From a press release issued by Honda Racing:

HRC Winter test Phillip Island, February 25, 2003

Rossi Fastest at HRC Phillip Island Test

The Repsol Honda team continue their preparations for the 2003 MotoGP season with a three-day test at the Phillip Island circuit, Victoria. Reigning MotoGP World Champion and teammate, American Superbike Champion Nicky Hayden, put in a good days work on the opening day, once the early morning mist had cleared.

Rossi was in particularly good form on the spectacular seaside track, the circuit on which he clinched his 500cc Word Championship title in 2001, and recorded his 50th GP victory in 2002.

The Italian Superstar gave ample indication that HRC have not been resting on their laurels over the winter. The RC211V five-cylinder four-stroke MotoGP contender scorched around the 4.448km circuit. Rossi took 0.7 seconds off his qualifying time for the 2002 GP held at the track!

Valentino Rossi: “It’s one of my best circuits and it is always a great pleasure to ride here. My motorcycle is going well. Already today we went faster than my best lap in qualifying for the GP in 2002. (1m32.849s) Today we try different solutions to find the best settings for the tyres, suspension and the transmission. The team is working very well and they seem relaxed – Australia is home for many of them! I’m hoping over the next two days to find even better solutions to make the bike better for the championship. The weather here is great – it will be difficult to come back to the cold of Europe!”

For Hayden the Phillip Island circuit is an all-new experience, as all test tracks have been for the 21-year-old American from Owensboro, Kentucky. Hayden needs as much track time aboard the RCV as possible before the 2003 season opens on April 6, at Suzuka, Japan.

Nicky Hayden: “This circuit I enjoy very much – I’m havin’ a good time ridin’ here, learnin’ the layout. I guess it was gettin’ kinda’ boring going round and round Sepang. It’s always nice going to new tracks and this one here for sure is good fun. We were a little late gettin’ on the track this morning, as there was a real fine mist. Things progressed pretty quickly to a certain point then around lunch I just kinda got in a rut and I didn’t really go much better this afternoon. I didn’t keep movin’ forward as much as I’d have liked to but you know – I’ve got two more days here and am looking forward to gettin’ some more laps here and keep on learnin’.”

The Pramac Honda Team is also testing at Phillip Island with team rider Makoto Tamada testing the new RC211V, and a large selection of Bridgestone tyres. Tamada, like Nicky Hayden – a new man to MotoGP, has a lot too learn before the opening grand prix of the season, and like Hayden he has a huge capacity for hard work. Tamada put in 88 laps of the track on day one.

HRC test rider Shinichi Itoh again assisted Tamada, in evaluating the range of new tyres. Itoh’s input was particularly useful as raced at Phillip Island on Bridgestone tyres in the 2002 GP, racing a Kanemoto NSR500 two-stroke. Near veteran Itoh has a wealth of experience testing all types of Honda machinery and his ability to supply precise feedback is invaluable to the HRC and Bridgestone technicians.

Shinichi Itoh: “This is my first time at Phillip Island on the RCV four-stroke, I raced Erv’s NSR500 here at the GP last October. Of course the two bikes are completely different but I found it easy to ride the RCV fast round here. Today I worked on the front and rear suspension to find the best setting for the circuit, and the tyres. Even if it was not perfect at the end of the day I could run my time easily. I must say that considering they have not raced here with a four-stroke the performance of the Bridgestone’s has been very impressive.”

Makoto Tamada: “This is my first time at Phillip Island and I’m very impressed! The circuit has both uphill and downhill sections and it was a little difficult to find the best line at first. I know I can go much faster at this track but it’s not so easy for me to set fast lap times until I have found the best machine settings. Tomorrow will be better with the settings we will run.”

Fastest lap times
Valentino Rossi, ITA Repsol Honda 1:32.1 (92 laps)

Nicky Hayden, USA Repsol Honda 1:34.5 (85 laps)

Shinichi Itoh, JPN Pramac Honda 1:33.0 (78 laps)

Makoto Tamada, JPN Pramac Honda 1:34.3 (88 laps))

From a press release issued by Daytona International Speedway:

BMW Motorrad International BoxerCup Joins Daytona 200 Week
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., — The BMW Motorrad International BoxerCup will make its first-ever stop in the United States on Sunday, March 9 with a 13-lap season opener at Daytona International Speedway.

