Pitt sees positives

Despite a torrid Qatar test well off the pace of the front men, Ilmor rider Andrew Pitt says the bike is showing real strengths for when the engine management issue is cured.

The Aussie told MCN: “We’ve got the engine braking set-up not too bad and the new swingarm pivot helped keep the rear more stable. But they are little things that you grab a few tenths here and there with. Overall the exit of the corner is still the issue.

“We have improved the bike getting into the turn and we can brake as late as anyone now and get in as quick as anybody else. But picking up the throttle and trying to get a smooth connection and trying to manage the power on the exit is still the hard part, as is trying to keep the front wheel down while accelerating.

“After Malaysia we put some torque and power back in the engine and it was definitely harder to handle. It accelerates better but it just wheelies. We made some progress keeping the front down but the way the power comes in once it gets around peak power is still a little bit unmanageable. 

“The Qatar circuit helps us because there are not so many slow corners to accelerate from. You can keep the rpm up because the powerband is in such a short area and you can keep it up in the high rpm it’s a lot better.”