From a press release issued by Pramac Honda:

Pramac Honda Team Press Information
Montmelò – Catalunya – (Spain)
Private Tests
Monday 16 June 2003

Tarmac sizzles at private post-race tests at Montmelò

Scorching heat – 56°C on the ground in the afternoon – really pushed the determination of the Pramac Honda Team to the limit as they went out once again to test their Bridgestone tyres.

After his fine seventh place in yesterday’s race, Makoto Tamada again did his bit to help develop the new tyres, and he clocked up 67 laps on the Montmelò circuit. Best time: 1:45.3.

His work programme included an in-depth examination of the range of tyres used for the last two races at Mugello and Catalunya: they gave excellent results and showed the Tokyo tyre manufacturer’s technicians that they are working along the right lines. In actual fact, the technicians wanted to improve the balance of the bike with the clear aim of improving performance even further.

Shinichi Itoh was once again back on the saddle of his Pramac Honda Team RC211V bike. The micro-fracture he received during the IRTA tests in March, right here at Montmelò, had kept him away from the MotoGP for about two and a half months. Even so, he has already taken part in two Superbike races in Tukuba and Suzuka, Japan, again on Bridgestone tyres, and today he made his ‘return’ on the five-cylinder machine.

Shinichi put in 72 laps, getting a feeling once again for the exuberant power of the RC211V and posting an excellent 1:46.3. The official Pramac Honda Team test rider mainly concentrated on trying out new Bridgestone prototypes, and provided some useful information for future development.

After this intense day of tests, Itoh will be going back to Japan but it won’t be long before he is back in the old continent for another round of tests.

Makoto Tamada – 67 laps – 1:45.3

Shinichi Itoh – 72 laps – 1:46.3