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Assessing the year so far from a Rizla Suzuki perspective, Paul Denning supplied his detailed analysis confirming his
hopes for better form from Loris Capirossi and Chris Vermeulen and their GSV-R engines this season.
A good pre-season,
which the Suzuki prototype seemed set for victory, has not tranferred into regular challenges with neither Capirossi nor Vermeulen
showing up on stage this season, they could do this in 2008.
The squad has not seemed to be regularly capable of
challenging with the championship leaders, despite the inconsistency of both of their competitors, Capirossi has kept things
alive with four top five results, two in the final three events, to place seventh in the rankings and take a contract
renewal next year. Vermeulen disappointingly sits 11th and is being replaced by MotoGP rookie, Álvaro Bautista, next
year.
“The performance level this year is not what we anticipated,” says Denning. “Especially
after such strong performance in the winter tests. I think our competitors improved their performance a lot since the winter
tests, when we stayed a little bit the same, so the balance of our performance was much less than what we hoped for. Suzuki
have reacted though, so the bike has improved in the last few races and we’re now fighting again in the top five quite
often. Loris is now seventh in the championship, then again it is not what we’re looking for, but at least we’re
in the top half of the championship.”
Commenting on the highlight of the year so far for Suzuki, Denning
adds, “Mugello was great. Fifth place is not great overall, but we were just three seconds off the winner and on certain
days three seconds behind the winner can mean you’re on the podium.”
On the form individually of his
two competitors Denning explains, “Loris has shown his enthusiasm, his bravery and excitement for the racing and that
really important. Technically Chris is very good but he lost his confidence at some point during the season. In Misano for
example, he was doing the same lap times as Loris but lost a lot of ground in the early laps and it’s difficult to fight
back in those conditions. Chris has been a fantastic guy for Suzuki over the last four years. He never whined, we have never
had a problem with him, he’s always been professional and did his best.”
“But sometimes, for
us and for him, a change can be for the best and I think it can be positive for both of us. We wish him a lot of luck for
the future.”
The Englishman ends, “For the last four races of the season, we have to keep pushing to
catch up with the leading group, the two factory Yamahas, Dani Pedrosa and Casey Stoner. This year the level is very high
and to catch up with them we need to take more steps forward, but we need to keep fighting and do our best."
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