From a press release issued by Camel Honda:

Camel Honda team continue working at Phillip Island

Temperatures of 26ºC and low winds at Phillip Island today gave the Camel Honda team riders the opportunity to complete a major part of their preseason testing programme. Troy Bayliss was in calm, concentrated and determined mood as he continued to improve his relationship with the RC211V step by step. At Phillip Island, a track which he likes and which today welcomed a large section of his fans, Troy is working on a base setting which will allow him to approach the season in the best possible way. Alex Barros today did a lot of work on the front fork settings and, although his rhythm on used tyres is improving, he is still not completely satisfied with the front end performance of his bike. The team are already preparing a different fork for him to try tomorrow. Alex also reacted to the breaking news that the Brazilian GP, his home race, has been cancelled.

Ramon Forcada – Camel Honda – (Alex Barros’ Chief Engineer)
“Today we tried every setting possible with the front fork but given that we haven’t taken many steps forward with it we are already preparing a new one for Alex to try tomorrow. This track is different to Sepang, there are no heavy braking areas, so we have to prepare a special fork which adapts to Phillip Island and other circuits with flowing corners like this. It’s good that we have the chance to work like this now because we will be ready when we come up against a similar situation at a Grand Prix, when you don’t have much time”.

Alex Barros – Camel Honda – 1:30.68 (93 laps) 8th fastest
“This morning we worked on the electronics and we were able to improve the odd thing. Since then we’ve been working on improving grip on the front end but we’re not succeeding at the moment, even after trying a lot of things with the forks and the geometry of the bike. The rear of the bike is fine but at the moment the front is preventing me from being as efficient as I could be. I’m having to lean too far over to take the corner and that means I’m not getting the most out of the tyre. Obviously we’ll keep working on that tomorrow. As far as the cancellation of the Rio GP is concerned, obviously I’m disappointed. It is the second time this has happened (the first was in 1998) but this is even more disappointing because it was probably going to be the last Grand Prix at this track. The city prefecture is actually planning to demolish part of the track and reduce the overall length to 3,100 metres. That means it would only have been used for national races”.

Santiago Mulero – Camel Honda (Troy Bayliss’ Chief Engineer)
“Troy is getting the measure of the RC211V. We’ve still got work to do, there’s no doubt about that, but we are all much more satisfied at the end of today. We have worked well with the tyres and we have found a setting for the cycle part of the bike that he likes quite a lot. Tomorrow we’ll keep working on it and we’ll also try some new settings in the electronics.”

Troy Bayliss – Camel Honda – 1:30.96 (75 laps) 10th fastest
“Better… things are starting to get better. I’m still not perfectly comfortable on the bike but we’re getting there. The whole team, myself included, are working really hard and even though we’re not satisfied with the lap times we can see that we’re making progress and that gives me confidence for tomorrow and the next tests. We’re working hard with the guys from Michelin, the tyres are perfect and together with the set-up of the bike, which we are defining bit by bit, we’re able to make progress in the right direction. We have to keep going like this.

Unofficial lap times
1. Gibernau (Honda) 1:29.85; 2. Checa (Ducati) 1:29.94; Biaggi (Honda) 1:29.97; 4. Rossi (Yamaha) 1:30.23; 5. Hayden (Honda) 1:30.44; 6. Capirossi (Ducati) 1:30.51; 7. Edwards (Yamaha) 1:30.57; 8. Barros (Camel Honda) 1:30.68; 9. Melandri (Honda) 1:30.95; 10. Bayliss (Honda) 1:30.96; 11. Roberts (Suzuki) 1:30.98; 12. Xaus (Ducati) 1:31.49; 13. Hopkins (Suzuki) 1:31.65; 14. Elias (Ducati) 1:32.87


More, from a press release issued by Telefoncia Movistar Honda:

SETE GIBERNAU CONFIRMS HIS LEADERSHIP

The Spaniard is the fastest and more consistent rider at Phillip Island.

Phillip Island, Australia, test day 2

Second day of test at Phillip Island, Australia, for the Telefonica MoviStar Honda MotoGP team.
The runner up Sete Gibernau worked today on the set up of the bike, running consistently since the beginning of the test session. During the afternoon he made a long run, improving both in lap time and consistency.

