From a press release issued by Honda Racing:

HRC MotoGP test Brno, Czech Republic
August 18, 2003.

No respite for Honda’s MotoGP Championship contenders

The relentless MotoGP race-testing programme continued at the Brno circuit on the day after the Czech Republic GP was held at the track. Honda mounted MotoGP Championship team riders, with the exception of Ryuichi Kiyonari (Telefonica MoviStar Honda), completed a hard days work at the 5.403km venue.

The one-day test was cantered around tyre development, all but Bridgestone supported Makoto Tamada (Pramac Honda) testing Michelin rubber. HRC took the opportunity to test new engine parts on Rossi’s RC211V 990cc five-cylinder Honda.

Championship pace setters Valentino Rossi, and Sete Gibernau, first and second respectively in Sundays GP, both lapped at qualifying pace but were upstaged by Camel Pramac Honda rider Tohru Ukawa who lapped at 1:59s flat, over half a second faster than his best qualifying lap.

Ukawa’s team-mate, Max Biaggi, worked harder than most. The Italian, currently holding third place in the championship behind Rossi and Gibernau, put in 85 laps testing both tyres and a new straight pipe exhaust system.

Pramac Honda rider Makoto Tamada was the lone Bridgestone rider at Brno. Tamada suffered rear tyre problems in Sundays race and spent the day testing with two different types of chassis making back-to-back comparisons on tyres in each machine and experimenting with various suspension settings.

Honda rider quotes:
Valentino Rossi, Repsol Honda: “Satisfied with a hard days work. After the big emotion of a race like Sunday it’s sometimes really difficult to get out again but it was important and we made some good work. We tested many tyres from Michelin and some new engine parts from HRC. With some of the new tyres we need more traction so we have to do a lot of work on the settings as well.”

Nicky Hayden, Repsol Honda: “Bit of a tough day really because after a long hard weekend you’ve got to really motivate yourself to get out there again and work hard. He test was really based around working on tyres for the front, pretty hard really as you’ve got to find the limits. The Michelins were good and I think we made some pretty good progress. It was more good experience grindin’ out more laps. I’m off to the States for a couple of weeks which I’m really lookin’ forward to. Then back to Portugal in September.”

Sete Gibernau, Telefonica MoviStar Honda: “The test was very successful for us. The new Michelins we tested were good, both front and rear tyres. I got down to my race times very quickly. It was a good day. Now I’m going to Italy for three days. Down to the team race shop on the Adriatic to test a Super Motard machine!”

Makoto Tamada, Pramac Honda: “We spent the day testing various Bridgestone tyres on the two types of chassis we have. We have to fix the problem we had with the rear tyre at Brno. In the race I had to get the bike almost upright before I could get on the throttle. I also have to work on my starts, I’ve got to get off the line better and get to the first corner with the fastest riders. My lap times in the race were OK, once I got going.”

Max Biaggi, Camel Pramac Honda: “I started testing at 9:30 in the morning and I finished around 18:00. stopped for only one hour, between one and two o’clock, because the track was closed. I cannot get Sunday’s race out of my mind and getting back down to work is the only thing that helps me get over the disappointment a little. We were supplied with new exhaust systems for one of the bikes, they are very noisy! I completed 85 laps and the bike is running a little better. I am still not satisfied but we are all determined and working hard”.

Tohru Ukawa, Camel Pramac Honda: “I am happy because I believe this test has been very productive. After completing more than 400km I improved significantly on my qualifying time for the race and after trying many different riding positions I now feel more comfortable. We have also tried some suspension tweaks and some new tyres, and I really do think it has been a positive day’s testing.”.


Honda rider lap Times:
Valentino Rossi: 1:59.92
Nicky Hayden: 2:00.00
Sete, Gibernau: 1:59.70
Makoto Tamada: 2:00.40
Max Biaggi: 2:00.1
Tohru Ukawa: 1:59.00