Barros and Bayliss continue to improve on third test day in Qatar

The Qatar test concluded today, with lap records smashed all round thanks to the excellent conditions the MotoGP teams have encountered there this week. Tomorrow the Camel Honda will continue to lap the Losail circuit, more than anything to bring to a close the promotional work they began yesterday, whilst today the technical work came to an end. Both Alex Barros, who had a slight crash, and Troy Bayliss, improved their lap times, even using race tyres all day. The next appointment for the two riders Hill be the team’s presentation in Milan, whilst the next on-track session will  be the upcoming IRTA MotoGP test in Barcelona, from the 18th to 20th March.
 
Sito Pons Camel Honda
“It was yet another good day today, as we brought to an end the work we had scheduled, and finished up there amongst the quickest riders. Apart from Tamada, who used qualifying tyres for his lap time, the gap between the top riders is small and Alex is amongst them. Troy is also getting ever closer and has got a good rhythm going now. Today the team worked both on the set-up and on tyres, with tomorrow lined up for photos, as we originally planned.”

Alex Barros Camel Honda 1:57.38 (62 laps) 5th fastest
“I’m quite satisfied, although to be honest I hoped to go even better. When I was testing a new front tyre I slid out, nothing really, but here in the run-offs it’s not sand or gravel, it’s like little rocks. I can tell you, they’re pretty hard! So the bumps aside, we worked on the set-up, testing various electronic things without picking out anything for certain. Perhaps regarding the tyres I could say that there has been another step up in quality. I finished work on the front, whilst on the rear tyre there are still some things to try. Of the six new ones, I tried three. Even though I felt I could have ridden quicker, in general the tests have gone well, the relationship with the team is as strong as ever and we con look forward to the IRTA test with confidence.”

Troy Bayliss Camel Honda 1:58.18  (65 laps) 9th fastest
“I´m still not able to ride as I would like, but bit by bit I’m getting close. Here we worked on continuity, without changing too much on the bike but trying to find a good overall balance. I rode with race tyres throughout, and I even did my best time with soft tyres.”

LAP TIMES (official):
1. Tamada (Jap-Honda) 1:56.64: 2. Gibernau (Spa-Honda) 1:57.26; 3. Capirossi (Ita-Ducati) 1:57.32; 4. Melandri (Ita-Honda) 1:57.37; 5. Barros (Camel-Honda) 1:57.38: 6. Hayden (USA-Honda) 1:57.43; 7. Checa (Spa-Ducati) 1:57.52; 8. Biaggi (Ita-Honda) 1:57.63; 9. Bayliss (Camel-Honda) 1:58.18; 10. Rolfo (Ita-Ducati) 1:59.74.

More, from a press release issued by Telefonica Movistar Honda:

TYRE TESTS FOR BOTH TELEFONICA MOVISTAR RIDERS AND VERY POSITIVE ENDURANCE TEST FOR MARCO MELANDRI

Doha, Qatar, 3rd of March 2005
Temperature: 28°C air temperature, from 33°C to 45° the asphalt temperature.

The riders of the Team Telefonica Movistar Honda have concluded positively this fourth pre-season test, before the official IRTA test that will take place in Barcelona next 18, 19 and 20 march.

The Spaniard Sete Gibernau, who was still recovering from fever and not 100% fit, concentrated on tyre testing doing an important job for Michelin together with his team mate Marco Melandri, who carried on some significant tyre testing and a race-distance simulation with very good results.

MARCO MELANDRI: 1:57.31 77 laps:
“This 3-day test session in Qatar was very positive for me, I’m happy of the method of work we have used here. I believe that, mentally, I have done an important step forward. I have learned from the Australian test session and I came here more relaxed and with clear idea! s. Today we made some small modifications to the bike and worked a lot on tyre testing. This afternoon I made a race distance endurance with very positive results: I lapped consistently on low 1’58″even at the end of the race. For me it’s very important to understand the bike and see how it changes on a race distance.

SETE GIBERNAU: 1:57.32 57 laps:
“Considering my physical conditions, I can be quite satisfied of the work done. We focused on tyre testing and even if I was not 100% fit, I did the minimum work required for this test session. We are confirming the work done in Malaysia and Australia, there is still some things to improve and I hope that there will be some new things for Barcelona.”