The BMW Motorrad International BoxerCup, which features riders aboard BMW R 1100 S motorcycles, will start at 11:30 a.m. and serve as a prelude to the 62nd Daytona 200 By Arai.

The Daytona 200 By Arai, the season opener to the AMA Superbike season, will follow the BMW Motorrad International BoxerCup at 1 p.m.

“We’re thrilled to welcome the BMW Motorrad International BoxerCup to America for the first time,” Speedway President Robin Braig. “We expect this series to be an exciting addition to the Daytona 200 Week schedule.”

There will be 49 riders, including 14 competitors from the United States, battling for 13 laps on Daytona’s famed 3.56-mile road course in the BMW Motorrad International BoxerCup Final.

Jay Springsteen, Nate Kern and Tripp Nobles are among the 14 American riders. The rest of the field will be filled with European riders from countries such as the Netherlands, Belgium, United Kingdom, France, Austria, Spain, Germany and Italy.

Including the season opener at Daytona, the BMW Motorrad International BoxerCup boasts a nine-race schedule that goes through France, England, Italy, Spain, Netherlands and Germany, five of which will be held as part of the MotoGP Motorcycle World Championship Series.

Tickets for Daytona 200 Week are available online at http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling the Speedway ticket office at (386) 253-7223.

From a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing:

62nd ANNUAL DAYTONA 200 BY ARAI USHERS IN A NEW ERA IN THE AMA CHEVY TRUCKS U.S. SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP

PICKERINGTON, Ohio – The 62nd running of the Daytona 200 by Arai on Sunday, March 9, at Daytona International Speedway will serve as a milestone in the evolution of the AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship. The 2003 edition of the race will feature a broad mix of motorcycles, including 1000cc four-cylinder machines, 1000cc V-Twins and traditional 750cc four-cylinder superbikes. All of this a result of new rules put in place by AMA Pro Racing reflecting the changing marketplace and to more closely align the race bikes with the respective street bike versions. The rules should help more teams field competitive superbikes. The impressive entry list for this year’s Daytona 200 is a positive sign that the changes brought about by the new rules will produce a more exciting race. This year marks the first major change in the bikes that race in the Daytona 200 since AMA Superbikes replaced the old AMA Formula One bikes in 1985. Additionally, an international field of riders representing nine countries will be present.

Based on pre-season testing, this year’s 200 could be one of the most competitive in years. One of the leading candidates to win this year’s race is Yoshimura Suzuki’s Mat Mladin. The three-time AMA Superbike Champion was forced to miss last year’s race when he crashed and injured his elbow during a pre-Daytona 200 practice session. Prior to last year’s race, Mladin was the hottest rider on the high banks since Mr. Daytona himself, five-time winner Scott Russell. The Aussie Mladin won the celebrated race in 2000 and again in 2001. This year, he will ride Yoshimura’s new Suzuki GSXR1000-based superbike.

“The bike’s working good,” a confident Mladin told Roadracing World after testing in California last month. “Suzuki’s done a great job with the new frame and chassis. It steers better than the old 750 and everything. It feels like my 1999-2000 750 more than the (bike) we raced in 2002.”

It was Honda rider Nicky Hayden who won both the Daytona 200 and the AMA Superbike title last year. Honda moved Hayden up to contest the World Championship MotoGP circuit. While American Honda lost a great rider in Hayden, it comes to the table this season with former AMA Superbike champions Miguel Duhamel and Ben Bostrom, along with Kurtis Roberts, son of the legendary three-time Daytona 200 winner Kenny Roberts.