Not a very good day for his team mate, Marco Melandri, who spoiled a positive day of testing with a small crash, without consequences, at turn 6.


SETE GIBERNAU – 1:29.865, 81 laps:
“In Sepang we were not in the perfect conditions for a long run but there was not enough time to test. Here we worked on the set up of the bike, chassis and tyres and found the best combination of what we have. I lapped fast since this morning and the long run was quite good as I was lapping consistently in low 1:30.0. There are still some areas that can be improved but I’m happy because I have clear ideas and we are working in the right direction. The team is doing a great job and HRC and Michelin are helping us a lot.”


MARCO MELANDRI – 1:30.95 – 71 laps:
“It was not a good day, I’m sorry because I was doing well but the crash of this afternoon has spoiled today’s test session.

This morning we made some changes in the front of the bike and I had a better feeling in fact I was lapping consistently on low 1:31. In the afternoon we were looking for a final confirmation of our changes and we went back to the setting of this morning. It was a mistake, the bike was more difficult to ride and I lost the front, crashing at Turn 6. It’s a pity because I lost two hours of testing. Tomorrow I want to ride more carefully, even if this means to run 8 tenths slower. If possible, I would like to do a long run in the afternoon.”


Sete Gibernau ends with great results this australian test session: “we have concentrated in two days the work scheduled for this test session, testing all the new items. I leave Australia satisfied and look forward to next test session in Qatar” says the Spanish rider. The test session goes on tomorrow with Marco Melandri and the other motogp riders.

UNOFFICIAL LAP TIME
1. Sete Gibernau 1:29.865
2. Carlos Checa 1:29.94
3. Max Biaggi 1:29.97
4. Valentino Rossi 1:30.22
5. Nicky Hayden 1:30.43
6. Loris Capirossi 1:30.53
7. Colin Edwards 1:30.60
8. Alex Barros 1:30.65
9. Marco Melandri 1:30.95
10. Troy Baylis 1:30.96
11. Rubens Xaus 1:31.59
12. Elias 1:32.72

Phillip island
Best Pole Position : Rossi (Honda -2003) 1:30.068
Official record della pista : Loris Capirossi (Ducati – 2004) 1:31.102


More, from a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

CHECA AND THE DESMOSEDICI GP5 SET CRACKING PACE AT PHILLIP ISLAND.

The Spanish rider laps under the 2004 pole time. Team-mate Loris Capirossi carries out back-to-back tests.

Phillip Island (Australia), 18 February 2005 – Cloudy weather but ideal temperatures (28° air/33° track) greeted the Ducati Marlboro Team riders at the Phillip Island circuit, where the pace of the third winter testing session is starting to heat up.

After his harmless crash yesterday, Carlos Checa set a cracking pace today, recording the second quickest time of the day in 1:29.94. Checa’s time was lower than the pole mark recorded a few months ago by Sete Gibernau, and it was set with a new profile rear race tyre. During his 80 laps today, Carlos also carried out suspension set-up work on his Desmosedici GP5; he also made several outings with the modified frame, receiving similar impressions to when he tested the traditional frame, and working on different front forks set-up.

“Today we again worked well and I’m really happy” said Checa. “This morning we carried out a lot of testing on the suspension set-up and in the afternoon I tested several different rear tyres, some of which gave really good results”.

Loris Capirossi carried out numerous back-to-back tests during his 74 laps of the track, the Italian’s best time being 1:30.53. Capirossi lapped with both GP5 bikes at his disposal, one with the same set-up used during the last tests at Sepang and the other in race configuration, with a set-up very similar to the one he used in last season’s Australian GP, but Loris preferred the former.

“The back-to-back tests between the two set-ups enabled me to understand a lot of things” commented Loris. “There isn’t much difference between the times and I’m not particularly worried about not being at the top of the timesheets at the moment”.

The Desmosedici GP5 development and the Bridgestone tyre tests are continuing positively, and despite it being the first time that the new pairing has tested on the ultra-fast and technical Phillip Island track, it is already bringing positive results for the engineers of the two companies.

The Ducati Marlboro Team will conclude testing at Phillip Island tomorrow Saturday 19 February, before moving to Doha in Qatar from March 1-3, the final session before the official IRTA testing sessions at Catalunya (March 18-20) and Jerez (March 25-27).


