Proton V5 to join MotoGP tests

Proton Team KR will join the big guns for shakedown tests of its V5 at Valencia in Spain this weekend.

The March 6-7 tests bring together HRC, Ducati, Suzuki and Kawasaki, too. Valentino Rossi and the Yamaha team won’t be there. They are testing next week at Phillip Island, Australia. Their three-day test starts on March 9.

Proton riders Kurtis Roberts and Nobu Aoki are hoping to have the 2004 version of the Proton V5 machine available for the Valencia test.

Suzuki’s John Hopkins is expected to return after missing the past two tests through injury.

Suzuki British Superbike riders will also be there. See our British Superbikes section for details.