From a press release issued by Pramac Honda:

Pramac Honda Team Press Information
Le Mans (France)
PRIVATE TESTS
Monday 26 May 2003

Pramac Honda Team undergo non-stop tyre tests at Le Mans

There’s no letting up: with engines still boiling after yesterday’s tests, it’s back on the track again. Makoto Tamada and the Pramac Honda Team completed the tests on the new Bridgestone tyres they hadn’t been able to complete during last week’s races. Changeable weather conditions over the weekend made it impossible to work exclusively on “dry” tyres.

Last Friday, even though they knew the weather would quite probably change, the technicians opted for tried and tested solutions to get the best lap time, and were able to try out only a few of the new Bridgestone models they had taken to France. This means that today’s trials were of extreme importance for the forthcoming Italian Grand Prix.

Makoto Tamada tied out no fewer than 22 different types of tyres (all racing) and found two that he really liked – and that could prove to be the basis he will be working on during the Mugello weekend.

Even though track conditions were not ideal, since there was no let-up in the damp from yesterday’s thunderstorm, Makoto Tamada clocked up a speed just 1/10 of a second faster than he posted in the qualifying session last Friday, before the pouring rain took absolute hold of Saturday.

Makoto Tamada (Pramac Honda Team): 81 laps – Time: 1:36.7