More, from a press release issued by Gauloises Yamaha:

Ambient temperature: 26 degrees
Track temperature: 32 degrees
Humidity: 50%

GAULOISES YAMAHA MEN STEP UP THE PACE DOWN UNDER

Gauloises Yamaha Team riders Valentino Rossi and Colin Edwards continued with their pre-season testing programme in Phillip Island, Australia today, finishing the day fourth and seventh fastest respectively in the unofficial standings. The riders both completed a long run of the Victoria circuit, as well as continuing with yet more important tyre testing for Michelin and working on small set-up changes. Teams from Yamaha, Honda, Ducati and Suzuki were out on the track alongside the Yamaha Factory Team riders, although Japanese Honda rider Makoto Tamada was unable to test due to minor injuries sustained in a crash yesterday.

Rossi rode 91 laps over the course of the day, although he was the victim of an unfortunate incident when he hit a bird as he exited pit lane. Despite this, he consistently completed laps in the 1:30s and finished the day fourth fastest with a best time of 1:30.22 – equal to the qualifying time he set at last year’s Australian Grand Prix. His American team-mate Colin Edwards, who finished fourth at the race here last October, completed 78 laps with a best time of 1:30.60, just a fraction of a second faster than his final qualifying time for the same race. Three riders were faster than Rossi on the track today and completed laps under the 1:30 mark; Sete Gibernau (Honda, 1:29.85), Carlos Checa (Ducati, 1:29.94) and Max Biaggi (Honda, 1:29.97).

Valentino Rossi (1:30,22, 91 laps) “I hit a bird as I was exiting the pit lane today and it went into my airbox; it fell out half way round the track and when I returned to the pit garage there were just some feathers left. I’d just like to say that I’m very sorry for the bird! We did a lot more tyre work today and also a long run, which I was quite happy with. I did some fast laps and it was an improvement on the race last October. We still need to make some changes to the chassis setting, as there’s something not quite perfect at the moment; tomorrow we will concentrate on this. Some other riders have managed to be very fast today with laps under 1:30; I didn’t manage this, but maybe if we can make some small improvements tomorrow I might be able to. We will see! Many people are talking about the news that the Grand Prix in Rio has been cancelled this year, and I’m sorry not to be able to go back there because I didn’t finish the race there last year, and it would have been good to have ended it on a high note.”

Colin Edwards (1:30.60, 78 laps)
“We continued working on bike set-up and we’ve found some really good improvements and solutions to some of our problems. We’ll continue to check these tomorrow. I did a long run today and we also did more tyre testing; I think we’ve done a really good job with Michelin during these tests. Tomorrow we’ll work to complete what we’ve started and hopefully we’ll be able to leave on a positive note. I’m looking forward to a bit of a rest before the next test!”

Davide Brivio, Gauloises Yamaha Team Director
“Today the riders both did a long run and many laps throughout the day. We did a lot more work for Michelin, which is really important at the moment. Tomorrow we will conclude our activities for this test and we are pleased with what we’ve done so far. However it will be good to come back again in just over two weeks to continue our pre-season work.”

Unofficial Lap Times:

1. Sete Gibernau (Honda) 1:29.85
2. Carlos Checa (Ducati) 1:29.94
3. Max Biaggi (Honda) 1:29.97
4. VALENTINO ROSSI (YAMAHA) 1:30.22

7. COLIN EDWARDS (YAMAHA) 1:30.60


More, from a press release issued by Fortuna Yamaha:

FORTUNA YAMAHA CONCLUDE SECOND DAY OF TESTS IN AUSTRALIA

The Fortuna Yamaha team today completed their second day of tests at the Phillip Island circuit in Australia. Team riders Rubén Xaus and Toni Elías continued to familiarise themselves with their Yamaha YZR M1 machines at one of the fastest circuits in the world.

Fortuna Yamaha rider Rubén Xaus, who today celebrates his 27th birthday, improved his times from yesterday over the course of the day whilst continuing to adapt to the bike. Xaus, who has almost fully recovered from his injuries, completed 67 laps of the Australian circuit.

His team-mate Toni Elías continued on the same line of development, concentrating on aspects related to the chassis and suspension. The Spanish youngster, who is still being troubled by pain from his little finger having broken it last month, was quite satisfied with his day’s work.

