From a press release issued by Gauloises Yamaha:

GAULOISES YAMAHA TEAM TEST
Sepang, Malaysia
Friday, February 11, 2005

Ambient temperature: 38 degrees
Track temperature: 55 degrees
Humidity: 28%


ROSSI AND EDWARDS GET BACK TO WORK IN STEAMY SEPANG

The Gauloises Yamaha Team’s busy winter testing schedule resumed in Sepang today, as the team began the second three-day test of the year at the Malaysian circuit. Just over a fortnight since they were last here, reigning World Champion Valentino Rossi and his new Yamaha team-mate Colin Edwards were back on board their 2005-specification YZR-M1s, once again sharing the track with the large majority of their fellow MotoGP competitors.

Rossi completed 58 laps and was fifth fastest in the unofficial standings with a best time of 2:02.53, despite suffering from a fever which worsened as the day wore on. He spent much of the day testing Michelin tyres, whilst also doing some work on the engine braking settings of his M1. Like his team-mate, Edwards’ day was largely focused on tyre work with he and his team also spending some time changing the front and rear settings. He set a fastest lap of 2:02.98 from a total of 63, which was the ninth fastest time of the day. The Quickest man on the track was Honda man Sete Gibernau with a time of 2:01.76, followed by fellow Honda riders Alex Barros (2:02.12) and Makoto Tamada (2:02.41). Loris Capirossi set the fourth fastest time of the day on his Ducati, just ahead of Rossi with a lap of 2:02.47.

Valentino Rossi, (2:02.53, 58 laps)
“I had a fever today and I didn’t feel so good. As the day went on I felt more and more weak and I began to find it hard to focus on the bike. I thought it was a good idea to stop a little early, as we had already done all the work we wanted to do. We worked a lot on tyres today and also on engine braking; we had a few things to improve on this from the last test and we managed that today, so we achieved what we needed to do. I am going to go to sleep early tonight and I hope to feel better tomorrow!”

Colin Edwards (2:02.98, 63 laps)
“We had a few difficulties starting out today; for some reason the bike didn’t feel the same as last time, but once we sat down and discussed things, everything got better. We did a lot of tyre work and didn’t change much on the settings throughout the morning, but this afternoon we played around a bit with the front and rear settings, and made some good improvements. It felt even hotter than at the last test, but I’m pleased because I was doing consistently fast laps during the hottest part of the day.”

Davide Brivio, Gauloises Yamaha Team Director
“The first day went quite smoothly for the whole team. We did a good job with the tyres and we are now fine-tuning the bike settings and will continue to work on this over the next two days. We took it quite easy today as we have plenty of time ahead of us!”

Unofficial Lap Times:

1. Sete Gibernau (Honda) 2:01.76
2. Alex Barros (Honda) 2:02.12
3. Makoto Tamada (Honda) 2:02.41
4. Loris Capirossi (Ducati) 2:02.47
5. VALENTINO ROSSI (YAMAHA) 2:02.53
6. Carlos Checa (Ducati) 2:02.56

9. COLIN EDWARDS (YAMAHA) 2:02.98


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

Sete Gibernau is the fastest rider of the today on the new RC211V

Sepang, pre-season test, Day One

After two weeks of break, the motoGP teams come back to Sepang for the second testing session of the 2005.

With incredible hot temperatures (38° degrees the air temperature and 50°C the tarmac temperature), the riders of the Team Telefonica MoviStar Honda tested the new 2005 RC211V, an updated version especially in the electronics. Sete Gibernau made his debut on the new bike and scored the fastest time of the day, he worked particularly on the chassis, while his team-mate, Marco Melandri, worked on the electronics of the bike.

SETE GIBERNAU – 2:01.765, 64 laps :
“I’m very satisfied of the work we did today. We worked on the chassis, forks and suspensions both front and rear. We also did some tyre testing requested by Michelin because of the extremely hot temperatures of the tarmac. I think that we have done a step forward because we have understood more about the bike and above all because we, the team, Honda and Michelin are working in the same direction and this is the most important thing. Today we focused on the chassis, tomorrow I think we will work on the electronics.”

MARCO MELANDRI – 2:02.691, 75 laps :
“Today I could finally test the bike I will use during the coming season. I’m happy because I have found immediately a good feeling with the bike and I lapped with a constant pace. Despite the new bike and the hot temperatures, my rhythm is improved compared to the times I did during the last 3 days test session here in Sepang. Today I have never pushed to make a fast lap, because at the moment I’m not interested on the single lap, on the contrary I’m focused on the race rhythm. During this test session I’d like to make an endurance test of 21 laps. Today we tested the electronics in order to see the different possibilities of regulations that we have at disposal.”