Veteran Miguel Duhamel is seeking his fourth victory in the 200. The Montreal native, who now lives in Las Vegas, won his first Daytona 12 years ago, yet feels he has a great shot at winning again in 2003. “I have a proven bike in the Honda RC51 and I have the best crew behind me,” said Duhamel, the all-time winningest rider in AMA Superbike history. “The competition for this year’s race is shaping up to be the best in years and I’m hoping I can rise to the occasion to keep the Daytona 200 title with Honda.”

1998 AMA Superbike champ Ben Bostrom is back racing in America after a successful three-year run in World Superbike. Bostrom was very fast in Daytona tire testing and is a good bet to improve on his previous best Daytona 200 finish of fourth in 1999.

Kurtis Roberts is coming into the prime of his racing career and is poised to become only the second rider to win the Daytona 200 after his father. Don Emde accomplished the feat in 1972, following in the footsteps of his father Floyd who won 24 years earlier. It’s been 19 years since Kurtis’ renowned dad, Kenny, won the 200.

Another pre-race favorite to win is Kawasaki’s Eric Bostrom, younger brother of Ben. Eric has finished second in the AMA Superbike Championship the last two seasons and is more than ready to discard the title of bridesmaid. Bostrom is hoping to bring back the glory days of Kawasaki at Daytona, when the company won three times with Scott Russell in the early-to-mid 1990s. This will be Bostrom’s fourth appearance in the Daytona 200, and he’ll be riding one of the old school 750cc-based superbikes, a Kawasaki ZX-7RR. His previous best result was – as you might have guessed – second in 2001.

Ducati is easily the longest-suffering manufacturer in the history of the Daytona 200. Ducatis have raced in the event since 1966, but have never managed to come out on top. The Italian brand came agonizingly close in 1992, when Ducati-mounted Doug Polen was nipped at the finish line by Scott Russell in one of the closest races in the history of the 200. Ducati factory riders Troy Corser (1994) and Carl Fogarty (1995) both finished second, each to Russell, albeit not as close as Polen. Ducati is pinning its hopes this year on Anthony Gobert and Larry Pegram. This will be Gobert’s seventh start in the 200. He finished a career-best third last year. For Pegram it will be his 10th Daytona, with his top result of sixth coming in 2001.

If Ducati is the hard-luck manufacturer, then Doug Chandler claims that title among riders. Chandler first raced the classic in 1988. He’s finished on the podium four times, including runner-up twice. Now at 37, Chandler realizes his chances of ever winning the biggest motorcycle race in America are quickly fading. He returns for yet another try this year, riding a No Limit Motorsports Honda CBR954RR, one of the new breed of superbikes.

Others to watch in this year’s 200 include Yoshimura Suzuki youngster Ben Spies and his veteran teammate Aaron Yates. Suzuki will also have strong entries from the Valvoline EMGO Suzuki squad with Chris Ulrich and Steve Rapp, and Attack Suzuki’s Jason Pridmore. The race will be broadcast live on Speed Channel. The pre-race show begins at 12:30 p.m. Eastern and live flag-to-flag coverage of the Daytona 200 starts at 1:00 p.m.

From a press release:

Rising motorcycle star Chris Vermeulen launched his new web site www.chrisvermeulen.com.

With thousands of fans world wide, the 20 year old saw the need to be able to interact with his fan base.

“Season 2003 will be the most exciting of my career and I thought it was important to be able to share it with the people who have supported me the most, the fans!” Vermeulen said from Spain on the eve of the first race of the championship.

“Chris Vermeulen.com will keep you up to date every step of the way as I travel around the world in search of that all important championship. All the latest news will be posted and I’ll be letting you in on as much behind the scenes information as I can,” the Honda rider added.

The site was designed by Jean Paul Pallandre of the dynamic Acura Multimedia.

Please add to links www.chrisvermeulen.com

From a press release:

RACE FUEL SALES SERVICE

Nutec Fuel will be available at Daytona Bike Week February 26th through March 8th.

Nutec will be accepting pre-orders through February 25th at 10% off (Call Daniel at 310-641-8015) and will be on site from the 26th through the 8th Cell phone in Daytona 310-902-4258

Special 5 * Pro-MX * GP-2 * Pro-Jet in 5 gal. rails and 15 gal. drums

We believe you deserve the best to WIN!

