From a press release issued by Telefonica Movistar Honda/Gresini Racing:

FIRST DAY OF TESTING FOR THE TEAM TEELFONICA MOVISTAR HONDA

Marco Melandri made his debut on Honda at Jerez

The Team Telefonica MoviStar Honda started today a three day test session on the Spanish circuit of Jerez in a sunny day with temperatures that we usually find here in spring.

Today was a special day for Marco Melandri as the Italian made his debut on the RCV211V with the team run by Fausto Gresini. Together with his chief Mechanic, Fabrizio Cecchini, the 22 year old Italian rider, started today to adjust the bike to his way of riding in order to find the best balance of the bike.

MARCO MELANDRI expressed satisfaction and seemed very motivated for the new adventure that has started today:

“I’m very happy, today everything was new but, from the beginning, I had very good feelings. The RC211V is completely different from the bike I was riding last year so I didn’t push hard. I just wanted to start to know the bike and adjust my usual way of riding to the new bike. I was particularly impressed by the power of the engine of Honda, it is incredible!

Fabrizio Cecchini, my new chief mechanic has helped me, we have worked a lot on my position of the seat. I’m very happy because every time we made some changes, my feeling with the bike improved. I have shared my first impressions also with my team mate, Sete Gibernau, I’m lucky because he is a very good point of reference.”

SETE GIBERNAU : “Today we have done a good job starting from the bike we have used during this season. We are analyzing all the material we have at disposal in order to create a basis on which we can start to work for the next year. “

In total Sete made 57 laps, 1:41.685 his best time.

Marco Melandri completed 66 laps, 1:42.468 his best time

The Test continues tomorrow and Friday.


More, from a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

DUCATI DESMOSEDICI MAKES FURTHER PROGRESS AT JEREZ

Jerez de la Frontera (Spain), 24 November 2004 – Further progress was made by the Ducati Marlboro Team on the second day of testing at Jerez, which sees the Italian squad working with its new Bridgestone tyres.

In excellent weather conditions (air 21°C/track 27°C), Loris Capirossi and Carlos Checa continued to rack up the mileage with the Japanese tyres as well as focus on further set-up work and the first results have been truly encouraging.

In completing exactly the same number of laps as his race number (65), Capirossi set the quickest time of the day in 1:41.150 and demonstrated that he is rapidly getting used to the new tyres and the progress made by the Desmosedici.

The Italian rider confirmed yesterday’s positive impressions and said he was particularly pleased with the feeling reached in just two days’
testing with the new Bridgestone tyres.

Race tyres were used exclusively throughout the day and Loris completed a series of laps at around the 1:41 mark.

“I’m really satisfied, things are going pretty well for our first time out,” declared Loris. “We are continuing to work with the new frame and the new swing-arm and the bike is improving every time it goes out. Despite it being only the second day with Bridgestone tyres, the feeling is already good and I am appreciating their working method. This is an
excellent starting point to prepare for the new season”.

Good lap times were also recorded by new team-mate Carlos Checa, who was second quickest today with a time of 1:41.314 in his 68 laps. As the
lap times demonstrate, the Spanish rider also seems to be rapidly adapting to his new Bridgestone-shod Desmosedici.

The Jerez session was also positive for Régis Laconi, on his second day of testing with the ‘laboratory’ Desmosedici, and the Frenchman
completed 60 laps with a best time of 1:43.312. Régis continued development work with new electronic components, to the satisfaction of
both himself and Ducati Corse engineers.

“I am really pleased with the way things have gone today” declared Filippo Preziosi, Ducati Corse Technical Director, present at Jerez. “The last time we were here, for the GP, we were in a difficult period and our results were not living up to expectations. Just a few months later we can see today that both riders are lapping at a good pace, and this demonstrates that our bike has improved a lot throughout the season. We knew that it was going to be a difficult decision to take but at the same time one with great potential, and the first results are
confirmation. There is still a lot of work to do, but days like today are important for everyone! A big thanks to the guys back in the
factory. This year has been a tough one, but they have always demonstrated great responsibility and devotion!”

Tomorrow the Ducati Marlboro Team will complete the third and final day of this week’s testing at the Jerez circuit.