From a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM CONCLUDES TWO DAYS OF TESTING AT BRNO

Brno (Czech Republic), Tuesday 24 August 2004 – Two days of scheduled testing at the Brno circuit concluded positively for the Ducati Marlboro Team today after it stayed behind for extra tests following Sunday’s Czech Republic Grand Prix. In collaboration with Ohlins engineers, the Italian team did a considerable amount of suspension work aimed at improving the set-up of the Desmosedici GP4. Limited dry-running time over the weekend had not been sufficient to find a good race set-up, but this test session enabled the Ducati Marlboro Team riders to get through a lot of work and to continue the development of the Italian bike with encouraging results.

Strong winds and a few drops of rain in the afternoon disturbed the test, which for Loris Capirossi concluded early after the Italian rider fell harmlessly at the right-hand turn 6 at around 3.30 pm. Capirossi, who completed 55 laps yesterday and 46 today, declared he was satisfied with the results:

“These two days were very important for us because over the weekend we had very little time to lap on a dry track. We tried out a number of small modifications to the bike set-up and were able to obtain several interesting results: not only did I improve my best race time by over half-a-second, but above all I was able to maintain a good pace a lot more easily. We are continuing to work hard because we want results and we are going to get them”.

Capirossi’s best time today was 1’58.960

Troy Bayliss also got through a vast amount of work, completing 83 laps yesterday and 56 today, before the rain cut short his testing session at around 4.30 pm. The Australian, like Loris, also focussed on set-up testing, and he confirmed his team-mate’s positive impression.

“It was a real pity we had such a small amount of time to lap in the dry during the race weekend: I am sure that things would have gone differently if we had. In these two days of testing we found a set-up that should work well at the circuits from here on to the end of the season. I am quite pleased with the way the testing went and with the results we obtained. For sure if the weather had given us a hand on Saturday it would have been better, but now we’ve got to look forward to the next rounds”.

Troy’s best time today was 1’59.145.


More, from a press release issued by Fuchs Kawasaki:

MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2004
FUCHS KAWASAKI RACING TEAM DEVELOPMENT TEST
24TH AUGUST 2004 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FUCHS KAWASAKI HEAD HOME AFTER FIVE HARD DAYS

Fuchs Kawasaki’s Shinya Nakano and Alex Hofmann completed their second day of testing at the Brno circuit this afternoon, and now head for a well earned rest ahead of the Portuguese Grand Prix, after five tough days on track.

For Hofmann, today was another gruelling test of his fitness. The 24-year-old German rider completed 76 laps of the Brno circuit as he tested a range of engine and chassis components, including a new exhaust system from Akrapovic, designed to liberate more power from the latest specification Ninja ZX-RR motor.

After making some progress with the chatter that caused him so many problems in Sunday’s race, Nakano and his crew today turned their attention to the Ninja ZX-RR engine. The 27-year-old Japanese rider ran back-to-back comparison tests on two different specifications of engine and crankshafts, in order to identify the best combination for the next race on the MotoGP calendar at Estoril.

Nakano also tested new clutch components, designed to make the operation of the slipper clutch both smoother and more predictable, before moving on to evaluate a range of Bridgestone rear slicks.

Both riders also tested new fuel injection parts, developed in conjunction with Magneti Marelli specifically for the Ninja ZX-RR. The test was designed purely to provide engineers with the hard data needed to continue the development work, but there were positive comments from the riders; both of whom are looking forward to testing the system again after further development work has been completed.

The Fuchs Kawasaki Racing Team head next for the Portuguese Grand Prix, which takes place at the Estoril circuit on Sunday 5th September.

Alex Hofmann: 76 laps/2’00.59
“It’s been a long day again, but we knew we were going to have to work hard if we were to complete our heavy test schedule. Conditions on the track were not so good today, and the wind in the afternoon caused some problems but, overall, I’m pretty happy with the fact that I managed to go almost a second faster on race tyres than I did on Sunday in the race. The last five days have been hard, but we’ve collected a lot of valuable information on the components, settings and tyres we’ve tested this week, and that will stand us in good stead for the future. Now it’s back to Switzerland and my mountain bike, before heading off to Estoril next week.”

Shinya Nakano: 45 laps/2’00.74
“We spent most of today’s test comparing different engine and crank specifications, to identify a combination that will work best around the Estoril circuit. The new engine had good top speed, but we still need to do some work on the way it delivers its power. The new clutch components gave a smoother, more predictable, feel, which was most noticeable when launching the bike off the line. Getting away from the start has been a bit of a problem for us this year, but after making a few practice starts from the grid today, I think we’ve made quite a bit of progress in this area. After five hard days on track, I’m looking forward to getting back home to Barcelona and relaxing for a few days, but then I’ll be back out training at the weekend, to make sure I’m in good condition for the Portuguese Grand Prix.”


More, from a press release issued by Telefonica Movistar Honda:

BRNO – TEST DAY 2

Second and last day of testing for the team Telefonica Movistar Honda MotoGP at Brno.

The Spaniard Sete Gibernau, winner of the Czech republic GP, continued in the developmnent of the new bike, focusing on finding the right set up. He carried on compartive testing and worked on the set up of the bike. In total he made 50 laps (42 with the new bike) , 1’58″5 his best time today.