NOT OFFICIAL LAP TIMES
1. Makoto Tamada 1:56.63
2. Marco Melandri 1:57.31
3. Sete Gibernau 1:57.32
4. Loris Capirossi 1:57.32
5. Alex Barros 1:57.38
6. Nicky Hayden 1:57.43
7. Carlos Checa 1:57.52
8. Max Biaggi 1:57.63
9. Troy Bayliss 1:58.21
10. Roberto Rolfo 1:59.74

More, from a press release issued by Honda Racing Information:

Makoto Tamada takes top spot at Qatar MotoGP test

Japanese Honda rider Makoto Tamada ended the three-day MotoGP test at Qatar with a scintillating lap time of 1:57.63 round the 5.400kms Losail circuit. Tamada’s time was an incredible 2.3s faster than pole position time set at the GP last October.

The Konica Minolta Honda rider and his technical crew have established a solid base line setting for the Honda RC211V with the Michelin tyres Tamada will use this season. Over the winter testing period Tamada has found the rhythm and consistency he will need if he is to challenge for  major honours when the season begins in earnest, at Jerez, Spain on April 10.

Nicky Hayden has grown in stature with each test aboard the new 2005 Honda RC211V 990cc V-5 grand prix machine and departs for his Kentucky home for a well earned rest. The Repsol Honda rider has developed a good feeling with his RCV that has instilled a high level of confidence as the 17-round championship series approaches. He rounded off the test with by setting his fastest time of the three-days, two seconds faster than his qualifying time at the Qatar GP last October.

Teammate Max Biaggi’s final day was one of mixed fortunes. Biaggi and the team achieved most of their objectives set for the day but their efforts were hampered when Biaggi lost the front end at turn 12 and slid off his RCV. The Italian was unscathed and the machine suffered only superficial damage allowing the team to complete their test programme.

Telefonica MoviStar Honda rider Sete Gibernau shook off the after effects of the fever which has plagued him at Qatar to set second fastest time on the final day of the test. The Spaniard’s condition restricted the number of laps he put in and the team elected to spend the time they had available to tyre testing.

Gibernau’s impressive young teammate Marco Melandri has shown his step by step approach to testing has paid off and he has mastered the power and handling characteristics of his RC211V. Melandri ran for 78-laps today mainly testing tyres running a race simulation distance to gauge tyre wear and behaviour as the race develops.

The Camel Honda team of Alex Barros and Troy Bayliss made progress today Barros despite a crash finished his front fork front tyre test to announce himself ‘Satisfied’ with his days work. Bayliss improved on his best lap times of yesterday while working to find optimum machine balance using race tyres. The Camel team will remain at Losail for an extra day of testing tomorrow.

Honda rider lap times and quotes:

Makoto Tamada, Konica Minolta Honda: 1:56.63 – 77 laps.
  “I’m very happy for what we have globally done in these three days since I have been the fastest rider during the second and the third day. My major satisfaction, apart from the lap times we have obtained, is the feeling I found with the bike. We confirmed also on this circuit after the performances during the Sepang and Phillip Island tests, that the package we have at our disposal for the season 2005 is at a highest level compare to the one we had the past season. Therefore I’m very trustful and I hope to be able to always perform at the maximum level during the season which is about to begin.”

Giulio Bernardelle Konica Minolta Honda Technical Director
“Today Makoto made it to demolish the best time obtained on this circuit last season by Checa, by been over two seconds and thirty cents faster. The results achieved during this test are simple to analyze as we only need to check the lap times. It doesn’t happen often to be able to work during tests, where everything goes well like it happened in the three days we have just spent. Our impression is that we have found a great basic setting as it concerns the bike’s frame and suspensions. In the last two tests we’ll have before the beginning of the season, we’ll mostly concentrate on the honing of the setting of the engine’s electronics.”

Repsol Honda, Nicky Hayden: 1:57.33 79 laps.
“After three days here we’re really starting to put it all together. I really enjoyed it here in Doha. There have been fewer riders around and we have really made some good progress. The conditions here have been good; less windy today. I’m back to Kentucky for a few days before coming back to Europe for the final tests before the season starts proper. I feel we’re in good shape; the team is working real good, and the bike is working well.”

