Katoh edges out Rossi in Suzuka test

THE four-strokes won’t have it all their own way in the new Moto-GP class if Daijiro Katoh’s performance was anything to go by on the last day of Honda’s Suzuka test.

He edged out Valentino Rossi on the Honda RCV by 0.13 seconds to post a test-best time of 2:04.44 on the NSR500. Katoh’s time was also well inside Loris Capirossi’s pole record of 2:04.777 set here last year.

Katoh said: ” I’m very satisfied, my team did a good job and we concentrated on settling suspension and tyres. I couldn’t have gone faster. ”

Rossi told MCN: ” I am very fast in a straight line, but it’s hard to pick up traction coming out of the corners. The tyres slide a bit too much, but we will have it all sorted very soon. ”

Katoh has won at Suzuka four times on 250s.