From a press release issued by Honda Racing:

HRC winter test Sepang, Malaysia, February 20,2003.

HRC Complete Successful MotoGP Test at Sepang

The two-day HRC MotoGP test session at the Sepang circuit, Malaysia, ended with all teams and riders in up-beat mood. HRC are pleased with the progress they have made, and the results achieved, over the two-days of non-stop testing with the latest version of the RC211V 990cc five-cylinder four-stroke grand prix machine.

Reigning MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi was in scintillating form over the two days and set consistently fast times. Italian Rossi, and his teammate Nicky Hayden, the AMA Superbike Champion, both improved on the times they set on the opening day. Rossi circulated the 5.548km circuit in a time of 2:02.9. MotoGP new comer Hayden lowered his time by half-a-second, ending the day with a best time of 2:04.8.

Valentino Rossi: “Basically very happy with the results of the two-day tests. The whole point of this session has been to test set-up on the 2003 bike and not go just for fast time, which we were really trying to do with the tests here last month. The team has worked hard and we are happy with the results. We did some long simulated race runs and are happy with the way things went especially with the way the Michelins worked. I feel much more comfortable on the bike today. I’m recovering from a little surgery on my butt and yesterday was pretty uncomfortable! Today I’m much happier. I can concentrate on riding now, not thinking how much it hurts! I’m going to have a few days rest here in Malaysia before travelling directly to Australia and onto Phillip Island.”

Nicky Hayden: “The two days here have been not so bad. I guess it’s a little frustrating at times ’cause I want to make progress faster but it’s coming. I just gotta keep plugging away – I know it’s there. The team seem happy with some of the times – my fastest one was on a long run and all the laps were consistent in being pretty fast. The new bike feels good and I’m learning just how the little tweeks make a big difference. We’re off to Phillip Island next which I’m really looking forward to. I’m really keen to learn more circuits before the season starts.”

But it was diminutive Japanese star Daijiro Kato who did the most to impress. Kato is much more at home on the new bike than his 2002 model and he put in the best lap of the day at 2:02.8 to top the unofficial time sheet. The Telefonica MoviStar Honda Gresini rider has been in superb form on the new RCV since he arrived at Sepang. Fastest man on both days of the test, Kato goes into the HRC test at Phillip Island next week in buoyant mood.

Daijiro Kato: “Today I am again very satisfied with my results; the team’s work here in Sepang has been great, they have supported me a lot and enabled me to improve my personal best on this circuit. I believe we are working well and in the right direction, my results prove it. Next test is scheduled at the Mugello circuit, a racetrack where I never rode too fast; it will be very important for me.”

Kato’s teammate, Spaniard Sete Gibernau had a good second day at Sepang, setting a personal best lap time at the circuit, slashing a second off his best time on the opening day.

Sete Gibernau: “My crew did a great job today and I am satisfied with my results. I feel like at home in this new team, we all get along very well and thanks to my mechanics and technicians I managed to improve my personal best. Little by little I am becoming faster and faster and I hope to keep on improving. At Mugello we will keep on working on the bike’s set up; I am extremely motivated!”

Fausto Gresini Team Manager: “Another positive day, actually the whole trip to Malaysia has been positive. I am extremely satisfied with both my riders: Daijiro was incredibly motivated and aggressive, while Sete keeps on improving little by little. This testing session at Sepang has been very important for us, since we had the opportunity to test new materials and tyres; the team’s morale also took some benefits, there is a lot of co-operation and thanks to the brilliant results, everybody is satisfied. It is especially rewarding to see my team so happy. I believe during this year’s championship we will be one of the teams to keep an eye on”.

Camel Pramac Honda rider Max Biaggi has settled in well with the Camel Pramac team, and his new technicians. Biaggi worked hard over the two days of testing and pronounced himself satisfied with the results.

Max Biaggi: “The two days here have been good training for me, we have covered many kilometers at this test. Today we again tried several different things on machine set-up but ended the test with settings close to those we used at the January test at Sepang, and set around the same lap times. This shows we did a good job in January, the team is able to find a good set up quickly. The other riders tried many things at Sepang so we hope to have something new next time we test. Now I go back to Nice, then on to a Moto Exhibition, in Lanciano, with my fans.”

Tohru Ukawa’s best lap time on day two of the test was close to teammate Biaggi. After spending the opening day chasing a good set up for his new RCV Ukawa went looking for fast times today. He was successful, ending the session just two-tenths of a second slower than Biaggi.

Tohru Ukawa: “The results of this test are very satisfying. On the first day I spent my time setting up the machine to suit my riding style. Today we were after a fast lap time in race simulation and I was two seconds faster than my fastest time at Sepang last year. I feel good with my new team and I really like the new RC211V. I’m very optimistic about the season.”

The Pramac Honda Team rider, Makoto Tamada, and Bridgestone tyre development rider Shinichi Itoh completed their test schedule on time and both they and the team leave Sepang in positive mood.

Shinichi Itoh spent two very disciplined days tyre testing. The near veteran Japanese rider had a stack of different tyres to evaluate and was never in a position to look for a fast time at Sepang.

Makoto Tamada: “Confidence is growing, with both the bike and tyres. I am deeply involved in testing with Bridgestone and they have made a big step forward at Sepang. I would have loved to go for a real fast lap but my job here is to give feedback. We go onto Phillip Island now, a track where Bridgestone performed very well at the GP down there last year. That could be the place for me to go for fast times.”

Shinichi Itoh: “I am happy with the results of this test and we will see the benefit later. I spent the whole day yesterday testing front tyres, and today concentrated on rears. We go to Phillip Island now and I will be able to gauge progress as I raced with Bridgestone’s at Phillip Island last year where they performed really well, in qualifying and in the race.”

Daijiro Kato, JPN, Telefonica MoviStar Honda Gresini, 2:02.8, 60+ laps

Valentino Rossi, ITA, Repsol Honda, 2:02.9, 60 laps

Max Biaggi, ITA, Camel Pramac Honda, 2:02.9, 61 laps

Tohru Ukawa, JPN, Camel Pramac Honda, 2:03.1

Sete Gibernau, SPA, Telefonica MoviStar Honda Gresini, 2:03.7

Nicky Hayden, USA, Repsol Honda, 2:04.8, 69 laps

Makoto Tamada, JPN, Pramac Honda, 2:04.9, 44 laps

Shinichi Itoh, JPN, Pramac Honda, 2:05.3, 50 laps