For a dealer near you or any other information check us out on the web www.nutecdivision.com or call 310-641-8015

From a press release:

Aprilia USA announces 2003 contingency program


Woodstock, GA Tuesday: Aprilia USA has announced its 2003 racing contingency program for the Aprilia RS250, RSV Mille Class Motorcycles and AMA 250 GP.

Aprilia USA is posting its 2003 contingency program for the RS250 Aprilia, RSV 1000 Mille / Mille R (including Tuono and Falco series) and 250 GP racing machines in multiple racing organizations including AMA, WERA, CCS, FUSA, AFM, OMRRA and WSMC.

“This is our second year posting a contingency for the Mille,” Says Aprilia USA Motorcycle Product and PR Manager, Robert Pandya. “We have expanded our programs to include the Tuono and Falco machine that may also see racing duty. In honor of AMA 250 GP champion Chuck Sorensen and others racing Aprilia 250cc GP machines in the AMA, we have expanded our program to cover the most pure road racing class in the US.”

For additional information on contingency amounts, specific paying races and rules, see the included program outline or log on to www.apriliausa.com, and enter the “news” section.

Aprilia USA, Inc. is a subsidiary of Aprilia S.p.A., a privately owned Italian motorcycle design and manufacturing company employing over one thousand seven hundred people and recording annual sales in excess of 300,000 units. As such, Aprilia USA Inc. is the exclusive importer of Aprilia brand motorcycles, scooters, apparel and accessories. For more information, consumers can visit Aprilia USA’s web site at www.apriliausa.com or phone toll free (877) 277-4542.

From a press release:

KSW Cycle Insurance/KSW Racing has secured a coporate sponsorship deal with one of its associate companies, Foremost Insurance.

Foremost Insurance, a leader in recreational products insurance, looks forward to addressing the coverage needs of both the fans and competitors at upcoming AMA Superbike events.

Veteran rider Anthony Fania Jr. will return for his fourth season on the KSW Suzukis.

From a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

DUCATI CORSE PRESS INFORMATION

HODGSON (TEAM DUCATI FILA) SMASHES LAP RECORD AT VALENCIA

Neil Hodgson and Ruben Xaus (Team Ducati Fila) wrapped up proceedings on the final day of official SBK Winter testing with the quickest times at Valencia’s Ricardo Tormo circuit in Spain. Hodgson in particular was in superb form, smashing the lap record which belonged to Bostrom (Ducati L&M), and leaving the mark at 1:34.01. Team-mate Xaus was eight-tenths of a second slower around the 4.005 km circuit, while the new Ducati 999 is already proving to be competitive in race trim.

“That was really good today” declared Neil. “I managed to find an excellent set-up on the bike and Michelin is providing me with some great tyres. I feel at one with the 999, it’s the way I like it. I really needed this test to get back in action after two months away from the track. I thought it would take longer to get to this point but it didn’t and now I’m feeling really confident for the start of the season.”

“I waited until the end of the day to try and attack Neil’s time, but there was a lot of humidity on the track and I slid off at turn 4” commented Ruben. “I’m pleased with the way the bike is working, the rear tyre is excellent, but I didn’t have enough time to choose the front for the race. I’m pretty sure conditions will be exactly the same when we come here for the first round next weekend.”


OFFICIAL TIMES: 1. Hodgson (Ducati Fila) 1:34.01; 2. Xaus (Ducati Fila) 1:34.80; 3. Laconi (Ducati NCR) 1:35.59; 4. Walker (HM Plant Ducati) 1:35.46; 5. Toseland (HM Plant Ducati) 1:35.66; 6. Martin (Ducati DFX) 1:35.87; 7. Chili (Ducati) 1:35.91; 8. Corser (Foggy Petronas) 1:36.14; 9. Borja (Ducati DFX) 1:36.23; 10. Haydon (Foggy Petronas) 1:36.64.