Max Biaggi, Repsol Honda: 1:57.94 37 laps.
“Today was not the best day. We had wanted to make a race simulation but we make a small mistake and I lose the front end of the machine in Turn 12. There was not so much damage but it was hard to get re-started again. We struggled with the set-up of the bike here both on the first day and today. However, we have much data and we tested several interesting parts from HRC and in some cases we have some good results. The team is so strong and motivated. I really look forward to the next test at Barcelona and then move onto racing.”

Marco Melandri, Telefonica MoviStar Honda: 1:57.31 77 laps.
“This 3-day test session in Qatar was very positive for me, I’m happy of the method of work we have used here. I believe that, mentally, I have done an important step forward. I have learned from the Australian test session and I came here more relaxed and with clear ideas. Today we made some small modifications to the bike and worked a lot on tyre testing. This afternoon I made a race distance endurance with very positive results: I lapped consistently on low 1:58even at the end of the race. For me it’s very important to understand the bike and see how it changes on a race distance.

Sete Gibernau, Telefonica MoviStar Honda: 1:57.32 57 laps.
“Considering my physical conditions, I can be quite satisfied of the work done. We focused on tyre testing and even if I was not 100% fit, I did the minimum work required for this test session. We are confirming the work done in Malaysia and Australia, there is still some things to improve and I hope that there will be some new things for Barcelona.”

Alex Barros, Camel Honda: 1:57.38 – 62 laps.
“I’m quite satisfied, although to be honest I hoped to go even better. When I was testing a new front tyre I slid out, nothing really, but here in the run-offs it’s not sand or gravel, it’s like little rocks. I can tell you, they’re pretty hard! So the bumps aside, we worked on the set-up, testing various electronic things without picking out anything for certain. Perhaps regarding the tyres I could say that there has been another step up in quality. I finished work on the front, whilst on the rear tyre there are still some things to try. Of the six new ones, I tried three. Even though I felt I could have ridden quicker, in general the tests have gone well, the relationship with the team is as strong as ever and we con look forward to the IRTA test with confidence.”

Troy Bayliss, Camel Honda: 1:58.18 – 65 laps.
“I´m still not able to ride as I would like, but bit by bit I’m getting close. Here we worked on continuity, without changing too much on the bike but trying to find a good overall balance. I rode with race tyres
throughout, and I even did my best time with soft tyres.”

Sito Pons Camel Honda Team Principle.
“It was yet another good day today, as we brought to an end the work we had scheduled, and finished up there amongst the quickest riders. Apart from Tamada, who used qualifying tyres for his lap time, the gap between the top riders is small and Alex is amongst them. Troy is also getting ever closer and has got a good rhythm going now. Today the team worked both on the set-up and on tyres, with tomorrow lined up for photos, as we originally planned.”

More, from a press release issued by Marlboro Ducati:

DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM WRAPS UP TESTING IN QATAR

Capirossi and Checa prepare for forthcoming IRTA tests with an improvement in lap times and satisfaction for the work carried out in collaboration with Bridgestone.

Doha (Qatar), 3 March 2005 -  The Ducati Marlboro Team concluded the third and final day of testing at the Losail circuit in Qatar, the fourth scheduled test for the development of the Bridgestone-shod Ducati
Desmosedici GP5. Loris Capirossi and Carlos Checa made the best of today’s final session, which took place in perfect weather conditions (28° air/33-50° track) on a surface that gradually improved over the three days.

The Qatar circuit is particularly tough on the front tyre, so both riders concentrated on getting the best performance from the bike exclusively in a race configuration.

Ducati Marlboro Team engineers also managed to identify several promising set-up and tyre solutions, which clearly have to be developed in the next scheduled tests before the start of the championship.

Loris Capirossi succeeded in improving on yesterday’s performance, and the Italian recorded a best time of 1:57.320 in his 54 laps.

“I am quite pleased with the work we have done over the past three days. We’re still not 100% right with the front but we are on the right path” commented Capirossi. “The GP5 is also going really well on this track and I am sure that the tyres will show further improvement before we come here to race in October. I didn’t want to use a qualifying tyre because we concentrated on development work that was far too important to be distracted by the search for sensational times: we are working calmly, there will be time for that in the future”.

