MotoGp Test round-up

Both Honda and Ducati have just finished testing at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia, so here is how it went.

MCN’s Matthew Birt has been out in Malaysia, and you’ll be able to read his full, exclusive report from the tests in Motor Cycle News, out on Wednesday.

Honda:

The Repsol Honda team will be happy, with Valentino Rossi posting a time on 2m 02.65s on the RCV211V. Rossi managed to complete around 55 laps, with his new teammate Nicky Hayden completing 60 laps. Both the riders spent plenty of time testing Michelin tyres, with Hayden racking up 60 laps. Hayden posted a time of 2m 05.47s.

Rossi was pleased; ” A good three days and for me the best part is to understand the problems we have had in braking. We got some good settings yesterday and today we have found some good Michelin tyres. The engine and the chassis feel strong and now we understand the braking better it is possible to make a good time. ”

The Telefonica MoviStar Honda squad is in a similar position. Lead rider Dajiro Katoh was also working hard testing tyres for Michelin, with second rider Sete Gibernau acclimatising to the Honda.

” Valentino and Max were very quick, but I am happy with my performance over the past three days. I was setting constantly fast times and that is the best way to be, ” said Katoh.

At Honda Pons, Tohru Ukawa was satisfied. The rider has been involved with the RCV211V from the start, and completed 65 laps, getting a best time of 2m.03.4s. Between him and the fastest Honda of Rossi, was Max Biaggi.

Biaggi managed a time of 2m 02.8s, in just 48 laps. He was very happy with testing. ” I think this test has been positive. After two and a half months of inactivity and having ridden this bike for only a hundred or so laps previously, today’s times are very good. During the last ten minutes of the session I pushed hard, although I was careful not to overdo it because I did not want to make any errors in this first session with the bike, and I am very happy with the time I set. ”

The Pramac Honda team of Makoto tamada and Shinichi Itoh only managed around 30 laps each, but both recorded times in the 2m 06 range, despite focussing on testing new settings and tyres. ” I’m pleased with these three days of tests, even though I still ahven’t found the perfect set-up for my bike. I’m not worried though, because I know these tests helped me get a better feeling for the bike and adapt it to my aggressive style of braking. ”

Ducati:

Two of the hardest men in racing worked hard on developing the Desmosedici, and in Bayliss’ case, learning the circuit.

Both riders improved their times over the three days. Capirossi set a 2m03.9s, with Bayliss on 2m04.0s. ” I’m really happy with the tests and in particular with today’s results, ” said Bayliss, ” I can see a constant improvement and being quicker than the first day by 2.5 seconds is confirmation of that. ” Loris Capirossi was also cheerful, stating that the team didn’t go to Sepang to set quick times, but the real mission of getting information about the bike had gone well.