Jezza explains problems

Engine management remains the new Ilmor 800’s biggest Achilles heel according to Jeremy McWilliams, following a tough Qatar test this week.

The Ulsterman, who trailed last in the timesheets after coming back from a broken leg, said: “We get a peak of power in the corner and a wee surprise just because of the way the engine reacts to the throttle input. That’s where we are struggling. Our difficulty is still trying to accelerate out of certain turns and keep the front wheel on the floor, and trying to control the bike from the middle of the turn to the exit. 

“All the work on the chassis isn’t going to find us the time that we need to make up. It’s just getting all this power to the ground is really what we are working on at the moment.

“On a MotoGP bike corner entry has got to be dead smooth with no surprises and the bike has to flow in, keep its line with nothing going on – you just want a nice clean sweep into the turn. 

“From the middle of the turn to the exit the engine has got to be sedate and lazy in the middle of the turn and the exit where it starts to make power again you don’t need peaks or holes in the power curve. 

“That’s what throttle control and power management is all about, trying to make that whole transition from the turn into the corner and on the gas as sweet as possible. It is a pretty f**king big task. We’ve got bags of power and we are as fast on the straight as anything out there, but MotoGP is not all about speed.”