Wet, wet, wet in Jerez

The opening morning of the final IRTA test in Jerez has been dominated by soaking wet conditions that have seen none of the full-time MotoGP riders out on track in the first two hours.

Only Ducati test rider Vittariano Guareschi and Kousuke Akiyoshi on the Suzuki GSV-R and Olivier Jacque on his Kawasaki ZX-RR have been brave enough to take to the Spanish circuit under grey and gloomy skies.

Guareschi completed 10 laps with a best time of 2.00.506.

The forecast for the final session of the long winter testing campaign isn’t for much improvement in the weather, though tomorrow (Saturday) is expected to be dry.

Sunday is when riders will take part in a special 40-minute qualifying session for the right to win a BMW, and the forecast is for rain again.

Last season when the BMW was won by Colin Edwards in Barcelona, several riders crashed in the wet causing an estimated £500,000 damage to MotoGP bikes in pursuit of a £30,000 car.