Team-mate Carlos Checa was just a fraction of a second behind Loris, the Spanish rider recording a best time of 1:57.350 in his 60 laps.

“We got through a lot of work today: it wasn’t easy and I think that everyone should be pleased with the results obtained” declared Checa. “We improved a lot since the first day but what is really good is the constant progress that we made: it means that we worked well on a track that last year didn’t give much satisfaction either to Bridgestone or to the Ducati Marlboro Team. We are improving all the time and this test puts me in a good frame of mind for the future”.
 
With the start of the 2005 MotoGP championship just around the corner, the development of the Desmosedici GP5 is continuing in parallel with the promising partnership with the Japanese tyre constructor. 

The Ducati Marlboro Team’s next testing appointments are as follows:

March 18-20, Barcellona – IRTA Test
March 25-27, Jerez de la Frontera, IRTA Test

Used with permission from www.cdnsuperbike.com:

The Parts Canada Superbike Championship Series will hold a pre-season warm up session at Jennings Grand Prix in North Florida, Monday, April 18 and Tuesday, April 19.

Sponsored by Kawasaki, Yamaha and Honda, the sessions will be open at no charge to all Pro racers with eligible equipment for the Parts Canada Pro Superbike Feature class or Hindle Exhaust Pro 600cc Sport Bike class.

In previous years, poor weather and strict testing guidelines have hindered teams’ abilities to prepare for the upcoming season. The Jennings sessions should allow productive set-up time prior to the opening of the 2005 Parts Canada Superbike Championship tour at Shannonville Motorsport Park’s Pro track, May 19-22.

The Jennings venue is a 2 mile, 14 turn circuit dedicated to motorcycle use. Located just south of Florida’s border with Georgia, the venue is just west from major Highway I-75. Information is available at the track’s web site, www.jenningsgp.com. Canadian racers including Pascal Picotte, Steve Crevier, Francis Martin, and Matt McBride have tested at the track during the winter, while Yamaha’s Frank Trombino is a one time class lap record holder at North Florida.

The April 18 and 19 tests will be conducted as per National event standards, with Technical Inspection and full supervision. Although the details have yet to be confirmed, plans include operating the official series Yamaha-backed dbCom timing system throughout the test.

Gates will open at 8:00AM on Monday April 18 for Registration and Tech, with on-track activity slated to start at 10:00, ending at 5:00PM. On Tuesday, sessions begin at 9:00 AM. Track testing will take place rain or shine, although organizing group Professional Motorsports Productions are looking for the sun!

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., — The Daytona 200, one of the most prestigious motorcycle events in North America, will be sponsored by Honda, Daytona International Speedway officials announced today.

The 64th Daytona 200 By Honda, scheduled for Saturday, March 12, will feature the Formula Xtreme Series from the American Motorcycle Association (AMA) in a 68-lap event on the Speedway’s redesigned 2.95-mile road course.

“We’re thrilled to announce Honda as the sponsor of the prestigious Daytona 200,” Speedway President Robin Braig said. “We’ve had a long-standing relationship with Honda and we’re excited to extend that with one of the premier motorcycles races in the country.”

“The Daytona 200 has a rich and exciting heritage in American racing,” said Ray Blank, American Honda’s Motorcycle Division Vice President,  “We won our first Daytona 200 35 years ago with Dick Mann and the CB750. We look forward to great racing this year and a continued relationship with Daytona International Speedway.”

Honda also serves as the sponsor of the Daytona Supercross By Honda, scheduled for Friday, March 11 under the lights at “The World Center of Racing,” and is the official motorcycle of Daytona International Speedway.

Tickets for all the upcoming motorcycle races at Daytona International Speedway are available online at http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.

Tamada tops the Qatar time sheet on day two of MotoGP test.

Japanese rider Makoto Tamada set the fastest time of the day on the second day of MotoGP testing at the 5.400kms Losail circuit today. Tamada, riding the Konica Minolta liveried Honda RC211V, was in scintillating form all day. The ever smiling Japanese shook off the lingering stiffness from his crash at Phillip Island last week started his day testing chassis and suspension improvements before moving on to Michelin tyre testing. Tamada used the latest Michelin race tyres to set a lap time of 1:57.69, an incredible 3 seconds faster than his qualifying time for the Qatar GP held in October 2004.

