Álvaro Bautista made his MotoGP entrance onboard a Rizla Suzuki GSV-R at a cool and windy Valencia in Spain this afternoon.

Bautista has made the step-up from the 250cc class and performed well on his first ride on a four-stroke MotoGP machine. He completed 52 laps of the 4,005 Ricardo Tormo circuit as he familiarised himself with the difference in performance between the 800cc bike and his previous ride in the quarter-litre class, finishing the day with a very impressive lap-time of 1’35.772.

Rizla Suzuki has a full day of testing at Valencia tomorrow and another half-day on Wednesday morning, when both riders will continue with their respective test schedules to get the maximum preparation under their belts in readiness for the 2010 season.

Tom O’Kane – Crew Chief, Álvaro Bautista:
“I would firstly like to welcome Álvaro to the team and the whole crew is looking forward to working with him. I have been very impressed by the way he took to the bike today and his feedback has been excellent considering it is his first time on a MotoGP machine. His times are also very pleasing, but that is not the important thing right now. We need to get him familiarised with the bike and then we can start making adjustments and improvements that will help him to improve on his times. He has already gelled with the team and he looks like being a big asset to Suzuki.”

Paul Denning – Team Manager:
“The conditions today have been very similar to yesterday’s Grand Prix, which was a good thing because it has helped us compare things in particular areas where we have struggled. The new cowling design that Loris tested was not a fundamental fix, but it has certainly helped his confidence. Although the ultimate lap-time isn’t important the biggest benefit has been that his consistency and rhythm has improved a great deal. Along with some other detailed test items it has been a productive afternoon for Loris and small first step towards improving our level in 2010.

“We have been delighted to see Álvaro riding the bike today – as well as him smiling a lot and basically enjoying himself. He has never ridden a four-stroke motorcycle before – let alone a MotoGP machine – so to make a lap-time in the 1’35s within 50 laps of riding the GSV-R is very encouraging. He is already starting to feel a part of the bike and the team. Overall from both sides it has been a good first day of the test, so let’s hope we can continue upwards tomorrow.

“A quick ‘thank-you’ is also due to our new technical partner Akrapovic, who are working so hard to help us and already in the first test with their systems we have found a good step forward in power delivery.”

Alvaro Bautista kicked off his career in the MotoGP class today in the test sessions at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo at Valencia, and AlvaroBautista.co.uk was there to see the milestone and to bring you some exclusive pics and reports.

It was possibly even windier than it had been throughout the GP weekend, and Alvaro admitted to us on his arrival at the track that he was feeling a little bit nervous.
Nonetheless, despite the blustery winds, he took the bike out shortly after One and throughout the afternoon he completed 52 laps, finishing the day with a very impressive lap-time of 1’35.772, followed by a debrief in the box where all – including him – seemed very happy with the first day’s work.

As a member of the Rizla Suzuki Team explained, the core purpose on Day One was to get him out on the bike and to start to get used to it, and to be happy with it. And he certainly did seem to be happy with it.
He said that he thoroughly enjoyed the first day a lot, and although the bike was very powerful and it took some getting used to how to control it – and to control the movement on the many big curves that Valencia presents – he was very happy indeed.

Another happy man was Team Manager Paul Denning, who said:
“We have been delighted to see Alvaro riding the bike today – as well as him smiling a lot and basically enjoying himself. He has never ridden a four-stroke motorcycle before – let alone a MotoGP machine – so to make a lap-time in the 1’35s within 50 laps of riding the GSV-R is very encouraging. He is already starting to feel a part of the bike and the team. Overall from both sides it has been a good first day of the test, so let’s hope we can continue upwards tomorrow.”

It’s a very positive start, and there’s more testing over the next couple of days for Suzuki – with both Alvaro and Loris out on track.
And we’ll be aiming to post up more news and more picture sets to cover this milestone event for Alvaro, so keep your eyes peeled…

Photos © Copyright Michaela Genz

With the Valencian Grand Prix being celebrated only yesterday, old and new MotoGP stars were back on track again today for the first day of testing for the 2010 season in sunny, but windy conditions.

This of course included Alvaro who had his first on track encounter with his new Suzuki machine. Alvaro clocked the 15th fastest laptime overall and considering that he left two of three “real rookies” behind him and is not far away from Simoncelli who’s allegedly riding a factory-spec Honda at the moment, this first outing on the bike can surely be considered as a success.
Testing will continue tomorrow and conclude on Wednesday.

Official Laptimes, 09.11.2009

Pos Rider Team Fastest lap Laps
1 Casey Stoner Ducati Marlboro Team 1:32.660 32
2 Jorge Lorenzo Fiat Yamaha Team 1:32.685 45
3 Valentino Rossi Fiat Yamaha Team 1:32.826 37
4 Dani Pedrosa Repsol Honda Team 1:33.088 31
5 Nicky Hayden Ducati Marlboro Team 1:33.358 58
6 Ben Spies Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1:33.496 50
7 Andrea Dovicioso Repsol Honda Team 1:33.675 51
8 Mika Kallio Pramac Racing 1:33.726 52
9 Randy De Puniet LCR Honda MotoGP 1:33.775 61
10 Marco Melandri San Carlo Honda Gresini 1:33.839 59
11 Aleix Espargaro Pramac Racing 1:33.878 63
12 Colin Edwards Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1:33.929 35
13 Loris Capirossi Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1:34.144 55
14 Marco Simoncelli San Carlo Honda Gresini 1:35.229 51
15 Alvaro Bautista Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1:35.772 52
16 Hector Barbera Aspar Team 1:36.204 63
17 Hiroshi Aoyama Scot Racing Team 1:37.964 40
18 Kenny Noyes Promoracing 1:38.654 28
19 Ratthapark Wilairot Stop and Go 1:39.815 17
20 Joan Olive Promoracing 1:41.989 18