From a press release issued by Yamaha Motor Italia World Supersport Team:

February 2nd 2004
Ricardo Tormo – Valencia

Yamaha Motor Italia World Supersport Team riders Jurgen van den Goorbergh and Fabien Foret blew away the winter cobwebs and made a very positive start to the year at Valencia circuit today. Conditions were just about ideal after the sun warmed the track and Jurgen and Fabien soon got into the groove. Despite their R6 Yamahas having new (Ohlins) suspension this year, both riders ended the day happy with the progress they had made.

Over the winter, the team have done a lot of work to their R6 Yamahas and Jurgen and Fabien are now putting all that good work to the ultimate test.

FABIEN FORET 45 laps, best lap 1:38.7
It’s been nearly two months since I was last on a bike, so I took things fairly steadily today and just got used to riding again. Also we have new suspension this year and we have to get used to it and develop it in these and the next tests. Despite these changes I am happy because I am only half a second slower then I was at the last test here. Now we have to carry on working with the Ohlins technicians and give them feedback so we can improve. At the moment, I am not pushing very hard, because I have to understand what is happening properly. As soon as that happens, I will really go for it. Testing is OK (and very useful), but I am really looking forward to the first race of the year and attacking all-out.

JURGEN VAN DEN GOORBERGH 43 laps, best lap 1:39.00
It’s been pretty good today considering it’s been some time (two months) since the last time I threw my leg over the saddle. We’ve got lots of new stuff to try suspension and a new ignition system so today was all about easing back into race mode. I’m happy with what we achieved today and all the stuff the team have done in winter is going in the right direction for sure. I have to get used to the Ohlins suspension and the way the bike behaves now, but I think it’s all going work out good for us. Valencia is a funny track because the conditions change every day, but so far so good and I’m looking forward to the first race at the end of the month.