The Team Telefonica MoviStar Honda will test on the following circuits in preparation of the coming season:

11th, 12th and 13th of February at Sepang (Malaysia)
17th, 18th and 19th of Febraury at Phillip Island (Australia)
1st, 2nd and 3rd of March at Doha (Qatar)


More, from a press release issued by Honda Racing Information:

MotoGP test Sepang, Malaysia. Day one of three-day test February 11, 2005.

Honda unveil 2005 RC211V on opening day of the Sepang MotoGP test

The 2005 MotoGP teams and riders returned to the Sepang circuit in Malaysia, for the second winter test of the year. Seven riders, racing in
the colours of four Honda teams took to the 5.548km grand prix circuit eager to test the 2005 version of the RC211V 990cc V-5 four-stroke machines that they will race in the 17-round world championship series.

All seven RCV riders started the test with basically the same equipment, the chassis and engine configurations that were confirmed as optimal for the RCV from the technical data gathered during the test at Sepang last month.

The Repsol Honda factory team machines of Max Biaggi and Nicky Hayden, plus the Telefonica MoviStar liveried machine of Sete Gibernau featuring more advanced electronic systems to those employed on the RCVs tested by the
satellite team riders.

With an ambient temperature of 35, high humidity and a track surface temperature over 50 (43 in January) that offered less grip than at the previous test held at the circuit the MotoGP riders faced a tough shakedown test day.

The Honda rider least affected by the energy sapping heat and poor track conditions proved to be Sete Gibernau who claimed the honour of fastest Honda man on the day. Spaniard Gibernau was immediately at home on his new mount and quickly found a base set up to work from. Once established he used the set up to test chassis and suspension settings before moving on to test new race rubber from tyre supplier Michelin. His best lap time of 2:01.765 was half a second off his fastest time set in the January test.

Gibernau’s new Telefonica MoviStar Honda teammate Marco Melandri shared Gibernau’s impression of the 2005 RCV. The young Italian immediately felt comfortable on the new bike and despite the oppressive heat he soon found a good rhythm. Melandri worked from the set up he was happiest with at the last Sepang test, tried several alternative electronic adjustments before reeling off a series of consistently fast laps.

Repsol Honda factory riders Max Biaggi and Nicky Hayden had an eventful day. Biaggi slid off his RCV at turn 11 escaping injury. The RCV was not so lucky sustaining crash damage. Later in the day as he exited his pit box the Italian collided with teammate Nicky Hayden who was entering his pit. Both riders emerged from the incident unscathed Biaggi particularly happy not to hurt himself as he is now close to full fitness following his winter recuperation from a broken ankle sustained in November.

Biaggi treated his day as a shakedown test trying various small adjustments to the rolling chassis in a bid to find the optimum base setting to suit his style. He was not looking for a fast lap ending the day 8/10ths of a second off his best time set during the January tests.

Hayden worked in the same direction as his teammate before concentrating his attention on the suspension of his RC211V in preparation for chassis testing tomorrow. The former American Superbike Champion put in a marathon 87 laps the track temperature so high he could not get within one-second of his best time at the last Sepang test.

Camel Honda teamsters Alex Barros and Troy Bayliss emerged from day one of the three-day test in very different moods. Brazilian Barros used his vast experience of the RCV to continue where he left off in January and despite the poor conditions out on track was quick to find a good base set up to work from. He spent his day working on the front forks in combination with new front tyres from Michelin.

By contrast teammate Bayliss admitted he was disappointed with his day’s work and ended the first day of three one and a half seconds slower than he had been at the January tests. The Australian, a former World Superbike Champion, was unable to find his rhythm and a late afternoon crash did not help matters. Bayliss has an optimistic view of life and is confident his chief mechanic, Santo Mulero, will find solutions to his difficulties with the base set up of the RC211V.

Japanese star Makoto Tamada arrived at Sepang suffering from a bout of flu but still managed to put his Konica Minolta Honda RC211V through a grueling 60-lap stint. Working from data gleaned at the last test and changes to the electronics Tamada slowly lowered his lap time on the poor surface. The popular Japanese rider ended the day in positive mood with a lap time half a second faster than on his previous visit.

Honda rider lap times and quotes:

Sete Gibernau – Telefonica MoviStar Honda: 2:01.765 – 64 laps: “I’m very satisfied of the work we did today. We worked on the chassis, forks and suspensions both front and rear. We also did some tyre testing requested by Michelin because of the extremely hot temperatures of the tarmac.”

“I think that we have made a step forward, because we have understood more about the bike and above all because we, the team, Honda and Michelin are working in the same direction and this is the most important thing. Today we focused on the chassis, tomorrow I think we will work on the electronics.”

