http://www.motogp.com/en/motogp/moto...id=3&section=1
the 2008 RC212V-- features V4 engine with pneumatic valve springs, along with all new chassis to enhance the handling characteristcs. Even Honda is going to try the V4, no wonder Vale was pushing Yamaha on this too!!! What would happen if all the manufacturers are using V4 engine with pneumatic, except Yamaha? Are they still proud of preserve the tradition? Hmm... hopefully Yamaha is right about this decision =D

The Italian has been rewarded for his loyalty to
Honda

in the quarter-litre class, where he has finished second to Aprilia's Jorge Lorenzo for the past two seasons, with a
MotoGP

ride for 2008 - and Team Scot has merged with JiR to help make it happen.

'Dovi' and JiR Team Scot thus completed their first 48 laps at Valencia on Tuesday afternoon, where the 21-year-old set the 14th fastest lap time - 2.4secs behind MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner - but claimed his only difficultly was getting used to the engine braking.

"I found the RC212V easier to ride than my 250, the electronics control things very well," declared the Italian. "The power is good but there's not too much like the older 990cc bike, which I tried back in 2004.

People ask about the difference between the 250 and the 800. The biggest thing is the completely different way the power comes in: with the 250 the power is high in the rev-range, with the 800 there is power everywhere. ( I still prefer the 900cc )

"The electronics make a big difference. On every corner I can fully open the throttle and the traction control handles it – even on a bike with more than 100bhp more than my 250! If I did that on a 250 I would go flying in the air and it would hurt!" he smiled. (a flying Jumbo on Honda!!)

"I think that the electronics can be both good and bad, as sometimes I would like a bike that I could powerslide and perhaps one that would be a little more difficult to ride. The only difficulty I had today was coping with the engine braking system, the feeling is so much different to my 250cc two-stroke.

"Maybe tomorrow we will see if we start to change things. This is the start of a new adventure for me and I'm looking forward to the challenge of taking on the world's best riders in MotoGP next year," he concluded.( Keep it up the good work, Dovi!! )

"Today is the first day with a new machine for Andrea and it was quite positive I think," declared team director Gianluca Montiron. "If we compare the times Shinya Nakano was doing on this bike on Friday – 1min 34.5secs – Andrea was doing a 1min 34.7secs after just half a day on the bike, which is very impressive. What was also very positive today were his clear comments and feedback about the machine and how he felt on it. This is of vital importance to our team and to our partners such as Michelin and HRC."

Here some pics of testing



BAAAAAAAAH I realy don't like the new RCV



Jorge looks like he's feeling good whit the yam




Yeah I like this helmet!!

It would be very interesting what the guys from 250cc can mean in MotoGP!
And what can bridgestone do for vale! Yamaha have hard work to do this winter!!

I just read in AMCN magazine that Yamaha and Kawasaki need to start looking to the future and build a V4 like the other 3 and also have the pneumatic values. Its rediculess to think that they can't work towards this technology or are they that ignorant?

Has anybody got some news on Vale and is he going to test here?

I think hes getting his hand fixed before riding again

I think he will be back in three weeks, at Jerez, to test the Bridgestone tyres !! That should be really exciting for him ...

Yup, he said he will next be testing in Jerez as Michelin will not allow him to test before then and also it gives time for his hand to heal. Thankfully this means he will get a reasonable rest from riding for a few weeks.

It's a good thing that he has time to rest and to do other things than riding ... the season was so difficult, he must be very very tired, physically and mentally !!

Casey Stoner has been the quickest in all of the practices - is anyone else slightly annoyed/worried by this?? Is he just unstoppable on that bike?? Is his bike actually legal? lol