Repsol YPF
Ruta
More time for physical preparation
The 2009 pre-season will be longer than normal, something that is in direct conflict with the fewer number of official tests that are allowed before next April when the World Championship will be under starter`s orders. This decision, according to some riders, may favour more exciting races and give them more time to spend on their physical preparation, something that will be noticed from the very first race.
The riders and teams will have half the amount of time on the tracks that they had in last year`s pre-season. There will be a total of 12 days of testing before the 2009 season, compared to the 23 back in 2008, over a total number of five test sessions (last season there were seven) during the almost six month long close season. This measure will bring a respite for the teams` budgets and at the same time will give the riders more time to rest and work on their physical preparation.
This may proove crucial at the beginning of the season as the difference between riders will be more visible in the first race. Up to this year all the riders started with the same physical preparation, but with fewer training sessions the ability of the mechanics and the riders themselves will count for more.
The pre-season got under way in Valencia just one day after the end of the 2008 season. There were two sessions at the same circuit as the race, the Ricardo Tormo. The next test session is also in Spain, at the circuit of Jerez, in November (26th-27th). Afterwards the teams will not be out on the tracks until 2009.
11/17/2008
Latest news
> Pedrosa now thinking about 2009
> The longest pre-season
