From a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

Tester Shinichi Itoh gets to grips with the Desmosedici at Sepang. Carlos Checa also on the track for an extra day’s testing.

Sepang (Malaysia), 10 February 2005 – The Tyre Test Team made its debut today on the Malaysian track in typically torrid conditions (38-40° air/62° track), but the first day’s running has already produced positive results.

In the morning Shinichi Itoh started off by switching between the two new GP5 machines, which will be given to Loris Capirossi and Carlos Checa tomorrow. The presence of the Japanese rider has enabled the new bike to be given its shakedown before the two Ducati Marlboro Team riders start testing tomorrow.

At around 4.30 in the afternoon Itoh started working with the Ducati-Bridgestone Tyre Test Team Desmosedici GP4 that he will have at his disposal for this session. He ended the day with a best time of 2:04.30.

Carlos Checa was also hard at work, starting a day earlier than his team-mate Loris Capirossi, who will begin his Malaysia test tomorrow Friday. The Spanish rider, who was forced to miss the final two days of testing in January, wanted to get an early start to make up for the time lost.

“I am pleased to be able to have this possibility” declared Checa, “Today was useful because it helped me to shake off a bit of accumulated ‘rust’. Unfortunately two weeks ago I was not feeling well and I only tested the first day, so today was more or less my first time out in 2005. Now I am ready to put my head down and work for the three days of testing ahead”.

Carlos completed a total of 40 laps, setting a quickest time of 2:03.60.

Loris Capirossi will be testing with Checa from tomorrow to Sunday.

Carlos Checa: 2:03.60
Shinichi Itoh: 2:04.30