The best time of the day was again set by Sete Gibernau (Honda 1:29.85), followed closely by Carlos Checa (Ducati, 1:29.94) and Max Biaggi (Honda, 1:29.97). Gauloises Yamaha rider Valentino Rossi (1:30.22) was fourth fastest whilst his team-mate Colin Edwards had to settle for the seventh fastest time with a lap of 1:30.60.

Rubén Xaus, (1:31.59, 67 laps)

“We tried to improve the lap times with the same tyres as yesterday. We’ve got to be patient and work in a constant manner to be able to progress. I am still recovering from my injury but I’m satisfied with the work we’ve done today. We have to find a compromise with the bike and I think that, together with all the members of the team, we’re doing a great job. In the afternoon myself and my Chief Mechanic Guy Coulon notice that we were a bit heavier.we’re a year older!”.

Toni Elías (1:32.72, 96 laps)

“We continued with our testing programme and I’m happy with the work we did today. We have to keep going like this and take everything one step at a time, which isn’t easy. We’re trying to adapt the whole bike to my size and shape and basically today we worked on the chassis and suspension. I’m satisfied.”


More, from a press release issued by Honda Racing Information:

One-thirty barrier broken at Phillip Island

The lap record at the majestic 4.448km Phillip Island, Australia was shattered today as three riders set lap times inside the 1:30 lap bracket. The elusive threshold time barrier finally fell on the second day of the planned three-day MotoGP test at the Island circuit with Sete Gibernau (Telefonica MoviStar Honda) Carlos Checa (Marlboro Ducati) and Repsol Honda factory team rider Max Biaggi dipping inside 1:30.

Fastest man of the day Gibernau had completed his test programme at the end of today and with nothing more is already on his way home. Before he ended the session Gibernau put in five fast 1:30 laps pronouncing himself satisfied with the results and the data gathered by the team and HRC Engineers.

His teammate, Italian Marco Melandri improved yet again. Testing a range of chassis and suspension setting he consistently lapped at 1:31. Hs day was not perfect as he slid off at turn at turn 6 (Siberia) a slow left-hand corner but escaped unscathed although his RC211V Honda sidelined Melandri for two hours.

Melandri’s fellow countryman Max Biaggi also crashed at Siberia, on his run down lap. At the time Biaggi was on his way to the pits to change a tyre that was causing front-end chatter. He lay the blame for the crash at his own door but was pleased with his overall performance on the second day at Phillip Island testing two versions of the RCV’s rear suspension links.

Nicky Hayden, on the second factory RC211V Repsol Honda, ran an astonishing 115 laps of the circuit. Hayden also tested the upper and lower mounted rear suspension links but found little difference. “I think really it boils down to what feels most comfortable for the rider,” said the young American.

The Camel Honda camp was one of mixed emotions at the end of the day. Brazilian Alex Barros was disappointed failing to find the amount of front-end grip he needed to set fast times while teammate Troy Bayliss was happier with his performance than at any time since joining the team.

Australian Bayliss is finally making progress and, although there is a long way to go before he feels completely at home on he RCV. All the hard work he and the team has put in over recent weeks is beginning to establish the direction he needs to take on machine set up. Using his vast knowledge of the circuit to full advantage Bayliss had a better understanding of the RCV than at any time during pre-season testing.

Fastest man at the Sepang MotoGP test of last week, Makoto Tamada did not test today. The Japanese rider crashed yesterday and although he emerged with no broken bones Tamada was badly bruised and very stiff and the team decided he would benefit from a day of rest before taking to the track again.


Honda rider lap times and quotes.

Sete Gibernau, Telefonica MoviStar Honda: 1:29.855 – 81 laps.
“In Sepang we were not in the perfect conditions for a long run but there was not enough time to test. Here we worked on the set up of the bike, chassis and tyres and found the best combination of what we have. I lapped fast since this morning and the long run was quite good as I was lapping consistently in low 1:30.0. There are still some areas that can be improved but I’m happy because I have clear ideas and we are working in the right direction. The team is doing a great job and HRC and Michelin are helping us a lot. We have concentrated in two days the work scheduled for this test session, testing all the new items. I leave Australia satisfied and look forward to next test session in Qatar.”


