Doohan Tests Honda V-5!

DOOHAN TESTS HONDA V-5!

Five-time 500cc World Champion Mick Doohan, who retired from racing following a catastrophic crash during practice for the '99 Spanish Grand Prix, is back in the saddle again-and not on just any bike. The Australian, now employed as manager of Honda's racing division, sampled the Japanese manufacturer's new V-Five RC211V during a break in qualifying for August's Suzuka 8-Hours in Japan. "It's definitely a GP bike," Doohan said following five admittedly off-the-pace laps. "The power is good and rideable. It's rigid and much smaller than a Superbike. In fact, it even looks smaller than a 500." No

surpnse, Doohan delieves four-strokes will be good for GPs. "I'm very positive about the outlook of the series," he said. "The technological side of our sport has gone by the wayside for the last 10 years. This adds a bit of spark."

Matthew Miles