Marco Melandri – Telefonica MoviStar Honda: 2:02.691 – 75 laps:”Today I could finally test the bike I will use during the coming season. I’m happy because I have found immediately a good feeling with the bike and I lapped with a constant pace. Despite the new bike and the hot temperatures my rhythm is improved compared to the times of the last test session here in Sepang. I have never pushed to make a fast lap, because I’m focused on the race rhythm. During this test session I’d like to make an endurance test of 21 laps. Today we tested the electronics in order to see the different possibilities of regulations that we have at disposal.

Max Biaggi – Repsol Honda: 2:02.60 – 41 laps: “We started some important work today, trying and testing new materials. It is a delicate job, it takes time and patience to get to the definitive bike. Today I’m satisfied with the little improvements we have made which all indicate important things for the future. We don’t care about the lap time today as it counts for nothing. The crash this morning happened when I lost the front wheel and the pit-lane accident happened when I was leaving the pit garage, Nicky returns to his pit very close to the garages and I didn’t see him.”

Nicky Hayden – Repsol Honda: 2:02.67 – 87 laps: “I started the day just with a shakedown on the two brand new 2005 bikes. They didn’t feel too much different to the last test here a couple of weeks ago but we knew that would be the case. I tried a few suspension changes and some were good but I got into a bit of a rut this afternoon. We knew that, for the first day, we wouldn’t be giving too much focus to any one area of the machine. I’ve got some chassis changes to try tomorrow so I’m sure I can get going better than today. The pit-lane incident was one of those things, Max pulled out of his pit garage right in front of me as I was heading back into mine, we hit each other, it was nothing more than an accident.”

Alex Barros- Camel Honda: 2:02.08 – 68 laps: “It was really hot today, and humid too, so it was a challenging day from a physical point of view. I’m still very satisfied though. We worked in the first part of the morning getting the bike set-up, seeing as a few of the electronic components have changed, but despite the track conditions being really bad, I went quick straight away. Obviously we already have a good base and that is really positive. In the afternoon we made some more adjustments to the forks and then I tried three new front tyres from Michelin. They are still just prototypes which their engineers made after the work we did three weeks ago, and tomorrow we will try some more, whilst we will also test some rear tyres which I was unable to try out during the last tests.”

Troy Bayliss – Camel Honda: 2:04.45 – 59 laps: “I’m a bit disappointed, I can’t deny it, because just a couple of weeks ago I left Sepang in good shape, yet today things just didn’t go too well. On a positive note, basing things on my experiences at the last test, I know that working with this team we will eventually find the right direction for the set-up, because that’s all that’s missing – the bike is strong and it goes well. Today to make matters worse the track was in poor condition, I didn’t have a good feeling and towards the end of the day I crashed as I opened the throttle and was going rather quick. But I’m fine and I have already agreed with Santi Mulero (crew chief) the changes we will make tomorrow.”

Makoto Tamada – Konica Minolta Honda: 2:02.34 -60 laps: “I was glad to begin to work on the new version of the bike, even if from a few days I have the flu and in my conditions, this tropical atmosphere doesn’t help me out to do my job. But if we put aside my physical situation, I consider myself more than satisfied on how things have been going today: in fact, after a few technical adjustments, my lap times have gotten better and better, and this gives me positive hopes for the next days of test.”


More, from a press release issued by Fortuna Yamaha:

FORTUNA YAMAHA CONCLUDES FIRST DAY OF TESTS AT SEPANG

The Fortuna Yamaha Team was back at the Malaysian circuit of Sepang today for their second testing session of the 2005 preseason. Intense heat and slippery track conditions made life difficult for both Fortuna Yamaha riders, Toni Elías and Ruben Xaus.

The Spanish pair, who shared the track with several other MotoGP rivals, concentrated mainly on clocking up the kilometres and continuing to adapt to their new M1 machines. Toni Elías is still suffering from the fractured little finger he sustained in the last test whilst Rubén Xaus is also struggling with minor injuries picked up in the team’s previous visit to Sepang and was forced to end his session early. The best time of the day was set by the Spaniard Sete Gibernau with a lap of 2:01.7, closely followed by the Brazilian Alex Barros (Honda, 2:02.1) and Japanese rider Makoto Tamada (Honda, 2:02.4). Gauloises Yamaha riders Valentino Rossi and Colin Edwards finished the first day of tests with the fifth and ninth fastest times respectively with laps of 2:02.5 and 2:02.9.

Toni Elias, (2:03.9, 60 laps)
We have continued the job we started here just a few weeks ago and bit by bit we are making progress. We’ve basically concentrated on running up the kilometres with hard tyres so that I can adapt to the M1. Throughout the day we also worked on the set-up of the bike as well as chassis and suspension although it’s still very early to make any conclusions. The finger still hurts but it’s nothing like the pain I had here at the last test. The track is a little bit dirty so the lap times are not as fast as they were then.

Rubén Xaus (2:04.08)
I had to end the test early because I’m still in a lot of pain from the injury I picked up in the last test here at Sepang. We’ll see how I feel tomorrow and hopefully I can get on the bike. In any case the Yamaha engineers are working to build me a new seat for the M1.


