The Honda TT Legends team has completed its pre-season testing at the Magny Cours circuit in view of the first round of the 2012 Endurance World Championship, which will begin the next 14th and 15th of Apri with the famous Bol D’Or 24 hours race (which will take place, as usual, on the same French circuit).
The team has successfully carried out two days of free practice that also saw all four members of its star-studded line-up riding together on the same track for the first time.
John McGuinness, Cameron Donald, Simon Andrews and Gary Johnson got the chance to develop even further their understanding of the bike, and all four declared themselves pretty happy with the outcome of the test.
In the wake of a busy winter during which the team focused on the development of the new 2012 Honda Fireblade, the Magny Cours test gave them the chance to check on the efficiency of some new components as well as providing the riders with yet another opportunity to get even more familiar with the 4.
4 km of the French track.
McGuinness, Donald and Andrews had been there before, but to Gary Johnson this was the very first experience on the track that will host the first round of the season in just three weeks time.
Besides, the nippy mornings at Magny Cours also allowed the team to try out the cold tyre compounds, a test that will be especially usefull in view of the overnight stint of the Bol d’Or, when temperatures can go down to below 5ºc.
Finally, on the afternoon of the second day, the four riders completed a successful race simulation.
Click on the ‘Continue Reading’ link below to read the comments from the riders.
John McGuinness: “It’s been good to get back together with everybody.
It’s been a couple of days of team bonding as well getting on the bike.
There have been a few positive changes since last year’s Bol d’Or and we’re heading in the right direction.
All four of us have done plenty of laps.
Last year I was a bit nervous coming to this meeting, I didn’t know the track and I’d never done a 24-hour before but I’ve got a year under my belt now and it all feels like the norm.
We’ll be back here in a couple of weeks for the race and hopefully we’ll be on it.
”Cameron Donald: “It’s great to be back with the team and get back to work after a long off season.
It really feels like a family now and we’re all optimistic about the season ahead.
We couldn’t have asked for a better first test, the sun is shining at a track we’re familiar with and we’re moving forward.
I’m excited about the race in three weeks time.
” Gary Johnson: “I’ve done some fairly decent stints on the bike and my body has held up well so I’m happy about that.
Obviously this test is nowhere near what it’s going to be like at a 24-hour race, but it’s been a good chance to get to know the track.
I’ve built my speeds up slowly and I’m getting towards the pace that I need to be on.
I’m apprehensive about the race – it’s always difficult going into something you’ve never done before but I’m really looking forward to it.
” Simon Andrews: “It’s been a good productive couple of days.
The weather has treated us well, we’ve made some good progress with the bike and it’s been nice to meet everyone in the team.
I’m feeling good on the bike, my injured leg is getting stronger.
I’ll continue with the physio and rehab between now and the race and keep doing what I’m doing as it seems to be working well.
I can’t wait to get back in three weeks and race here for the first time.
” Russell Benney (Race Manager): “We had five or six elements developed during the off-season that needed more miles and this test has allowed us to see how these will perform.
We also wanted to get the riders up to race pace based on 2011’s lap times and work on various other elements on the bike, such as the suspension and geometry, so that we are ready to go at the race meeting without making too many changes.
To that extent, we have achieved what we came here to do so we’re happy.
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