American Nicky Hayden has hit a rich vein of form in recent tests and he carried it over into today. The Repsol Honda factory team rider has quickly found his way with the 2005 version of the RC211V and is in confident mood. Hayden tested transmission developments and a new Michelin front race tyre while setting his best time of the day, just one-tenth of a second slower
than Tamada.

Teammate Biaggi had a better day today than on opening day. The Italian experimented with the geometry of his RCV and different suspension setting and immediately felt more comfortable on the Repsol Honda. He goes into the final day of the test with renewed confidence.

Camel Honda riders Alex Barros and Troy Bayliss hardly did 50-laps between them dividing their day between testing and a team photo shoot but in the short time they were running they achieved the objectives they set
themselves for the day. Bayliss was particularly happy with his performance, and perseverance, the Australian slashed over two seconds off his best time of yesterday.

Honda rider lap times and quotes:

Makoto Tamada, Konica Minolta Honda: 1:57.69 – 60 laps.
“I’m very happy because we understand day after day that our situation is getting better and better, and the lap times we have achieved today are the proof of our evolution. Today I have achieved with racing tyres, a lap time more than three seconds faster than the time I have obtained during the past season qualifying sessions. This makes me even happier if I think that
we’ll be able to reach a higher level of competitiveness before the beginning of the championship. Also my physical conditions are getting better. I have almost fully recovered from the hard hit that I have suffered during the slip on the Phillip Island circuit and today I was able to work all day without any sort of problem.”

Giulio Bernardelle – Konica Minolta Honda Technical Director
“This morning we finished the first part of the work done yesterday on the bike’s frame and suspensions, and in the middle part of the day, we tested new front and rear tyres that Michelin has furnished us. The impression we have obtained after trying this new racing tyres, is that they are much better compare to the ones we have used during the first winter test. I have to thanks my team because we are working only on one bike after that the other one has been wrecked in Australia, and they are working with a lot of enthusiasm to make all the changes on one bike as quickly as possible to be able to try different solutions from lap to lap.”

Nicky Hayden, Repsol Honda: 1:57.78 – 78 laps.
“We knocked a bit more off yesterday’s time which was satisfying. We made some changes in the transmission and we used a different front tyre compound which increased grip and confidence levels a little. The track defiantly has a bit more grip than yesterday but its still pretty windy round here. We have a few new parts to test for the bike – some of which seem to be working well. It’s all going generally in the right direction.”

Max Biaggi, Repsol Honda: 1:57.79 – 71 laps.
“We did better today. We tried a different set-up with different geometry and different suspension settings and the feeling was immediately better. We are still trying to improve the handling and it’s coming better. I trust
everyone around me and we are all working hard for the best results. We still have quite a lot of work to do on the front with tyres from Michelin and some adjustment from the Showa guys. Tomorrow we hope to complete a
full race simulation.”

Sete Gibernau, Telefonica MoviStar Honda: 1:58.66 – 40 laps.
“I made only some few laps to test some solutions for HRC and some tyre testing. Unfortunately I’m still suffering from fever and I couldn’t give the indications I wanted I prefer to wait tomorrow morning. I hope to feel better because we have a lot of work to do.”

Marco Melandri, Telefonica MoviStar Honda: 1:57 948 – 58 laps:
“I’m very happy of today test session. We worked a lot with tyres and made some small modifications at the set up. I have found a good feeling with the bike and already this morning I improved my rhythm, lapping in low 1:58. I think that I have made here a step forward both in my riding style and approach to tests. What I like of my bike is that the RC211V doesn’t need many modifications from one track to another so I have time to understand the bike and adapt my riding style. Tomorrow, third and last day of test here in Qatar, I’d like to make a long run.”

Alex Barros, Camel Honda: 1:57.80 – 26 laps.
“We got through twenty-six laps today, so still short of what’s needed to get the set-up right. More than anything we tested new tyres, four fronts to be exact, before we stopped for the photo shoot. In the next two days, however, we will focus entirely on the set-up of the bike.”