More, from a press release issued by Honda:

HONDA RACING INFORMATION

World Supersport Championship
Valencia Pre-season Test
21 to 23 February 2003

Honda Men Top Valencia Test Times

The only official 2003 pre-season World Supersport test sessions culminated at the Valencia Circuit on 23 February, with Ten Kate CBR600RR Honda rider Chris Vermeulen setting the fastest time on the final day.

Vermeulen, who is chasing his first World Supersport win, said “I think that fast lap must have been mostly down to the tyres. We have tested a lot of race tyres this weekend and the bike is working very well considering it is so new. The main thing is the race next weekend, not this test.”

His best lap of 1:37.331 was merely the quickest of many top times set by the 20-year-old rider during a weather-affected test, and came after the track had dried on the final afternoon.

Rain appeared at lunchtime on the second day, ruining the testing plans of many teams, and making the final dry session on Sunday afternoon exceptionally fraught, as riders went all out to improve their standings on the final time sheet.

In third position overall Karl Muggeridge (Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) set his personal best lap of 1:38.253 on Friday, with the next fastest Honda rider proving to be Robert Ulm (Klaffi Honda CBR600RR) in overall fifth.

Muggeridge spend considerable amounts of time trying out different chassis set-ups on his in-line four machine. “It’s mostly chassis with me this weekend. This bike is much more responsive than the previous model so one little adjustment has a great deal of effect. The feedback is very good and you can get a nice feel for the tyres.”

For Ulm the weekend proved to be tough but rewarding one, with his sixth fastest lap time of 1:38.495 underlining his consistent performance on race rubber. “I am quite happy with that even if I did put in a qualifying tyre at the end. I am not alone in doing so! We worked a lot on the set-up of the bike and it paid off at the end.”

Christophe Cogan from the BKM Honda team took his CBR600RR to seventh out of 26 riders, his team-mate Broc Parkes running out ninth.

Gianluigi Scalvini (BKM Honda CBR600RR) and Iain Macpherson (van Zon Honda CBR600RR) secured 12th and 13th places respectively, with Werner Daemen (van Zon Honda CBR600RR) running out 18th overall.

In the Superbike division Neil Hodgson (Ducati) outpaced his team-mate Ruben Xaus (Ducati) to take the fastest lap of the weekend, 1:34.016.

The first race of the year takes place at Valencia on 2 March, for both Supersport and Superbike classes.

Supersport Test Order
1: Chris Vermeulen (Honda) 1:37.331
2. Katsuaki Fujiwara (Suzuki) 1:38.157
3. Karl Muggeridge (Honda) 1:38.254
4. Jurgen van den Goorbergh (Yamaha) 1:38.419
5. Alessio Corradi (Yamaha) 1:38.433
6. Robert Ulm (Honda) 1:38.495
7. Christophe Cogan (Honda) 1:38.564
8. Gianluca Nannelli (Yamaha) 1:38.603
9. Broc Parkes (Honda) 1:38.819
10. Christian Kellner (Yamaha) 1:38.917


More, from a press release issued by Yamaha Belgarda:

Team Yamaha Belgarda Newsletter

Date: Sunday 23rd February 2003
Circuit: Ricardo Tormo, Comunitat Valenciana, 4.005 kms- Day 3

TOP FOUR FOR JURGEN!
Team Yamaha Belgarda rider Jurgen Van Den Goorbergh successfully completed the three-day official World Supersport Championship test with the fourth fastest overall time. Throughout the three days, Jurgen and the team had been working hard to overcome minor problems and finally their persistence was rewarded in the final session. His team mate Simone Sanna also had minor problems during the test and chose to work on solving the problems rather then try and set a quick time. Chris Vermeulen continued his domination of the three days, ending up with a lap of 1:37.331.


