From a press release issued by Yamaha:

Steady return for Checa and Melandri in cold and windy Jerez

Jerez, Spain
21/1/2003

The new Fortuna Yamaha Team pairing of Carlos Checa and Marco Melandri made a discreet start to their first tests of 2003 today in Jerez. In cold and blustery conditions the track temperature did not rise above 19 degrees Celsius during the first of three days of testing.

Spaniard Checa completed 55 laps and recorded a best time of 1:44.3, which is over a second slower than his qualifying time at last year’s Spanish MotoGP. Having worked on dialling-in the new fuel-injection system and suspension settings on his YZR-M1 he was prevented from having his usual run of fast laps towards the end of the day by a problem with one bike.

New-boy Melandri has again made good progress as he familiarises himself with the powerful Yamaha YZR-M1 four-stroke. The 20-year-old Italian has joined the Fortuna Yamaha Team in the premier MotoGP class having become the youngest ever winner of the 250cc World Championship in 2002. He completed a total of 50 laps today with a best time of 1:43.8.

The team is testing with black fairings and neutral leathers ahead of the 20th February launch of its new Fortuna Yamaha livery.

Commenting on the day, team director Davide Brivio said: “Both riders needed today just to get back into riding after the long Christmas break. We were doing some work on the fuel-injection with Carlos but Marco was just concentrating on riding and suspension settings. The weather forecast is not great for our three days here but I hope the rain stays away.”

Lap times

Carlos Checa, (Fortuna Yamaha Team) 1:44.3
Marco Melandri, (Fortuna Yamaha Team) 1:43.8

Alex Barros, (Gauloises Yamaha Team) 1:42.9
Olivier Jacque, (Gauloises Yamaha Team) 1:47.8

Shinya Nakano, (d’Antin Yamaha) 1:45.2



More, from a press release issued by Fortuna Yamaha:

FORTUNA YAMAHA TEAM TESTS
Jerez, Spain
21 January, 2003

FRUITLESS DAY FOR FORTUNA YAMAHA TEAM AS WEATHER PUTS A STOP TO TESTING

Rainy conditions last night and for most of the day today meant that the Jerez track in Spain was not able to dry out properly. Although the sun broke through late in the afternoon, the Fortuna Yamaha Team was unable to continue their second day of testing at the Spanish circuit.

“The forecast for tomorrow is not great either, unfortunately,” commented Team Director Davide Brivio. “We just have to hope that Carlos and Marco get a chance to do some more laps. It’s one of those things that you have no control over.”

The Fortuna Yamaha Team are scheduled for one more day of testing in Jerez tomorrow, and they will then move to Valencia where they will test for 25, 26 and 27 January.