Troy Bayliss, Camel Honda: 1:58.55 – 25 laps.
“We didn’t ride too much today either, but nonetheless I’m very happy. In those few laps I was able to improve my time considerably from yesterday’s, taking over two seconds off it! I can see the improvements coming and we’ve found a good direction. Tomorrow and Friday we will be able to make the most of all the time left and we will be able to work on the data we’ve picked up today.”

Yamaha’s factory AMA Supersport racers Jamie Hacking, Damon Buckmaster, Aaron Gobert and Jason DiSalvo are entered in the Formula USA races scheduled March 6 at Daytona International Speedway.

“The main thing is Jamie (Hacking) doesn’t have any time at all on that track,” Yamaha Team Manager Tom Halverson told Roadracingworld.com. “He was still recuperating from his surgery (to re-plate a collarbone that was originally broken during the 2004 season) during the January test, so he didn’t get to ride on the new (infield) layout at all. So that’s one big concern, to get him track time.

“Of course, if we’re going to do it for him we might as well all go down there and learn something while the truck’s there.

“We just plan to do the practices and if need be we’ll do the races, but we left there (tire test in January) with a pretty good set-up. All three guys were going real fast. Hopefully, it will be enough time to get Jamie comfortable on the track and maybe even get a little bit better on the set-up.”

The only other major AMA team known to be planning to attend the Formula USA races at Daytona is Team M4 EMGO Suzuki with Vincent Haskovec and Geoff May.

Another interesting aspect to the plans of the factory Yamaha team, it, like the factory Kawasaki team, will be finished at Daytona on Thursday, March 10, when both the Supersport and Superstock races are run.

The Yamaha/Graves Yamaha and Kawasaki teams are planning to pack up and leave Daytona either Thursday night or Friday, during the AMA Supercross day at the track, in order to get their trucks to Infineon Raceway in time for a March 17-18 test there.

Busy day for Alex and Troy divided between track tests and photo shoots

It was a day full of hard work for Alex and Troy, who today divided their time between some very positive tests on the track, and preparing the photographic material for the upcoming team presentation in Milan, on March 16th. The team therefore made the most of the time at hand, before they dedicate the whole of next two days to on-track testing the team actually will keep working here until Friday. There was a lot of satisfaction flying around the Camel Honda box, with both riders on the pace despite having put in a lot fewer laps than their rivals.

Sito Pons Camel Honda
“I’m very satisfied with the work both riders and the team are doing: whilst we only dedicated a part of the day to tests, we we’re on a par with the fastest out there and that means that our preparations are going well for the season. Alex was fast straight away as in previous test sessions and Troy is constantly improving on the Honda. He looks a lot more at ease to me now and I think that this test, after Jerez, is the test he has gone best in. The riders’ times are very similar, and that means there’s good balance, which should guarantee a fascinating and hard-fought season. Today we anticipated a bit of the work we had to do later in the week, the promotional work had been planned for Friday, so in the next two days we will have more time to concentrate fully on our technical testing.”

Alex Barros Camel Honda 1:57.80 (26 laps) 6th fastest
“We got through twenty-six laps today, so still short of what’s needed to get the set-up right. More than anything we tested new tyres, four fronts to be exact, before we stopped for the photo shoot. In the next two days, however, we will focus entirely on the set-up of the bike.”

Troy Bayliss Camel Honda 1:58.55  (25 laps) 8th fastest
“We didn’t ride too much today either, but nonetheless I’m very happy. In those few laps I was able to improve my time considerably from yesterday’s, taking over two seconds off it! I can see the improvements coming and we’ve found a good direction. Tomorrow and Friday we will be able to make the most of all the time left and we will be able to work on the data we’ve picked up today.”

More, from a press release issued by Marlboro Ducati:

CAPIROSSI SETS QUICK TIME WITH THE DESMOSEDICI IN QATAR

Loris Capirossi ends the second day of testing with a time of 1:57.69. Carlos Checa just two-tenths of a second slower. Both riders carried out tests with several different Bridgestone front tyres.

Doha (Qatar), 2 March 2005 – The Ducati Marlboro Team has concluded the second day of a three-day test at the Losail circuit in Qatar. Despite strong winds, the good weather (air 28° C/track 48° C) helped Loris Capirossi and Carlos Checa complete the scheduled programme and carry out tests with several different types of front race tyres.

