GAULOISES YAMAHA TEAM TEST Phillip Island, Australia Thursday, March 10, 2005 Ambient temperature: 21 degrees Track temperature: 31 degrees Humidity: 64% YAMAHA MEN WORK HARD IN PHILLIP ISLAND DESPITE MORE RAIN The pre-season testing programme of Gauloises Yamaha Team duo Valentino Rossi and Colin Edwards was interrupted by rain again today at Austalia’s Phillip Island circuit. However, after a wet morning, higher temperatures than yesterday made for more effective testing conditions this afternoon. Both riders continued to test tyres for Michelin and work on settings and it ended as a useful day despite the poor weather. World Champion Rossi, testing alongside the Fortuna Yamaha Team of Ruben Xaus and Toni Elias as well as his team-mate, was the fastest man on the track today. He completed 74 laps with a fastest time of 1:30.65. His time was a big improvement on that recorded yesterday, and well within lap record pace (1:31.102), but it was still shy of the 1:29.68 set at the circuit three weeks ago in warmer, drier conditions. Gauloises Yamaha debutant Edwards completed 71 laps with a best lap of 1:31.00 – again, slightly slower than the 1:30.60 the American recorded last month. Spaniard Xaus was third fastest of the four, setting a time of 1:32.32 from 68 laps with his new Fortuna Yamaha Team. Team-mate and countryman Elias completed 90 laps with a best time of 1:32.70 as he continues to adapt to the MotoGP class and Yamaha’s YZR-M1. Valentino Rossi (1:30.65, 74 laps) “Unfortunately it was raining again and we lost all of the morning. We did some good work in the afternoon, but the conditions were not really right for us to do effective testing. We continued to work on the bike settings but it was difficult to judge our progress in these bad conditions. I really hope tomorrow will be better as we still have to fix some settings on the bike.” Colin Edwards (1:31.00, 71 laps) “We woke up to more rain and the track was soaked in the morning. I did a couple of laps in the wet just to check settings. It then dried up and we actually did some good work, spending most of the afternoon testing front tyres and a few rears. It was a good day despite the weather and the bike was working well; I feel a lot happier than I did two weeks ago.” Davide Brivio, Gauloises Yamaha Team Director “Another wet day! We really hope that tomorrow will be better, as it’s a long way to come for most of the time to be useless! We got some work done, but not as much as we expected. Colin did some laps in the wet and then it dried out a little, but the track never got dry enough to allow us to do really good work.” More, from a press release issued by Fortuna Yamaha: RAIN HINDERS TESTING PROGRAMME FOR FORTUNA YAMAHA Fortuna Yamaha riders Rubén Xaus and Toni Elías concluded their second day of tests at the Phillip Island circuit in Australia today in difficult weather conditions which, for the second day running, interrupted their testing programme. Fortuna Yamaha rider Rubén Xaus completed 68 laps with a best time of 1:32.32. Rubén concentrated on his front suspension and tested different configurations related to the set-up of his YZR M1. His team-mate Toni Elías took the opportunity to gather some wet experience on the bike and clocked up 90 laps with a best time of 1:32.70. The Spaniard was very satisfied with the performance of his Yamaha in these conditions. Gauloises Yamaha rider Valentino Rossi completed 74 laps and set the best time of the day with a lap of 1:30.65. His team-mate Colin Edwards completed 71 laps and set a best time of 1:31.00. Rubén Xaus, (1:32.32, 68 laps) “I am happy because we have set a rhythm in low 1’32 over the course of the day. I didn’t even get on the bike until 1pm because of the weather conditions, which have messed up our plans a little. We tested a new configuration for the front suspension with very positive results. I’m happy because we’re doing a great job and we’re making progress. We’re making the bike a little longer and, even though it is heavier, I like it. I’m happy.” Toni Elías (1:32.70, 90 laps) “We’ve tested some different technical aspects in general although I think the most positive thing to come out of today was the fact that I could test the way the bike reacts in the wet and I liked it. We’ve also tried some different suspension settings but it’s still too early to draw any conclusions. We’re improving every day thanks to the great job being done by the whole team I’m really happy. In any case, we’ve still got a full day to go and we have to keep working as we have done up to now to make sure we continue evolving”.