de Puniet: I want Suzuki MotoGP ride -or- The Great Suzuki Is Out Merged Threadfest

[SpeedLimit?]

Rizla Suzuki team manager Paul Denning was 'very impressed' with the performance of Randy de Puniet on his last-minute GSV-R debut at the Valencia test.

The former Pramac Ducati rider stepped in at short notice to ride Alvaro Bautista's 800cc bike during the first day of the test - and set the fourth fastest lap out of the 16 riders.

de Puniet was beaten only by the factory 1000cc bikes of Dani Pedrosa (Honda), Casey Stoner (Honda) and Ben Spies (Yamaha).

“One hour before I rode the bike I didn't know I was going to be on it, so I had to modify old leathers to remove the wrong brands!" revealed de Puniet. "I had a good day and am very happy with the lap-time and position."

With Alvaro Bautista having left Suzuki for Honda Gresini, de Puniet did an excellent job of putting himself in contention for a 2012 race seat - providing the factory decides to stay in MotoGP.

"I was very impressed with the bike and I felt comfortable immediately and enjoyed it a lot. I would like to ride it next year, I'm not the boss, but I hope I did a good job for everybody!" said de Puniet.

"I think the bike has good potential and also the feeling with everybody in the team was good and this is the most important thing for me - to feel at home."

Team manager Paul Denning, who is still waiting to hear if Suzuki will continue in grand prix, was eager to hear de Puniet's views on the GSV-R and admitted he was 'very impressed' by the Frenchman's performance.

“We took this opportunity today to test with Randy because the bike has changed quite a lot over the year, and with John's bad luck in Brno and Malaysia we didn't get the chance to get the further feedback from a rider other than Álvaro," said Denning.

"With that in mind it was an opportunity to properly test the 2012 Bridgestone tyres and receive detailed comments on the Rizla Suzuki GSV-R from another perspective.

"Frankly speaking we didn't expect the result, but we are really pleased to see that Randy enjoyed the bike so much, was able to get a good feeling immediately and was very fast and consistent, as well as giving excellent technical feedback.

"I would like to say thank-you to him - I was very impressed with what he did today.”

Suzuki did not test on the second and final day, when Bautista made his Gresini debut on the 800cc RC212V. Bautista's best lap was 0.270sec slower than de Puniet's day one time.

If Suzuki remains in MotoGP it is expected to start next year using the 800cc bike.

SOURCE:de Puniet: I want Suzuki MotoGP ride | MotoGP News | Nov 2011 | Crash.Net

[Chuckracer]

Why is RdP committing suicide?

[flyhack72]

No career suicide here. He loves the Suzuki because it has training wheels installed on it to keep him from crashing.

If you look closely enough you can see them...

[rcrob]

Originally Posted by Chuckracer

Why is RdP committing suicide?

No other choice...

[jerry5]

How do I know that the Ducati is a POS? When one of their riders gets on a Suzuki and says I want it!

Jerry
04 ST4s

[latte committee]

Originally Posted by rcrob

No other choice...

That's the problem with you
Casey Stoner / Repsol Honda Lovers

You have such a blinkered view of the world that you can't see any point of view other than that of your seemingly INVINCIBLE HERO


Other riders and manufacturers have "SOME" good and valid reasons for what they do, but all you (and others like you) can see is
# 27 with the AUSSIE FLAG

[w0mb2t]

what else you got in the vault ?

[DucmanST3]

so Friday is........... well ....over and Suzuki has yet to say if they are staying or not.............

and for the Stoner haters Lorenzo finished ahead of the other 2 dominant Hondas and (yes I know the titanium dwarf got crashed) finished the 800 era with 2 titles and most wins.

[DucmanST3]

ok
Suzuki’s MotoGP future will be decided by the end of June after bosses held crunch talks in Japan recently.

MotoGP boss Paul Denning made a whirlwind one-day visit to the Hamamatsu factory prior to the recent Estoril MotoGP round to discuss Suzuki’s participation in the new 1000cc class next season.

or
In regards to the rider line-up, speculation has lead to discussions that John Hopkins’ wild cards this season could see the American return and join Alvaro Bautista, should the Spaniard renew his contact – his two-year deal expires at the end of this season - for 2012.

but no

But Suzuki's continued stalling may force Hopkins to look elsewhere. LCR Honda have also shown an interest, but Hopkins faces stiff competition from their ex-rider Randy de Puniet and present Suzuki MotoGP star Alvaro Bautista, also trying not to get left out of a ride by the factory's indecision over next season.

huh
typical of Japanese management, which relies on the often glacial pace of consensus to reach decisions.

and then

On Tuesday morning, Suzuki's Paul Denning was resigned to losing Bautista but said the Spanish rider would definitely do some last bits of testing for them that day, as he was contracted to do.

Three hours later, however, Randy de Puniet was furiously tearing Pramac sponsor badges off his leathers in order to get on with three hours of testing on the Suzuki GSV-R.

but

the fact their stalling means starting the year with 800s.

[DucmanST3]

Friday of which month were Suzuki going to commit. Perhaps waiting for Hopper to recover.