JURGEN VD GOORBERGH (70 laps overall, best lap 1:38.419)
Today was a difficult day, but we finally got it together and I was able to post a good lap time. We’ve worked hard over the three days and although we encountered some little problems, we plugged away and got a lot of work done. I think we found a good base set-up and I’m satisfied with what we managed to do. I was a bit disappointed that I only did 70 laps in total, but I’m happy with the results. We’ve still got work to do on the suspension, but it’s improving all the time. As for the tyres, I’m surprised at how good the standard Pirelli tyres are now. I like this track and it’s one where you can make a little mistake in one corner without it upsetting your whole lap. I think we can make a good result next week.


SIMONE SANNA (97 laps overall, best lap 1:39.212)
I wanted to do a 1:38, but in the end I decided not to take any risks. I only used standard tyres during these three days and not really soft ones because I wasn’t really chasing a lap time. I am sort of happy with how it’s all gone and I think we’ve got 70 percent or so of a good base set-up. I’m very happy with the way the Pirelli tyres have performed and although we had some little problems in the three days, generally we’ve made progress OK.

From a press issued by Yamaha:

POSITIVE CHECA AND MELANDRI THIRD AND FIFTH FASTEST IN JEREZ

Fortuna Yamaha Team duo Carlos Checa and Marco Melandri recorded the third and fifth fastest times at today’s final day of the three day MotoGP IRTA tests in Jerez, Spain. All fifteen of the MotoGP riders rode in long awaited sunny but slightly windy conditions, having lost a day to wet weather yesterday. Despite three tests since December at the Spanish circuit, this was just the third day that the Fortuna Yamaha Team were able to test in sunshine.

Checa continued testing his fuel injected Yamaha YZR-M1, setting his best lap time of the three days with 1:42.861. The Spanish rider concentrated on testing endurance tyres for Michelin in the latter part of the day and was satisfied with the progress made, “The lap time was not the most important thing for us today, as I was testing endurance tyres for Michelin for 16 laps. I still can’t find the feeling I want and need with the bike to win a race. I am having some problems with rear grip and overall balance. I would like to be able to control the rear tyre with the throttle, and at the moment I can’t do that. It’s quite hard to be optimistic now about this track, however we will keep working and I have confidence that we can improve in the areas we need to.”

Marco Melandri completed 68 laps with a best time of 1:43.2, bettering his time of 1:43.8 from Friday’s session.

“I have had a really good test,” commented the 250cc World Champion. “I am very happy with this weekend but I made a bit of a mistake right at the end. Until the last hour of the test we had used the same set-up of the fuel injection bike but towards the end of the session I wanted to try a change to the front geometry. I then felt too much weight at the front on turn 11 and took a tumble. It was also very windy at that moment inside the corner and so was easy for me to slide off. Generally I am extremely happy – with my time and with my feeling on the bike. I wasn’t focusing on the time but managed to improve on Friday’s time, and I felt better here than at all my previous tests with the M1. I even changed my riding line slightly today. Now we are going to Estoril where I think it will be quite difficult as there are many slow corners there, which were maybe easier on a 250cc bike than on a four-stroke.”

Melandri’s crew chief Fiorenzo Fanali was delighted with his new rider’s progress, “We have helped Michelin a lot today with tyre testing and were very happy to do so, then we decided to try something a bit different with the geometry in the last hour of the test. Unfortunately after we added more weight to the front Marco took a tumble so we will now go back to the old set-up for Estoril. I am quite happy with Marco’s performance in the last few days. He is sensitive to all the changes we make to the bike, and is good at communicating those feelings to us.”

Team Director Davide Brivio summed up the test positively, “Both riders have set good times, despite Marco’s small crash. Carlos has tried many different settings, we have faced some problems with the fuel injection system but at this stage of development it is quite normal. At the end of the session he was able to go consistently and at a good pace. We have a good base for him but there is room to improve more. Marco has now tested the fuel injection bike for the first time, and the new chassis. The next test will be useful for him to get more used to this bike. He was close in his times to all the top riders, so we are very pleased with the performance of both our riders today.”

The Fortuna Yamaha Team now travel to Portugal to take part in the next MotoGP IRTA group tests at the Estoril circuit on the 26th and 27th February.


