MOTOGP » Interwetten boss issues Rossi test rider challenge

27 June 2010
Interwetten boss issues Rossi test rider challenge
Interwetten Honda boss Daniel Epp has challenged his replacement rider Kousuke Akiyoshi to beat fellow Japanese tester Wataru Yoshikawa in next weekend's Catalan Grand Prix.

HRC test rider Akiyoshi has been drafted into the satellite RCV team for Assen and Catalunya following Hiroshi Aoyama's back injury.

Akiyoshi unsurprisingly qualified and finished 15th and last during the Dutch TT weekend, with his best race lap 3.5sec from the best by factory Honda rider Dani Pedrosa.

But Epp feels comparing 35-year-old Akiyoshi to the grand prix regulars is a little unfair, and is instead 'curious' to see if Akiyoshi can beat 41-year-old Yoshikawa - who will ride in place of injured world champion Valentino Rossi for Fiat Yamaha - at Barcelona.

"You can see from the result of Kousuke that the level of the MotoGP riders is very high,” began Epp. “Kousuke improved step by step during this weekend and he did all he could do. He had never been to this track before.

“[But] Barcelona he knows and in Barcelona there will also be a second test rider, as the replacement for Valentino Rossi, and I am looking forward to seeing the battle between the two test riders.

“I am curious to see who will win this battle,” he declared.

Although Aoyama is almost certain to miss the following German and US Grands Prix, Akiyoshi is not thought likely to continue with Interwetten beyond Barcelona.

Tagged as: Assen , Dani Pedrosa , Valentino Rossi , Catalunya , Fiat Yamaha , Hiroshi Aoyama
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Akiyoshi, Dutch MotoGP 2010

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Pete - Unregistered

June 27, 2010 12:18 PM

And the point of this is ? :?

Akiyoshi got lapped yesterday,not something you see very often in a 45 minute MotoGP race.Having 2 test riders chugging around right at the back having their own private little race is hardly what the sport needs right now.

Kiyo Rulz - Unregistered

June 27, 2010 12:52 PM

Person above: It's only in the last few years that it has been uncommon to see riders lapped in the race. In 2005 with Battaini and in 2006 with Cardoso, lapping was more common. It is due to the strength of the whole of the grid now that lapping is uncommon. Neither Yoshikawa nor Akiyoshi are bad, in a WSBK race both would probably be able to keep up with some of the regulars. I look for to the duel of the test riders at Catalunya.


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