Front end Friday focus for Vermeulen

Chris Vermeulen's Rizla Suzuki team had planned out their first free practice session with military precision in Jerez, running two GSV-R machines to help their Australian colleague find his best setting. The idea seemed to work, as eighth fastest rider Vermeulen felt immediately more comfortable with the front end that had proved problematic at the MotoGP Official Test.

Chris Vermeulen -8th

"It's been good to come back to Jerez, because it's a track that we tested at not so long ago so getting up to speed was quite quick for everyone. We had the two bikes set up a little bit different to try a couple of different things geometry wise. Basically it was to help with front feeling - which I struggled a bit with at the test here - and we definitely took a step forward. We have the same compound tyres this weekend as we did at the test and at the moment they seem to be working a bit different. I think the most important thing is to make the tyres last the race distance and keep them in a reasonable condition, so that is what we are going to be working on tomorrow. Hopefully we'll be able to do that and have some good speed for qualifying and the race!"