From a press release issued by Honda Racing Information:
MotoGP Test, January 20 2004, Sepang, Malaysia
2004 pre-season in full swing for Honda riders at Sepang
The New Year saw its first MotoGP action at the Sepang Circuit today, with a packed test session at the Malaysian track bringing to an end the testing prohibition in place for the last month. In contrast to the thunderous downpours that shrouded the region on the eve of the test, the Honda riders were greeted with bright sunshine on their arrival at the circuit around 9am, and began work right away to avoid the forecast afternoon drenching.
With the air temperature hovering between the 30º C and 35º C mark throughout the day, testing is tough at this circuit for both rider and machine, but the limit-pushing extremes of this, the accommodating yet challenging circuit and the constant warm asphalt temperatures mean that testing here is vital to most team’s pre-season plans. Camel Pramac Pons’ Max Biaggi is a past winner here, and is no stranger to the conditions, he clocked a lap time of 2:03.47 today, breaking the lap record set in the race here just three months ago. Following him past this benchmark was Telefonica MoviStar Honda’s Sete Gibernau, who set a best lap of 2:03.51, last year’s runner-up keen not to be outdone in the early psychological battles.
Gibernau’s new team-mate Colin Edwards continues his rapid adaptation to the RC211V, setting a 2:04.26, with Camel Honda’s Makoto Tamada enjoying the extreme track conditions to record a 2:04.00 on his Bridgestone shod RCV. Nicky Hayden made his first ride of the 2004 pre-season after undergoing surgery on his thumb, and posted a 2:04.72, whilst Tohru Ukawa rode a development machine in his new role as HRC’s official test rider, clocking 2:05.66. The riders stopped around an hour early at 4pm due to light rain affecting parts of the track.
Max Biaggi – 2:03.47. 47 laps
I had a good month’s rest, which we need to recharge the batteries for this pan-continental test. I like the conditions here in Malaysia, hot and humid, when you haven’t got too many things to test, it’s certainly good physical preparation. We are working on a single bike here, waiting for the new machines, and we are testing mainly suspension and tyres. It’s good, because it will make a good comparison when the 2004 bike arrives and we test it here next month.
Sete Gibernau – 2:03.51. 58 laps
I’ve trained well so it wasn’t really a problem riding today in the heat, although obviously you have to settle into things first. My morale is so high at the moment, and it’s helped today by the fact that we have already made improvements on the race record time. We worked mainly on tyres today, and with Michelin’s 17″ front. For the rest of the test we’ll probably move on to suspension and other such things, but I’m happy with our work today.
Makoto Tamada- 2:04.00. 41 laps.
We didn’t really work on tyres today as I expected, and concentrated more on the machine set-up as a whole, which showed some good results. The conditions are difficult here, but today as a whole was good, I’ve done my training well, so it was no problem for me at all. The rest of this test we will dedicate now to the tyres above all.
Colin Edwards – 2:04.72. 51 laps.
We were working a bit on the set-up, which isn’t too different from that of Valencia to be honest, and also playing with a few different rims, working with Michelin. We’ve tried a lot of that before so not much new there. As for my adaptation to the new bike in these conditions, after having been in the mountains and with thin air for a month I thought I might come here a hero, but it’s still too hot! As regards my adaptation, Hondas have a certain character, and whether it’s Superbike or MotoGP, it’s got those similar characteristics, so it’s never a problem for me, just getting back into the swing.
Nicky Hayden – 2:04.72. 57 laps
“That was great to get back on the bike and open the throttle after what has felt like quite a time. It’s good to see all the team again – exactly the same as last year so it feels real comfortable. We had a little difficulty at the start of the session but quickly resolved it and started to have fun. I had hoped to carry on more but the rain came so we packed up mid-afternoon. We’ve still got two days here, which is good. My hand has held up well today; feels a lil’ weak but that’s not surprising. A pretty good and enjoyable first day back.”
Tohru Ukawa – 2:05.66. 62 laps.
So this is the first time for me as a test rider, which is a strange situation. I’m happy with the direction that the development bike is going, with the new engine, frame and suspension spec all looking good to me. However I wasn’t happy with my lap time. The bike feels comfortable and everything, and physically I am okay, I think that just as test rider it will take time to get used to. There are still two days though, so by the last day I hope to have set a good time.
Biaggi Under Race Lap Record During Day One Of Sepang Test
Biaggi Under Race Lap Record During Day One Of Sepang Test
© 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