While yesterday Loris Capirossi had concentrated on establishing a good set-up for his Desmosedici GP5, today the Italian tested the numerous front tyres brought by Bridgestone and ended with an excellent time of 1:57.69 in his 58 laps.

“Today was a really tough day, but it gave me a lot of satisfaction” commented Loris. “We tried a lot of front tyres and at the end of the day three rear race tyres. I set a good time, I’m pleased about that but am ready to work even harder tomorrow”.

As well as the tyres, Loris also tested a number of different gearbox settings.

Carlos Checa was also on the pace, recording a quickest time of 1:57.91 in his 60 laps. The Spanish rider also concentrated almost entirely on the front tyres.

“We worked a lot with the front tyres, I tested several different types but in the end found a good compromise” declared Carlos. “It was a long hard day, but I am pleased that I was able to get the most out of it. The track also improved, we were able to work better than yesterday and as a result the times were quicker”.

Tomorrow the Ducati Marlboro Team will wrap up the three-day test at the Doha circuit, where it will return for the Qatar GP on Saturday 1 October.

The next test sessions for the team are:
Barcelona – IRTA Tests, 18-20 March
Jerez de la Frontera – IRTA Tests, 25-27 March

MARCO MELANDRI IMPROVES IN RHYTHM AND CONFIANCE AT LOSAIL, QATAR

Sete Gibernau, still suffering from fever, makes only some few laps
Doha, Qatar, 2nd March 2005- Day 2
Temperature: 28°C air temperature, 40°C tarmac temperature

Second day of test for the motoGP teams at Losail, Qatar where next 1st October there will be the second GP of the desert.

Today, Sete Gibernau, winner of the 2004 Grand Prix of Qatar, went on track only for a few laps because he was still suffering from fever.

His team mate, Marco Melandri, that yesterday had set a time faster than pole position of the 2004 GP (Checa 1:58.988), improved his rhythm, 1:57.80 his best time.

SETE GIBERNAU, 1:58.66 40 laps :
“I made only some few laps to test some solutions for HRC and some tyre testing. Unfortunately I’m still suffering from fever and I couldn’t give the indications I wanted, I prefer to wait tomorrow morning. I hope to feel better because we have a lot of work to do.”

MARCO MELANDRI, 1:57.948 58 laps:
“I’m very happy of today test session. We worked a lot with tyres and made some small modifications at the set up. I have found a good feeling with the bike and already this morning I improved my rhythm, lapping in low 1:58. I think that I have made here a step forward both in my riding style and approach to tests. What I like of my bike is that the RC211V doesn’t need many modifications from one track to another so I have time to understand the bike and adapt my riding style. Tomorrow, third and last day of test here in Qatar, I’d like to make a long run.”

UNOFFICIAL LAP TIME
1. Makoto Tamada 1:57.69
2. Loris Capirossi 1:57.70
3. Nicky Hayden 1:57.78
4. Max Biaggi 1:57.79
5. Marco Melandri 1:57.80
6. Alex Barros 1:57.89
7. Carlos Checa 1:57.90
8. Troy Baylis 1:58.55
9. Sete Gibernau 1:58.66
10. Roberto Rolfo 2:03.00

Jack takes positives from Qatar
 
New FPR race boss Jack Valentine was able to take a number of positives from his first round with the team into the two tests planned for this month.

The team fly out to Spain next week for the second official SBK winter test at Valencia and then spend Easter weekend at Phillip Island for more developmental work before the next round.

But Jack believes that both riders were able to make significant progress at the challenging Losail circuit.

He said: “We’re getting there with finding very workable set ups for both riders and things are coming together well. We just need to keep carrying this forward now and improve our qualifying positions as well, which will also help to make the riders’ jobs in the race easier.

“In the first race Steve had a good start and ran consistent laps for the whole race so it’s good he was able to turn that into a point. Garry unfortunately suffered with clutch problems although in the time between the red flag and the restart of race one, we were able to change it to a setting that worked better for him.

“It’s disappointing we were unable to score points again in the second race due to Steve losing an engine with just two laps to go. Between races we made another step forward with the clutch for Garry but this still needs further work at the test in Valencia.”