MARCO MELANDRI IMPROVES IN RHYTHM AND CONFIANCE AT LOSAIL, QATAR

Sete Gibernau, still suffering from fever, makes only some few laps
Doha, Qatar, 2nd March 2005- Day 2
Temperature: 28°C air temperature, 40°C tarmac temperature

Second day of test for the motoGP teams at Losail, Qatar where next 1st October there will be the second GP of the desert.

Today, Sete Gibernau, winner of the 2004 Grand Prix of Qatar, went on track only for a few laps because he was still suffering from fever.

His team mate, Marco Melandri, that yesterday had set a time faster than pole position of the 2004 GP (Checa 1:58.988), improved his rhythm, 1:57.80 his best time.

SETE GIBERNAU, 1:58.66 40 laps :
“I made only some few laps to test some solutions for HRC and some tyre testing. Unfortunately I’m still suffering from fever and I couldn’t give the indications I wanted, I prefer to wait tomorrow morning. I hope to feel better because we have a lot of work to do.”

MARCO MELANDRI, 1:57.948 58 laps:
“I’m very happy of today test session. We worked a lot with tyres and made some small modifications at the set up. I have found a good feeling with the bike and already this morning I improved my rhythm, lapping in low 1:58. I think that I have made here a step forward both in my riding style and approach to tests. What I like of my bike is that the RC211V doesn’t need many modifications from one track to another so I have time to understand the bike and adapt my riding style. Tomorrow, third and last day of test here in Qatar, I’d like to make a long run.”

UNOFFICIAL LAP TIME
1. Makoto Tamada 1:57.69
2. Loris Capirossi 1:57.70
3. Nicky Hayden 1:57.78
4. Max Biaggi 1:57.79
5. Marco Melandri 1:57.80
6. Alex Barros 1:57.89
7. Carlos Checa 1:57.90
8. Troy Baylis 1:58.55
9. Sete Gibernau 1:58.66
10. Roberto Rolfo 2:03.00