Factory teams remain in France for testing

Following the fifth round of the 2008 World Championship this weekend most of the premier class factory riders will be testing in France on Monday as they seek to gain or maintain competitiveness ahead of the forthcoming intense series of European rounds.

Injured young Spanish star Jorge Lorenzo is not expected to be in attendance on Monday after his amazing second place at the Alice Grand Prix de France, but his victorious Fiat Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi is scheduled to attend, alongside the regular Ducati Marlboro, Kawasaki, Repsol Honda and Rizla Suzuki riders.

Kawasaki´s MotoGP duo John Hopkins and Anthony West will be testing new chassis and swingarm developments in order to resolve traction problem they have been suffering and will hope to find solutions after another disappointing weekend. Longer term `Team Green´ hope the `screamer´ engine Olivier Jacque will be testing on Monday and Tuesday will show improvements as its evolution continues this year.

San Carlo Honda Gresini´s Bridgestone-equipped riders Shinya Nakano and Alex de Angelis are due to test on Monday, whereas a number of Michelin riders are pencilled in for tyre testing with the French firm on Tuesday and Wednesday at Clermont-Ferrand,

Meanwhile, Rossi, Nicky Hayden, Casey Stoner and Marco Melandri are expected to be the only MotoGP riders staying at Le Mans for a second day of testing on Tuesday, with full details of both days´ experimentations to be provided on motogp.com over the next 48 hours.