From a press release:
MARLBORO YAMAHA TEAM PRIVATE TESTS
Valencia, 6 June 2002
Day 1 of 2
NO REST FOR MARLBORO YAMAHA TEAM
The Marlboro Yamaha Team was back to work today having travelled directly to Valencia after the promising performance of Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix in Mugello. Team-mates Max Biaggi and Carlos Checa lapped the Spanish circuit on their YZR-M1s in mostly sunny conditions, continuing to test the new chassis which gave them respective second and fourth positions in last Sunday’s race.
Both riders were given the chance to experiment with more radical geometries which they didn’t have the time to evaluate during practice and qualifying at Mugello.
“Tomorrow we’re hoping to refine the settings even more, and we’ll have the opportunity to test some more tyres,” explained Team Manager Geoff Crust. “It’s been a very hectic few weeks and both riders are quite tired, as of course are the rest of the team! We’ve taken a big step forward and it’s important to keep working.”
Max Biaggi, still in great spirits after his second-place finish at his home Grand Prix, completed a total of 51 laps during today’s test. “I’m a little tired after Mugello but happy to be here,” said the Italian. “The track was quite dirty to begin with today and the wind fairly strong. In some ways, the first day of this test has been more important for the team than for the riders as we are trying such a wide range of settings so we can understand which direction to go in with the new chassis.”
Carlos Checa, who qualified third and finished fourth at Mugello, added: “This was our first chance to play around with settings on the new chassis. We have swapped to a new engine and haven’t had the same problems we experienced in Mugello. We have found a good setting for the engine braking, and will continue to test this as well as some new tyres tomorrow.”
The Spaniard completed 72 laps on his YZR-M1 today.
No lap times were available.
Marlboro Yamaha Tests At Valencia, Day One
Marlboro Yamaha Tests At Valencia, Day One
© 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.