Suzuki boosted by practice alteration

Suzuki flew in winter testing but has yet to show similar speed in the races, with the team discovering that the bike works best in a narrow set-up window that it is not always possible to perfect during the short grand prix weekend sessions.

That problem was exacerbated by the removal of Friday morning practice this year and the shortening of all other sessions to 45 minutes.

The riders had called for a 45-minute Friday morning session to be reinstated, but instead the FIM has announced that the remaining two practice periods plus qualifying will be restored to their former one-hour length from Le Mans onwards, giving an extra 45 minutes of running across the weekend.

"We now have a bit longer to work on the bike with the increased practice sessions and hopefully we can iron-out the few things that we need to make us more competitive," said Capirossi, who was regularly in the top three in testing but has not finished above sixth yet in the opening rounds.

"I have said before that I have been disappointed with the results so far this season and I want to be able to show just what the GSV-R and the whole team are capable of.

"I know that we can be closer to the front and challenging the top guys, we just seem to need that bit of luck and things to go our way for a change."

His team-mate Chris Vermeulen, who won at Le Mans in the wet 2007 race, is also determined to show better form in France.

"I managed a fifth there last year and I will certainly be looking to better that this time out," he said.

"We have had a tough start to the season and the results have certainly not gone our way for one reason or another, but we need to learn from what has happened and make sure we come out stronger through the rest of the season - starting with Le Mans this weekend."