HRC MotoGP test Sepang, Malaysia November 30, 2005 Final day of the three-day test. Pedrosa fastest Honda on final day of Sepang MotoGP test Rapidly changing weather conditions hindered the Honda MotoGP riders on the final day of the three-day MotoGP test held at Sepang, Malaysia. The morning session was virtually abandoned by most riders due to the half wet – half dry track conditions but a heavy down pour at lunchtime saw several riders take to the track testing Michelin wet weather tyres. Repsol Honda Nicky Hayden was quick to take advantage of the conditions and ran over 20 laps of the wet track testing the latest RC211V chassis in combination with full wet tyres. When the track dried out Hayden began testing a range of slick tyres for Michelin. Dani Pedrosa, on the second Repsol Honda, ran his first ever wet weather test aboard an RCV. The 20-year old Spaniard was surprised by how easy the RCV was to handle in the wet in comparison to the RS250R-W he raced to his second 250cc World Championship. Pedrosa set the fastest time of the day at 2m 02.770s with Hayden a whisker behind just two/tenths of a second slower. The weather forced Fortuna Honda rider Marco Melandri to abandon his planned race simulation test Michelin had planned for the day but the young Italian was satisfied with the work he managed to do. Teammate Toni Elias went out in both wet and dry conditions and found a good direction to work in at the next HRC MotoGP test, here at Sepang in late January. The Honda Pons riders were not as active as their fellow Honda riders in the wet conditions. Carlos Checa decided to sit out the wet session but put in 45 dry laps after lunch. Casey Stoner did some wet laps but rested his cramped arms on a few occasions eventually covering 48 laps of the 5.548km grand prix circuit. Honda rider lap times and quotes. Nicky Hayden, Repsol Honda: 2m 02.790s – 89 laps. “You know the weather wasn’t the best today but I needed to get in a lot of laps in the wet. We focused on my old bike and put in some decent laps with the wets on. We also tried an intermediate tyre that I really liked. When it dried out we tried out some rear tyres that were a little different from the ones we used at GP here and they were a little better, which was really good. The three-day’s were really useful for the team and I set my best time of the week today but you always want to be faster. I will leave here with a positive spirit. Go home regroup and wait for the New Year. All the guys on the tam have worked so hard, nobody was afraid to get their hands dirty, mechanics, HRC and the Michelin guys. Sure we want more but we will go away from here positive. Not on top of the world but not at the bottom either.” Dani Pedrosa, Repsol Honda: 2m 02.770s – 57 laps. “I surprised myself this week I was riding this track sliding with the tyre they gave me. I tried three different tyres today and at the end I began to feel the difference with each tyre. I could understand where the limit of the slide was. Also how the tyres work when they are new and when they have done many laps. It was much different riding this bike on wet tyres. I was surprised by how much grip they have in the corners but I was sliding on the straights when accelerating. Even under braking the rear end of the bike weaves from side to side and you feel it in the handlebars. But I didn’t do too many laps but I was really happy with the feeling in the wet. It was a very positive experience but I’m tired, very, very tired. I think I will have to rest for five days when I get home to get over it.” Marco Melandri, Fortuna Honda: 2m 02.80s – 56 laps “Not so bad, even if we could not test much in the wet, or dry conditions either. I was supposed to run a race simulation and try four different tyres but the rain prevented that. It was the same with the wet tyres. I had two tyres to test but only managed to test one because the track dried out too quickly. I didn’t really like this track before but I found a good rhythm all week and I improved my performance over that in the race here. The test was very positive for me and the team and I will now wait for the new bike to arrive in January.” Toni Elias, Fortuna Honda: 2m 02.865s – 50 laps. “Not so bad with the wet tyres today but we have to have more experience with this bike before I can be really fast in the wet. I didn’t try to hard when the track was drying the half wet – half dry track is not good for testing. Really all we did was test tyres today but it was good because we have found the direction we have to work in at the next tests. The test was positive, the bike is very good and I’m gaining confidence but I’m not where I need to be yet.” Carlos Checa, Team Honda Pons: 2m 03.395s – 45 laps. “Speaking with my chief mechanic (Santi Mulero) we considered it would not be helpful too test in the conditions. Half wet – half dry track surfaces are not ideal for testing a new bike. We could not learn anything positive today in the wet. I have a good feeling with a motorcycle in wet conditions but only when I have a good base line to work from. When the track dried out we tried some different Michelin rear tyres with good results. This test has been very positive for me. I believe in the combination of Honda, Michelin and my team, we have learned many different things here at Sepang. Next year we will arrive here and start again. The feeling and understanding I have with this bike now at this moment tells me this is a very strong combination.” Casey Stoner, Team Honda Pons: 2m 3.700s – 48 laps. “I’m pretty pleased with the way things have gone for me this week. I like the bike you don’t have to muscle the bike around but you do have to move your body weight around the bike and keep your weight forward at certain places on this track The team have been great and I enjoy working with them. I had cramps at times but so I will go home and relax, get fit and come back in January much better shape.” More, from a press release issued by Fortuna Honda: RAIN SPOILS THE LAST DAY OF TESTING AT SEPANG The final day of the three-day MotoGP test held at Sepang, Malaysia was characterized by rapidly changing weather conditions that hindered the Honda MotoGP riders to carry out their programme of work scheduled for today. The morning session was virtually abandoned by most riders due to the half wet – half dry track conditions but a heavy down pour at lunchtime saw several riders take to the track testing Michelin wet weather tyres. The test was positive for Marco Melandri who tested some wet tyres for Michelin. The changing weather conditions hindered Tonis Elias to improve his lap time but he was happy of his debut with the RC211V on wet. All in all, the test was very positive for him: he has grown consistently, showing that he is adapting well to the new bike. MARCO MELANDRI (56 laps, 2’02″82): “Not so bad, even if we could not test much in the wet, or dry conditions either. I was supposed to run a race simulation and try four different tyres but the rain prevented that. It was the same with the wet tyres. I had two tyres to test but only managed to test one because the track dried out too quickly. These three days of testing were very important: I found a good rhythm all week and I improved my performance over that in the race here. The test was very positive for me and the team and I will now wait for the new bike to arrive in January.” TONI ELIAS ( 50 laps, 2’03″98 ): “Not so bad with the wet tyres today but I need to have more experience with this bike before I can be really fast in the wet. I didn’t try too hard when the track was drying. The half wet – half dry track is not good for testing. Really all we did was test tyres today but it was good because we have found the direction we have to work in at the next tests. The test was positive, the bike is very good and I’m gaining confidence but I’m not where I need to be yet.” According to the Regulations, testing is forbidden till the 20th of January. The FORTUNA HONDA Team Riders will be back to action on the 23rd of January on the Malaysian track of Sepang. UNOFFICIAL LAP TIMES 1. Dani Pedrosa (Sp/Honda) 2’02″76 2. Nicky Hayden (Usa/Honda) 2’02″79 3. Marco Melandri (Ita/Honda) 2’02″82 4. Shinya Nakano (Jap/Kawasaki) 2’02″93 5. John Hopkins (Usa/Suzuki) 2’03″10 6. Carlos Checa (Sp/Honda) 2’03″39 7. Colin Edwards (Usa/Yamaha) 2’03″61 8. Casey Stoner (Aus/Honda) 2’03″70 9. Valentino Rossi (Ita/Yamaha) 2’03″85 10. Toni Elias (Sp/Honda) 2’03″98 11. Randy De Puniet (Fra/Kawasaki) 2’04″27 12. Chris Vermeulen (Aus/Suzuki) 2’04″50 13. James Ellison (GB/Yamaha) 2’05″00