From a press release issued by Pramac Honda Press Information:

Sepang – (Malaysia) – 20/21/22 January 2003

Private tests

Tuesday 21 January

Second day of tests at Sepang. Bridgestone development work progressing, Tamada and Itoh improve their performance.

Assisted by perfect weather – clear skies and searing heat – the Pramac Honda team completed another substantial part of their work programme scheduled for these three days of test sessions. Makoto Tamada got a much better feeling for the Sepang circuit, which he went out on yesterday for the first time ever. The good weather also let the Bridgestone technicians get some excellent work done in their test programme.

Tamada tried out a number of different settings to find the best configuration that would enable him to get to grips with the track, while Itoh tried out a number of different types of front tyre. The two riders constantly exchange opinions and today they also swapped bikes in order to compare some different technical options. This is the true debut for the two riders on their Bridgestone-shod RC 211Vs and these three days are the first step in preparation for the forthcoming tests to be held here in Sepang next month.

Makoto Tamada: 61 laps – 2:07.1 – “Very hot, and a huge amount of work. As the weather was good, we went round almost non-stop all day. After a bit, you get to feel the fatigue, but this initial stage of work is very important, and I haven’t yet found the perfect settings to build up a really fast speed. Itoh and I exchange data and information, and this helps us make progress.”

Shinichi Itoh: 76 laps – 2:05.6 – “I tried out many different tyre solutions, because what we want to do is to come back here in Sepang for another session of tests in mid-February. The work we’re doing now will help us make an initial selection and make even finer choices the next time we take to the track. The solutions we tried today led to better lap times, so I very pleased with the way things are going. It’s a painstaking job but it’ll soon bear fruit.”

Maximum ground temperature: 49° C

Last day of tests tomorrow at Sepang