Sete Gibernau expressed satisfaction for these two days of testing.

Sete’s team-mate Colin Edwards continued rear tyre testing, Moreover, he tested a modified fork and a new shock absorber. The Texan lapped this morning, 1’58″8 his best time

Colin Edwards is confident for the next GP to be held at Extoril next 5th September


More, from a press release issued by Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha:

Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha Team Test
Brno, Czech Republic
Tuesday, 24 August, 2004

GAULOISES FORTUNA YAMAHA WRAPS UP TWO DAY BRNO TEST

Yamaha’s Factory Team riders Valentino Rossi and Carlos Checa and their respective crews finished a two-day test at the Brno circuit today, sufficiently satisfied with their progress to be able to pack up in the early afternoon. Both riders continued their work from yesterday testing dry weather settings on the Czech track, as well as engine mapping and Michelin tyre testing.

Neither rider improved on their times from yesterday but both Rossi, Checa and their Yamaha engineers felt able to conclude the test just after lunchtime, after almost one whole week working at the Brno track. Rossi held on to the fastest time overall out of the many MotoGP riders present, and Checa finally finished with the fifth fastest time.

“It was a positive test overall because we were able to complete the set-up we couldn’t do during the race weekend because of the weather,” said Davide Brivio, Team Director, who leaves the Czech Republic this evening for Italy where the team workshop is based. “We were able to work more on engine management and this will help in the coming races. We did lots with Michelin, one day yesterday wasn’t enough because they had so many tyres they wanted us to test.

“Valentino has made more valuable miles on the M1 which is always a benefit to him and the engineers, and Carlos was pleased with his final set-up and engine mapping. We were able to finish early because both riders had made so many laps, they’re both happy but like everyone they are quite tired now after working so many days in a row!”

The next round of the MotoGP World Championship takes place at the Estoril circuit in Portugal on 5th September.

LAP TIMES (best of 2 days):

1. Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) 1’58.247
2. Sete Gibernau (Honda) 1’58.526
3. Colin Edwards (Honda) 1’58.807
4. Loris Capirossi (Ducati) 1’58.960
5. Carlos Checa (Yamaha) 1’59.016
6. Makoto Tamada (Honda) 1’59.120
7. Troy Bayliss (Ducati) 1’59.105
8. Nicky Hayden (Honda) 1’59.313
9. Marco Melandri (Yamaha) 1’59.413
10. John Hopkins (Suzuki) 1’59.475
11. Max Biaggi (Honda) 1’59.608



More, from a press release issued by Camel Honda:

Brno – (Czech Republic)
Private Test –23/24 August 2004

Second and final test day for Camel Honda riders at Brno

The weather was generally good for the two days of private testing which concluded today at the Brno circuit, scene of the 10th round of the MotoGP World Championship 2004 last Sunday. They were two days of intense work, which allowed the Camel Honda to work mainly on their bike’s set-up before the upcoming Estoril round, thelast of the European events before the four flyaway races on various continents.

Santi Mulero – Camel Honda (Technical Chief – Max Biaggi)
“It was an important couple of days to get the most out of the new parts we just received from Japan. We also continued our work on the set-up of the bike, trying to eradicate the chattering problems Max had pointed out during the weekend at Brno. The data we’ve collected in this two-day test will allow us to get the right set-up for the race in Estoril”.

Max Biaggi – Camel Honda (Michelin tyres) Monday: 1’59.608 – Tuesday: 1’59.879
“We’ve tried our very hardest, we’ve done a thousand tests, but we still haven’t found the perfect solution. As regards the setting up of the bike we’ve exhausted our options really, there’s no other settings to test. So we decided to stop the practice at one o´clock this afternoon. We will see in Estoril if it’s just a problem at this track. I’ve told the Honda technicians all the problems I had at this test, and the aim is to go well in Portugal of course. I just want to make one thing clear regarding all the rumours which have been going around lately about my supposed switch to another factory. I am and I remain a Honda rider. The rest is just silly gossip dreamed up on the beach – a classic August story.”

Giulio Bernardelle – Camel Honda – (Technical director –Makoto Tamada)
“These two days of tests have been really important because after the race at Estoril we have a series of races outside Europe which come one after the other, so this was our last real chance to work purely on the set-up of the bike in preparation for the end of the season. As well as refining the setting of the RC211V we have done a series of endurance tyre tests for Bridgestone with positive results. Hopefully over the next few races we can once again give Makoto the means to make the most of his talent.”

Makoto Tamada – Camel Honda (Bridgestone tyres) Monday: 1’59.120 – Tuesday: 1’59.603
“I am satisfied with the work we have done in this test. A hundred and eleven laps over the two days have allowed me to improve the set-up of the bike even further and test a lot of tyres. The new tyres showed consistent performance and are both competitive and durable. I like the Estoril circuit a lot – I’m going there for the second time so this year it won’t be an unknown circuit for me. On top of that, the work we have done recently on the set-up of the RC211V, which allowed me to put a good performance in at Brno gives me a lot of confidence going into the final stage of the season.”