Barros : “happy with the work done”

From www.superbikeplanet.com

The Pramac d'Antin MotoGP team ended the three day test in Australia in a positive way.

The Team is decidedly satisfied about the work done and very confident they are progressing in the right direction for the Ducati GP development.

Alex Barros, after recording the best time at the end of the first and second days testing, focused himself on testing the Bridgestone tyres, totaling 47 laps in 1'30.410. Alex Hofmann, tried qualifying tyres for the first time, making a good time of 1'30.210 that confirmed the fifth satisfactory time, completed yesterday.

The race simulation of both the riders, showed consistent performance and confirmed the excellent italo-spain Team moment. The next test will take place in Qatar on Losail circuit, from the 13 to 15 February.

Alex Barros (1'30.410 – 47 laps): “Today we used only Bridgestone race tyres, having tried yesterday the qualifying round, making a good time of 1'30.010; a performance that reveal a high level of improvement if compared with others rider times, today obtained with soft tyres. Having already individualized a good general bike set-up, we focused in one race simulation with satisfying results. I'm very happy about the work done, my Team and the obtained results. I have to Thank Ducati for the material at my disposition.”

Alex Hofmann (1'30.210 – 53 laps): “Still Today we made good work, I'm very satisfied; I have the right feeling with the Team and all the technical package at my disposition. We have made further set-up refinements, with the identified base was good.

Today I tried qualifying tyres, but I haven't pushed at maximum because was my first time. The race set-up is consistent and make us confident. I'm very satisfied with my Team to prepare within 1 hour if possible to prepare for the next test in Qatar where I want re-confirm our fast and with consistent rhythm”

Luis d'Antin – Team Principal: “We are very satisfied with this three days testing. The Team have worked well and we believe with confidence for the next test and season 2007. Ducati realize this is an excellent project with the GP7; one of our principal focus's is continue to support the Company from Borgo Panigale as well as we can and reach important results. We have to continue to work in this direction”.

d'Antin Pramac



Good job from Alex! :D

Gi

Thanks Gi

I love Alex, so glad he's back in Moto

I also liked Alex until I saw the clip of his giving Vale the finger....my liking for him disappeared totally after seeing that!

He did what?! When did that happen?:confused: I like Barros, never knew he gave Vale the finger...

It was after a race Vale won (it could have been Qatar, but not sure so don't quote me on it) it did happen though, someone posted up a clip of it on the 'other forum' ...... all the riders were congratulating Vale for the race win and Alex tapped Vale on the arm, when Vale looked Alex gave him the finger then rode off........that was the day I lost my respect for Barros....before that I really did like Alex & wouldn't have anything bad said about him.....now, I don't care! I don't hate him or anything....more like a take him or leave him kind of thing.

sore loser

Thanks for the info Angela!

I didn't know this... Alex giving Vale the finger! ... No more respect for him by now!!!!! No way!... And I thought he was a good guy... ...

Gi

Barros bows out.
Thursday, 1st November 2007

Alex Barros won't race in MotoGP next year and will probably bring his 21-year world championship career to a close rather than have a second stab at WSBK.

Having lost his Pramac d'Antin seat for 2008, MotoGP veteran Barros admits it's now '90%' certain that he'll retire.

Barros has been here before - at the end of 2005 he was also without a MotoGP seat, despite winning a race, but was able to revive his career by switching to the World Superbike championship. Alex went on to become Brazil's first ever WSBK race winner and, despite several leading Superbike offers, secured a MotoGP return for 2007.

The 37-year-old, who lied about his age to make his grand prix debut as a 15-year-old in the 1986 80cc World championship, scored his 32nd podium position with third place in this year's Italian Grand Prix, but has been unable to repeat the performance since and d'Antin will run an all-new line-up of Toni Elias and Sylvain Guintoli next season.

Barros, who has started a staggering 275 grands prix, is thus left with limited options - only Team Roberts is still to announce its 2008 MotoGP rider line-up, while the leading WSBK seats are also occupied, although PSG-1 Kawasaki remains a possibility should Barros be convinced to race on.

"It's not 100 per cent that I'll stop racing, but it's 90 per cent," said Alex, who took the first of his seven premier-class victories in 1993. "Some people are still pushing for me in Superbike but I'm not fully convinced. I need to believe I can fight for wins and I'm 37 now, so when I crash it hurts a lot!

"I'm really happy with my career. I never believed I could race for 21 years in the world championship. I tried to win a world championship, I couldn't, but I'm really grateful for my career and everything motorcycle racing has given me. It's been such a pleasure. Some moments have been difficult, but life is like that. I'm just grateful to everybody who have believed in me and given me the chance to race for so long.


"There have been so many good races for me over the years, in 80cc and 250cc as well as the premier-class," reflected the easygoing #4. "Finishing second on the 500 in Holland, during the first year of MotoGP, right behind Valentino [Rossi, riding a 990] was really special for me, or finishing on the podium with the twin cylinder at Donington - I could go on for a long time!

"This is the world championship, and time passes, so I don't feel sad. I feel happy. It's really important to finish your career in good shape and I can do different things now. I have so many plans," he concluded.



Gi