LAP TIMES
1. Alex Barros, Gauloises Yamaha Team 1:42.640

2. Colin Edwards, Alice Aprilia Racing 1:42.818

3. Carlos Checa, Fortuna Yamaha Team 1:42.861

4. Troy Bayliss, Ducati Marlboro Team 1:42.890

5. Marco Melandri, Fortuna Yamaha Team 1:43.236

6. Shinya Nakano, D’Antin Yamaha 1:43.302

7. Loris Capirossi, Ducati Marlboro Team 1:43.541

8. Kenny Roberts, Suzuki Grand Prix 1:43.910

9. Noriyuki Haga, Alice Aprilia Racing 1:44.218

10. John Hopkins, Suzuki Grand Prix 1:44.740


More, from a press release issued by Team Yamaha D’Antin:

YAMAHA D’ANTIN TESTS
JEREZ
February 23, 2003

GOOD WORK FOR TEAM YAMAHA D’ANTIN IN JEREZ

Today had concluded first IRTA tests, organized by the MotoGP teams association in Jerez circuit. Fortunately today, the last day, riders could ride their bikes with the sun shining, but the windy conditions has been the main problem in the way to get good lap times. Team Yamaha d’Antín leaves the Spanish track satisfied with the work done during the three days. They have improved the settings of the new Yamaha YZR-M1, the bike they will use in the opening GP next April 6 in Suzuka, Japan. The set-up of the electronic fuel injection system and chassis adjustments have been the main focus of the team during the three days.

Yamaha d’Antín Team Director, the former rider Luis d’Antín, was happy with the work done as he commented after the tests, “Overall, everything has gone quite well, the tests have been positive because it was the first time we had 2003 bike. Basically we have focused in set-up the injection and chassis, and also we have been testing many tyres from Michelin. We also have been getting used to the rider and vice versa. Our target is get the 100 percent for the opening race in Japan.”

During the three days of testing Shinya Nakano has completed almost 200 laps in Jerez circuit and he is happy with the progress. “The focus of these tests was the bike of 2003. Get the right chassis and injection set up was the hardest work, but yesterday we found a good set-up. Today I’ve been riding comfortable, but I still at 80 percent of my possibilities. We have to find the other 20%.”

Team Technical Director, Naoya Kaneko thinks the same as his rider. “We have test a lot of things and we have changed the settings many times, and now we know what we have to improve. Shinya has bettered his times in Jerez, but we still need a little bit to be prepared.”

The team Yamaha d’Antín now goes to Estoril circuit in Potugal to take part in IRTA tests session on Wednesday and Thursday of this week.


More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki News Service:

NEW SUZUKI MEETS THE RIVALS AT JEREZ

Team Suzuki riders Kenny Roberts Jr. and John Hopkins concluded three incident-free days of testing at the Spanish GP circuit of Jerez today – with the all-new 2003 GSV-R Suzuki racer making further progress in the fast-forward development programme before the start of the season on April 6.

It was only the third test for the radically changed V4 990cc racer, marking the halfway point of the six-test schedule that started in January, when the factory surprised the team with the all-new machine. Engine and chassis have both been significantly changed compared with last year’s first GSV-R, as the design evolves towards the goal of winning races again for the factory that claimed the premier-class World Championship in 2000.

2000 World Champion Kenny Roberts set his best time today, the third day of open-to-all testing, improving on his best race lap time set here last year, in spite of unfavourably cool and windy conditions. Hopkins set his best time on the first day of testing, which was cloudy and overcast. The second day was spoiled by rain. Today was sunny but still cool, with a strong wind giving riders problems and causing several crashes.

Roberts completed 68 laps today, to bring his overall total to 131 over the three days. The Californian son of a legend’s best lap time of 1:43.918, was less than a second off the circuit lap record. He was placed eighth-fastest.

Hopkins ran 65 laps today, and a total of 173, with a best time of 1:44.652. The rider from California (but of English parentage) is new to the Suzuki team and to the new-generation 990cc four-strokes. His debut season last year was on a 500cc two-stroke.

