From a press release:

HONDA RACING NEWS

Honda HRC test – Day 1 – 19 March 2002


On the opening day of the 2-day HRC test at the Suzuka circuit, Japan, the Repsol Honda riders and team technicians spent their time finding optimum settings for the RC211 V – four stoke Honda.

Team riders Valentino Rossi and Tohru Ukawa have virtually no Suzuka experience with the 5-cylinder 990cc RCV, and spent the majority of their time testing new parts for engine and suspension.

Tomorrow the test continues when the riders will develop new parts in ready-ness for the final pre-season test next week.

Valentino Rossi: 2:05.710
“At the beginning of the test I had problems with traction and the suspension settings. But in the afternoon I began to understand better how to work on the RCV to find the best settings for me.

“Suzuka circuit is one of the most difficult tracks to set up a bike for racing. For example Suzuka feels much harder to work for me than Sepang. But after today I’m confident we are working in the right direction.”

Tohru Ukawa: 2:06.310
“Although I know the Suzuka circuit well, today we were slow to find good settings for the RCV. After discussing everything with Valentino we both
understand the direction we should take with this machine.

“At the end of the day I was satisfied with my lap times and with the settings I found. I am sure that tomorrow we will progress further and I
will set better times.”

Team Fortuna Honda Gresini, also attended the Suzuka test. Team rider Daijiro Katoh, the reigning 250cc Champion, was testing the team NSR500 -four cylinder- two stroke for the first time at the 5.859 km long Japanese circuit. Daijiro Katoh set a time of 2:07.3