES BAYLE OUT FOR BARCELONA GP AND HOFMANN GETS A DREAM RIDE
 

Frenchman, Jean-Michel Bayle who is riding for the Red Bull Yamaha Team in place of the injured Australian Garry McCoy informed Director of Racing, Peter Clifford that an injury to his left arm has forced him out of racing until after the Catalan Grand Prix.  Bayle was due to test the Yamaha YZR 500 this week at Assen, but called the team from his car on the way to the airport to say that the pain he had suffered during the race in Mugello had returned.

An MRI scan and then a visit to another specialist the next day confirmed an injury to his left bicep would need 15 days of rest, thus counting the ex motocross champion out of the next Grand Prix at Barcelona.

Bayle first reported an ache in his left arm on Saturday following the final qualifying session at the Italian GP at Mugello. He felt the arm was okay but during the race on Sunday, his arm started to pump up and now the bicep muscle has torn muscle fibres and needs rest.

Director of Racing, Peter Clifford knows that Bayle has been of tremendous assistance to the team this year and he looks forward to Bayle's quick recovery. "Jean-Michel has given our engineers and Dunlop Tyre Technicians exceptional feedback and we have benefited enormously from his extensive riding knowledge. It is unfortunate that his arm injury has interrupted his ride with us."

Clifford was happy to get something positive from the situation. "Hofmann attended one day of the two day test at Assen and he performed admirably in the windy conditions. He had a very sensible approach to riding the bike and we are very happy to give him the chance to race it. He could only do the first of our two days of testing as he had already committed to ride the factory Kawasaki at Lausitz this weekend in the Superbike Round."

Hofmann, the former 250 rider whose 12th place finish in last seasons 250cc World  Championship jumped at the opportunity to ride the Red Bull Yamaha. The young German, who celebrated his 22nd birthday only 2 weeks ago thinks this is the best birthday present he could have hoped for.

" There was no question in my mind when Peter Clifford contacted me to test the Red Bull Yamaha that I would do it. Of course I had to consider that I was riding in the Superbikes this weekend so I could only test at Assen for one day, Wednesday.

"The Yamaha YZR 500, gives you a full 500 feeling and there is so much more power than the 250.  My first bike was a Yamaha PW 50 and I won the 1993 Junior German Motocross 80cc Championship on a Yamaha and in 1997 I was second in the 125 German Championship also on a Yamaha.

"I really can't compare the Yamaha to the Proton KR machine that I tested a fortnight ago at Almeria in Spain. They are completely different machines, the Proton acts and feels completely different to the Yamaha.

"In relation to the tyres on the Yamaha though, I have raced for the last 3 years in the 250 Championship on Dunlops so I have a good feeling for the tyres.  Even though the power is very different on the 500, the feeling from the tyres is very similar.

"I am really looking forward to the race at Barcelona, the circuit at Catalunya is one of my favourite tracks so it will be good to race there on the 500.

"You know, Jean-Michel Bayle was my biggest hero when I was young and now here I am being a replacement rider for my hero."

Although it has been a year of mixed fortune for the team, the progress that the newcomer, John Hopkins is making has been more than admirable. Hopkins who only 2 weeks ago turned 19, has scored points in every round of the 2002 Season.

The young American enjoyed learning yet another new track in this, his first year competing in the MotoGP World Championship. Hopkins went well on the track and had a good 2 days, he rode 160 laps or approx. 960km during the test.

"Since we are the only team testing here at the moment on the re-modelled  Assen circuit, we have no real measure of how John or Alex went against the clock. Regardless of that, both riders had an opportunity to get to know the circuit" concluded Clifford.

 

John Hopkins

 

"I have found that any track time I can get before the race weekend helps me a lot, so I am taking every opportunity I can to learn the track in advance.

" I found this track to be different from anything else that I have ever ridden on.  It's more flowing and you have to stay smooth on it the entire way round otherwise you have wasted a lap.  

"We tested tyres and different suspension systems and also some intermediate Dunlops in the slightly damp conditions.

" I am so fortunate to have been able to come here for this test, it's been very helpful.  I was pretty happy with my times, I did a 2.03.27with the new layout.

"Tomorrow I think I will have a rest and just go for an easy jog, it's been a big 2 days. It's been so full on and I have been concentrating on my bike and my performance that I did not really have a good opportunity  to speak a lot  to Alex, but I will see him in a few days at Barcelona."
 

Alex Hofmann testing in Assen for the injured Jean-Michel Bayle