Marco Melandri, Telefonica MoviStar Honda: 1:30.953 – 71 laps.
“It was not a good day, I’m sorry because I was doing well but the crash of this afternoon has spoiled today’s test session. This morning we made some changes in the front of the bike and I had a better feeling in fact I was lapping consistently on low 1:31. In the afternoon we were looking for a final confirmation of our changes and we went back to the setting of this morning. It was a mistake, the bike was more difficult to ride and I lost the front, crashing at Turn 6. It’s a pity because I lost two-hours of testing. Tomorrow I want to ride more carefully, even if this means to run 8 tenths slower. If possible, I would like to do a long run in the afternoon.”


Max Biaggi, Repsol Honda: 1:29.97 – 96 laps.
“I felt stronger today even though I had a crash. We’ve definitely improved again today with a better suspension setting and the machine felt more consistent for a long period of time. I’m preferring the lower rear suspension link at the moment, the lap time between that and the upper link is the same but the feeling is slightly better with the lower link. But then a single lap doesn’t mean you will be fast in a race condition. The crash was my own fault really. We tried a new tyre and I knew quickly that the tyre could well be an improvement but it caused some chatter and the machine needed adjusting for the tyre. I lost the front at turn six on the lap I was coming back into the pits to make the adjustment, turn six was where the chatter was worst.”


Nicky Hayden, Repsol Honda: 1:30.430 – 115 laps.
“We really got working on some chassis testing today, spent a lot of time trying to make the changes work and it was a valuable exercise. We then had a go with what I’m normally used to but I suppose that’s what testing is all about. I tried the lower rear suspension link today, for the first time since a test in Malaysia in 2003. There’s very little difference between the upper and lower links and I think it really boils down to what feels most comfortable for the rider. I did a lot of laps today, maybe too many, which is something we want to address tomorrow and hopefully I can get a good run on a rear race tyre and grab a fast lap along the way.”


Ramon Forcada – Camel Honda – (Alex Barros’ Chief Engineer)
“Today we tried every setting possible with the front fork but given that we haven’t taken many steps forward with it we are already preparing a new one for Alex to try tomorrow. This track is different to Sepang, there are no heavy braking areas, so we have to prepare a special fork which adapts to Phillip Island and other circuits with flowing corners like this. It’s good that we have the chance to work like this now because we will be ready when we come up against a similar situation at a Grand Prix, when you don’t have much time.”


Alex Barros, Camel Honda: 1:30.680 – 93 laps.
“This morning we worked on the electronics and we were able to improve the odd thing. Since then we’ve been working on improving grip on the front end but we’re not succeeding at the moment, even after trying a lot of things with the forks and the geometry of the bike. The rear of the bike is fine but at the moment the front is preventing me from being as efficient as I could be. I’m having to lean too far over to take the corner and that means I’m not getting the most out of the tyre. Obviously we’ll keep working on that tomorrow. As far as the cancellation of the Rio GP is concerned, obviously I’m disappointed. It is the second time this has happened (the first was in 1998) but this is even more disappointing because it was probably going to be the last Grand Prix at this track. The city prefecture is actually planning to demolish part of the track and reduce the overall length to 3,100 metres. That means it would only have been used for national races”.


Troy Bayliss, Camel Honda: 1:30.961 – 75 laps.
“Better… things are starting to get better. I’m still not perfectly comfortable on the bike but we’re getting there. The whole team, myself included, are working really hard and even though we’re not satisfied with the lap times we can see that we’re making progress and that gives me confidence for tomorrow and the next tests. We’re working hard with the guys from Michelin, the tyres are perfect and together with the set-up of the bike, which we are defining bit by bit, we’re able to make progress in the right direction. We have to keep going like this.”


Santiago Mulero, Camel Honda – Troy Bayliss’ Chief Engineer.
“Troy is getting the measure of the RC211V. We’ve still got work to do, there’s no doubt about that, but we are all much more satisfied at the end of today. We have worked well with the tyres and we have found a setting for the cycle part of the bike that he likes quite a lot. Tomorrow we’ll keep working on it and we’ll also try some new settings in the electronics.”


Makoto Tamada, Konica Minolta Honda: Did not test today.