More, from a press release issued by Camel Honda:

MotoGP engines roar once more in Sepang.
Camel Honda team already back at the front

MotoGP riders today completed the first of three test days in extreme conditions at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia. During the session which took place at the same circuit towards the end of January the asphalt measured 43º Celsius, but today it reached over 50°C. The scorching heat, along with the accompanying high humidity, forced all the riders to take an hour’s break at midday, with the track conditions extra slippery. The two Camel Honda riders rode the 2005 spec RC211V for the first time, getting the crucial first positive feelings. Alex Barros, quickest throughout the whole day as he constantly built on his best time, eventually was second fastest. Troy Bayliss also continued to make progress along his learning curve on the RC211V. The testing continues for two more days on the Malaysia track, before the team transfers to Australia for three further days.


Sito Pons – Camel Honda – (Team Principal)
“These tests are important because we have begun work on the new bike. Our first impressions are good and we want to make the most of the relatively long time before the season begins to continue to make progress. The bike is an evolution of last year’s machine, with modifications in the electronics and the aerodynamics. Alex, who has ridden the Honda for a while, was instantly quick on it and made constant improvements throughout the day. Troy wasn’t totally comfortable in the saddle today, but we are working intensely with him to put his requests into effect. At the end of the January test he was happy, now the bike has changed a bit, but I am sure that we will manage to find a good setting for him, so the RC211V feels like it is his.”

Alex Barros – Camel Honda – 2:02.08 (68 laps)
“It was really hot today, and humid too, so it was a challenging day from a physical point of view. I’m still very satisfied though. We worked in the first part of the morning getting the bike set-up, seeing as a few of the electronic components have changed, but despite the track conditions being really bad, I went quick straight away. Obviously we already have a good base and that is really positive. In the afternoon we made some more adjustments to the forks and then I tried three new front tyres from Michelin. They are still just prototypes which their engineers made after the work we did three weeks ago, and tomorrow we will try some more, whilst we will also test some rear tyres which I was unable to try out during the last tests.”


Troy Bayliss – Camel Honda – 2:04.45 (59 laps)
“I’m a bit disappointed, I can’t deny it, because just a couple of weeks ago I left Sepang in good shape, yet today things just didn’t go too well. On a positive note, basing things on my experiences at the last test, I know that working with this team we will eventually find the right direction for the set-up, because that’s all that’s missing – the bike is strong and it goes well. Today to make matters worse the track was in poor conditions, I didn’t have a good feeling and towards the end of the day I crashed as I opened the throttle and was going rather quick. But I’m fine and I have already agreed with Santi (Mulero, crew chief) the changes we will make tomorrow.”


More, from a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

DUCATI HARD AT WORK AT SEPANG IN THREE DAYS OF TESTING

First day of testing at Sepang for the Ducati Marlboro Team: Capirossi sets quick time despite feeling feverish. Good performance also by Checa and Itoh.

Sepang (Malaysia), 11 February 2005 – Another day of torrid conditions (33° air/60° track) greeted all the protagonists of the 2005 MotoGP world championship at the Malaysian circuit for the second and final winter test session scheduled for Sepang. Very little grip and high humidity inevitably conditioned this first day of testing, which saw both Ducati Marlboro Team riders out on the track on their new Desmosedici GP5 machines for further shakedown tests.

Loris Capirossi joined his team-mate Carlos Checa and, despite a high temperature, carried on with the scheduled test programme. The Italian rider completed 54 laps on the new GP5 which had been tested by Shinichi Itoh yesterday, setting a best time of 2:02.47.

“Today I lapped pretty good, but I was worn out by the end of the day” declared Loris. “I’m not feeling very well, so I get tired pretty quickly and above all my reactions are a bit slow. However I am quite satisfied because I managed to quickly find something that enabled me to set some good times immediately: now my hopes are high for the next couple of days”.

Carlos Checa, who also tested the new GP5, also went well, the Spanish rider finishing the day with a total of 58 laps and a best time of 2:02.56.

“We worked well and are improving step by step, even though I still have to get into the swing of things” commented Checa. “I tried several different tyres, some with a good potential, others which lasted well. Now my bike has a good balance and we have ahead of us a couple of hard days of work that I want to get the best out of!”

Tester Shinichi Itoh was also on the track today, the Japanese rider completing 58 laps with the Desmosedici GP4 of the Ducati-Bridgestone Tyre Test Team and setting a best time of 2:04.30. In preparation for his work with the team this season, Itoh tried several different set-ups in order to get to know the behaviour of the bike, which is fundamental for the development of the tyres.

Loris Capirossi, Carlos Checa and Shinichi Itoh will continue to test at Sepang on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 February.