All the rival teams except Honda attended the tests. Suzuki move on now to private tests in Valencia before rejoining the final IRTA test at Catalunya in mid-March.


KENNY ROBERTS – 1:43.918
We’ve worked hard here, when the weather allowed it. I can’t say I’m happy with the lap time. We need to get the base settings right before we can start to use the bike to its full, and we need the factory to help us. We have more tests and more parts coming. The bike has the potential. We need to unlock it, and we’re all determined to do that.


JOHN HOPKINS – 1:44.652
We made some steps here, but we still have many things to sort out. We need to make bigger steps in the upcoming tests in order to be where we want to be for the first race. The bike is still so new, and there are still so many things to get set right. We’re concentrating on one thing at a time, and that one thing leads to another. Here my main difficulty has been that the bike doesn’t turn well. I’m losing time into the turns and in the middle of the corner. We need a good ground plan for the upcoming tests, but my crew chief Stuart Shenton, away sick, will be back, and that should help us. Though I have to say my guys worked 110 percent here. It’s a great team.


GARRY TAYLOR – Team Manager
This was only the bike’s third time out, and the first time with the rival machines. We learned a lot. Obviously there’s a lot of potential that we still need to find, and after the excitement of getting the new bike in January it’s a little disappointing. But we tested almost everything here that we needed to test. Now the factory will take the data and look for improvements in the areas we need. It’s never easy to take something so brand new and get the best out of it. It takes time, and we still have some more time. The factory has already proved how committed they are; the team feels the same. We’ll keep on working. This is gritty stuff for the riders. Doing development work at this sort of IRTA test where the others have their machines better sorted can be testing for a rider’s mental stamina.


More, from a press release issued by Ducati:

PRESS INFORMATION

BAYLISS ON RACE PACE, CAPIROSSI FALLS IN WINDY CONDITIONS

IRTA tests, Jerez, Spain
Sunday, February 23, 2003

Ducati Marlboro Team riders Troy Bayliss and Loris Capirossi battled strong, gusting winds at Jerez today as they completed their first group test session on the Desmosedici V4. Despite less than perfect weather throughout the three days – low track temperatures on Friday and rain yesterday – both men believe they have made important progress.

Bayliss was particularly happy at the end of the day, having completed an impressive race simulation with Michelin’s latest 2003 tyres. Capirossi however had a more torrid time, falling twice in the afternoon, the first when he was caught out by a gust of wind.

“We dedicated today to testing Michelin’s new tyres, doing almost no other work on set-up”, said Ducati Marlboro Team technical director Corrado Cecchinelli. “Troy did a long run at a good pace but we weren’t so lucky with Loris. He lost the front twice. Both guys found the latest rear tyres very promising, and Troy also found a better front tyre.”

Bayliss, whose average pace during the race simulation was an impressive 1:43.5, was delighted with progress and keen to continue testing at Estoril next week. “The whole test has gone pretty good, we’ve kept moving forward,” said the former World Superbike Champion. “This is my third time at this track, so I expected some good times. We’ve made good progress and we’ve got some more ideas for the next test, and that’s what it’s all about. The track could’ve been better today, but I’m quite happy with the long run we did at the end of the afternoon. We’ve run Michelin’s new tyres and they feel good, the engine feels good too and we only did a little bit of playing around with the suspension today.”

Capirossi was happy enough with progress, despite two minor falls, the wind also claiming other victims during the day. “After two crashes I decided to concentrate on testing tyres and settings, because conditions weren’t right for trying to go really fast,” said the Italian, who nevertheless proved that he had lost none of his confidence by setting his fastest lap of the day on his penultimate lap. “Despite the crashes, everything has gone well from a set-up point of view, but unfortunately there was too much wind for me to give a good lap-time performance.”

Bayliss and Capirossi continue the Desmosedici test programme at Estoril, Portugal, next week, and then take Ducati’s MotoGP project to the next level at Catalunya, Spain, in mid-March, when they will ride their definitive 2003 bikes for the first time. The 16-round MotoGP World Championship commences at Suzuka, Japan, on April 6.