TEAM FORTUNA APRILIA END THE PRESEASON AS PACESETTERS AT JEREZ Jorge Lorenzo and Héctor Barberá completed their preseason programme on top form at Jerez today, demonstrating their talent and strong mental state ahead of the first race of the season at the same track on March 26. The two Fortuna Aprilia riders set the pace at the second and final IRTA Test of 2006, with Jorge Lorenzo setting the fastest time over the two days as he had done last week at the Circuit de Catalunya. Today the Mallorcan rider clocked a time of 1.42.873, the only rider to lap below 1.43, and improved his best effort from yesterday by six tenths. Héctor Barberá, meanwhile, stopped the clock at 1.43.5, 0.2 seconds behind Alex de Angelis, as he knocked seven tenths off his own previous best. The Fortuna Aprilia pair will now head home to complete their physical training programmes before starting the season at full strength in two weeks’ time. JORGE LORENZO: 1’42.873. 76 laps on day one, 46 on day two “I have improved my best time at this circuit from last season by over a second. Aprilia are doing an excellent job and this is showing through in the results. My main objective is not to set an amazing lap time but to take another step forward and to continue with the progress we have made throughout the preseason. I think we are doing a great job and we can be satisfied with that. I want the fans to enjoy the show we put on for them in the first race of the 2006 season, here at the Jerez circuit in two weeks’ time.” HECTOR BARBERA: 1’43.541. 67 laps on day one, 42 on day two “I am very satisfied. We have done a good job throughout the preseason but we still have work to do. Today I improved by best lap time from yesterday although the most important thing for me is that I improved my race pace. We’re now really looking forward to the first race with a lot of ambition, although we have to take into account that the other teams will also be fighting hard to be at the front. I think we are in for a spectacular year. I just can’t wait for the championship to start.”