From a press release:

BIRDS FLY!

Valencia, Spain 26th January 2002

Team Yamaha Belgarda riders Jamie Whitham and Paolo Casoli completed a successful two-day private test at the Ricard Tormo circuit, Valencia and are looking forward to season ahead. The Iberian track saw the whole Yamaha Belgarda team together for the first time since last year and a lot of good work was done and useful information gathered. The highlight of the test was Jamie Whitham who smashed the lap record by a second!

The first test of the 2002 season saw the team make substantial forward steps, led by crew chief Silvano Galbusera. Last season’s race at the Valencia circuit was not a happy hunting ground for the team. Paolo Casoli could only manage twelfth place in the race and Jamie Whitham suffered a crash ­ fortunately without injury.

Jamie Whitham’s best time last year was 1:40.584, but at the test he thoroughly got to grips with the circuit and blitzed round in 1:38.9. His team mate Paolo Casoli doesn’t like the track much because it is slow and not very technical, but nonetheless managed to post a lap of 1:39.4 – over a second better then his best lap last year. Both riders were happy at the progress made and put the superb results achieved down to the consistent hard work carried out by the team.

HARD WORK
The test programme at Valencia was very intense. There were some new Ohlins forks to try out together with a new Ohlins rear shock absorber TT44, originally developed for Superbikes. The shock allows the rider to try and balance the bike in the best possible way and let the rider put the power on the track as required.

There were also and some new engine components and some new electronic parts in the ignition system to try out. The Valencia tests allowed the riders and mechanics to gain a lot of valuable information and the result was a substantial improvement on last season.

INTENSE PREPARATION
This year, the Yamaha Belgarda Supersport team (in conjunction with Yamaha Belgarda) decided to embark on a substantial preseason test programme starting with Valencia in preparation for the first race of the year at Valencia on March 10th. Before then the team will take part in further tests at an Italian circuit, probably Misano. The team will then return to their workshops in Gerno di Lesmo, where they will prepare four new 2002 R6 Yamahas ­ two for Whitham and two for Casoli. After that they head back to Spain and will test at Cartegena before the official SBK organised tests at Valencia on 23rd, 24th and 25th February.

THE THOUGHTS OF MAIO
“There is a lot of stuff to try out and test and sometimes when there is a lot to do, it’s easy to get confused and go backwards. But so far, our tests went well and I’m really pleased with the progress the riders and the team have made. Dunlop also put in a lot of good work and we feel that their tyres will give us a consistent advantage.

“The times achieved by Jamie and Paolo confirmed the progress we made and gives us great encouragement. Jamie really surprised me. Normally he is not very good in tests or in practice and I’m surprised how easily he got down
to good lap times before going under the lap record. I’m also pleasantly surprised at Paolo. I know he doesn’t like the track, but he worked hard at it and put in some really impressive times.

“Thanks to all the hard work put in by everybody we have a fast bike, a superb team and two exceptional riders. Now we are ready to take on anybody in 2002.”