After a long winter break started last November at the end of Comunitat Valenciana GP and after the last successful operation of the left ankle in December, the LCR Honda MotoGP racer Randy De Puniet is ready to return to action for the first test session at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia next week.
The Frenchman and his premier class colleagues will “taste” the Malaysian asphalt for two days (4/5 February) aboard their new bikes in preparation for the forthcoming season. Randy, who will turn 29 on the 14th of February, is eager to get on the new bike as his team were recently at Honda Racing’s workshop in Tokyo to work on the 2010 version of the RC212V.
You will turn 29 in two weeks time: any special present for your bday?
Randy: “Well… I am very excited to test the new bike. That’s a very special present for me. My team was in Japan last week to work on the new RC212V and I spoke with my crew chief. He told me that it will be closer to the factory prototype so I can’t wait to ride it. Then, between the two Malaysian test sessions, I will join one friend in Australia with my girlfriend. We will celebrate my birthday there”.
This year is your 12th year in the MotoGP field. What’s your feeling?
Randy: “It’s a long career but I still feel very young! I rode my first world GP in 1998 and the year after I began my career in the MotoGP championship. Honestly the first year season was not easy but I always knew that my father was behind me. He passed me the passion for this sport as he was a racer too. Sometimes I feel surprised about the time I have spent on the bike all around the world but I hope to stay in MotoGP for a long time...”
What’s your TO DO list for Sepang test session?
Randy: “Some of my colleagues already tried the new bikes in Valencia last year and I used the old one. Now it’s my turn to test it and I am really curious. We have much to do as the testing days have been reduced so we will work hard to find the right setting quickly. Then we are going to proceed with a race simulation and some flying laps to check my average speed”.