Abe, Gimbert and Nakatomi happy with Australian tests The three Team Yamaha Motor France Ipone riders tested many new parts during a successful four day test at Phillip Island. They were about 1 second quicker than last year using the same 2005 tyres. “We are in a happy and positive mood”, says team owner Martial Garcia. “Even if we couldn’t use the 2006 Pirelli tyres (as we are not a development team) we are much faster than last year. We have seen at Phillip Island that the new 2006 Pirelli tyres are about 1 second quicker with the other bikes, so obviously we are confident. “ There were many new parts to test for Norick Abe, Sébastien Gimbert and Shinichi Nakatomi, including swinging arms, rear suspension links, front forks, revised engine mapping, Japanese Soqi suspension and different ratios for the gearbox. Norifumi Abe and Sébastien Gimbert were both very fast for this first opportunity to test the 2006-spec R1s they will ride in this year’s World Championship. Shinichi Nakatomi learned very conscientiously, despite still suffering from his scaphoid bone. The Team Yamaha Motor France – Ipone will test next month at Circuito Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, before going to the Losail circuit in Qatar for the round one of the Superbike World Championship on February 25. Unofficial times – Troy Corser (Suzuki): 1’32.79 (2006 qualifying tyre) 1’33.0 (2006 race tyre) – Steve Martin (Petronas): 1’33.3 (2006 race tyre) 1’34 3 (2005 race tyre) – Yukio Kagayama (Alstare Suzuki): 1’33.5 (2006 qualifying tyre) 1’34.1 (2006 race tyre) – Norick Abe (Yamaha Motor France – Ipone): 1’34.0 (2005 qualifying tyre) 1’34.6 (2005 race tyre) – Sébastien Gimbert (Yamaha Motor France – Ipone): 1’34.2 (2005 qualifying tyre) 1’34.6 (2005 race tyre) – Shinichi Nakatomi (Yamaha Motor France – Ipone): 1’35.0 – Craig Jones (Petronas): 1:35.6 Phillip Island stats Official practice record (1999): 1’32.193 Troy Corser (Ducati) 173.570 kph 2005 Yamaha Motor France practice times: Norifumi Abe: 1’34.742 / 12th and Sébastien Gimbert: 1’35.178 / 21st Race 1 results 2005: 1-Corser (Suzuki), 2-Kagayama (Suzuki) 3- Vermeulen (Honda) 4- Neukirchner (Honda) 5-Pitt (Yamaha) 2005 Yamaha Motor France race 1 results: Norifumi Abe: 6th and Sébastien Gimbert: 11th Race 2 results 2005: 1-Corser (Suzuki), 2-Kagayama (Suzuki) 3- Neukirchner (Honda) 4- Vermeulen (Honda) 5-Nieto (Ducati) 2005 Yamaha Motor France race 2 results: Norifumi Abe: 8th and Sébastien Gimbert: DNF (retired lap 9) Official lap record (best race time 1999): 1’33.019 Troy Corser (Ducati) 172.030 kph Round 1 of the Superbike World Championship: Losail (Qatar) February 25