By Peter McLarenDouble 250cc World Championship runner-up, Andrea Dovizioso, delivered a very promising performance during the Sepang test - finishing fourth fastest and almost one second clear of the next best MotoGP rookie.
The Italian, riding for the newly restructured JIR Team Scot outfit, held fourth position out of the ten grand prix riders over all three days - and concluded his second outing on an RC212V just 0.3secs behind the best race tyre lap, set by Colin Edwards.
"We are very satisfied with these three days," team director Gianluca Montiron told
Crash.net. "For sure, Andrea has to do more kilometres and understand the characteristics of a four-stroke MotoGP bike more, but the lap time is good - and when the lap time is good it is always a positive test!"
Dovizioso has adapted extremely well to the electronic assistance provided by his RC212V during the middle and exit of a corner, but - like former 250 rival Jorge Lorenzo - is yet to get comfortable with the amount of engine-braking generated by a four-stroke.
"Andrea says he needs to adapt to the engine braking entering the corner - at the moment his braking point is a bit early," confirmed Montiron. "So he has to understand how he can improve this. But during the middle and exit of the corner he is quick, like on a 250, because the electronic system supports that kind of riding style. This is positive for him."
Montiron's only goal for the remaining 2007 test, at Jerez from November 27-29, is for Dovizioso to further understand the existing machine - before riding the '08 at Sepang in January.
"Sepang is one of Andrea's favourite circuits, so at Jerez we will evaluate the good feeling we found here, at a different track and with different weather conditions," he said. "Next year we will have a new machine and everything will change.
"For this reason it's good to complete three tests before the winter break, as Andrea can understand the character of the 2007 machine and then compare it with the 2008, which I think will be quite different."
2008 will see four star rookies entering the premier-class, but Dovizioso was a substantial 0.8secs quicker than next best newcomer Lorenzo, on race tyres, at Sepang.
"My wish, and target, is for Andrea to be the top rookie next year, but I don't want to put too much pressure on him," said Montiron. "However, I think that is a realistic goal."
