CAMEL YAMAHA TEAM TEST Sepang, Malaysia Wednesday, January 25th 2006 Ambient temperature: 29.2 degrees Track temperature: 49 degrees Humidity: 63.8% CAMEL YAMAHA TEAM HAPPY WITH PROGRESS IN SEPANG The Camel Yamaha Team completed their three-day test in Sepang, Malaysia today with more promising work on the new 2006-spec YZR-M1. Both Valentino Rossi and Colin Edwards concentrated mainly on work for Michelin in the morning and made some important progress in this area with the tyre manufacturer. After lunch both riders then completed a long run in order to gather information about the new M1 in race conditions, and were both pleased with the performance of the bike and the improvement in times from the race in September. Sete Gibernau (Ducati) was fastest today with a time of 2’01.03. Rossi, who captured his seventh World Championship title at this track in September, set a fastest lap of 2’01.60, which puts him fifth fastest over the three days according to the unofficial times. Edwards’ best lap of the day was 2’02.54 but his fastest time from the three days remains the 2’02.00 that he set yesterday. The Camel Yamaha Team now has a 12-day break before heading to Doha, Qatar for their next test on February 6th, 7th and 8th. VALENTINO ROSSI (2’01.60, 60 Laps) “This morning we worked 100% on tyres with Michelin. Last year at the race here we had some problems in this area but Michelin have brought a lot of new tyres here and they seem to be very good. We’ve been working with them to find a better grip. This afternoon I did the race simulation which was also promising. In general I am happy with this first test and with the evolution of the new bike; I already have a good feeling with it. It’s not so different from the 2005 version but it’s better in many areas. Yamaha is working especially hard on improving the stability of the bike and making it easier to find the right setting. The engine is also better. Now it’s important that we try the bike at a different track and I think it will be interesting in Qatar. Last year I was able to win the race there, one of the best races of the season, but we had some problems throughout the weekend. It will be good to see how the new bike performs there.” COLIN EDWARDS (2’02.54, 62 Laps) “In the morning we worked a lot on tyres and setting, and made some progress to get rid of the chatter we had yesterday. This afternoon I did a long run and was quite pleased with it. It was much faster than I was in the race last year, so that’s proof that we’ve made some progress. The tyre I used is maybe not the one I would have chosen for the race, but it worked okay all the same and we’ve found some other good new stuff with Michelin. Overall I think it’s been a good first test. It’s helpful to have the chance to get used to the new bike at a track we know well and I’m pretty excited about it. Everything has improved and the package seems to work. We’ve had a few problems this week, and we need to understand why they happened, but we’ve got plenty more time before the first race. I’m looking forward to going to Qatar, a track I really like, and seeing how the bike goes there.” DAVIDE BRIVIO CAMEL YAMAHA TEAM DIRECTOR “It has been a good first test and we have some positive results for both riders. They both managed to complete many laps and made some excellent progress with the new bike. It’s been very important to test the new bike here to check that everything is okay and it was also useful to end with the long run. Now we go to Qatar where it will be interesting to see our bike at a different circuit.” UNOFFICIAL LAP TIMES 1. Sete Gibernau (SPA) Ducati 2’01.03 2. Loris Capirossi (ITA) Ducati 2’01.08 3. Marco Melandri (ITA) Honda 2’01.12 4. Dani Pedrosa (SPA) Honda 2’01.51 5. VALENTINO ROSSI (ITA) Yamaha 2’01.60 6. Nicky Hayden (USA) Honda 2’01.69 7. Shinya Nakano (JPN) Kawasaki 2’01.78 8. Randy de Puniet (FRA) Kawasaki 2’02.18 9. Toni Elias (SPA) Honda 2’02.30 10. Chris Vermeulen (AUS) Suzuki 2’02.43 11. COLIN EDWARDS (USA) Yamaha 2’02.54 12. Casey Stoner (AUS) Honda 2’02.67 13. K. Akiyoshi (JPN) Suzuki 2’02.80 14. John Hopkins (USA) Suzuki 2’03.05 15. Alex Hofmann (GER) Ducati 2’03.20 16. Kenny Roberts (USA) KR Honda 2’03.37 17. Jose Luis Cardoso (SPA) Ducati 2’03.50 18. S. Ito (JPN) Ducati 2’03.60 19. James Ellison (GBR) Yamaha 2’04.17 More, from a press release issued by Kawasaki Racing Team: KAWASAKI CONCLUDE SUCCESSFUL SEPANG TEST The Kawasaki Racing Team concluded their final day of testing at the Sepang circuit today, with Shinya Nakano and Randy de Puniet both setting their fastest lap times of the test during the afternoon session. Both Kawasaki riders were subjected to a heavy workload over the three-day test, completing a combined total of more than 300 laps around the 5.548km Sepang circuit, as they continue the development of Kawasaki’s new Ninja ZX-RR MotoGP machine. Nakano started this morning’s session by running comparison tests on different set-ups, before switching bikes to evaluate a revised chassis. He then ran an 18-lap race simulation in the afternoon, in which he saw a significant improvement in his average lap time compared to this same test last year. Nakano’s Kawasaki teammate, de Puniet, also concentrated today on comparing suspension settings, as he worked with his crew to refine the set-up of his Ninja ZX-RR. In the afternoon the 24-year-old Frenchman improved upon his lap time by 0.5s, before having to abandon a planned race simulation due to a minor technical problem. Nakano and de Puniet also tested a revised exhaust system on their Ninja ZX-RR machines, which both riders agreed offered better throttle response at the bottom end of the rev range. The Kawasaki Racing Team will travel directly from Malaysia to Australia, to participate in a further three-day test at Phillip Island, starting on Tuesday 31 January. Shinya Nakano: #56 – 2’01.27 (72 Laps) “Today was very demanding because we did a lot of laps, but we also managed to complete our test programme, which is very important at this stage with a new bike. We tested some different settings and components this morning, with positive results, before running an 18-lap race simulation during the afternoon. My lap times on race tyres were consistent, and very close to Loris Capirossi’s race times from last year, so we ended the test on a positive note. We still have some work to do during the next tests in Australia and Malaysia, but we have already made a lot of progress with the new bike and we definitely have a clear direction for future development.” Randy de Puniet: #17 – 2’02.18 (62 Laps) “We tested a lot of different suspension components, both front and rear, today to identify the best set-up on the bike. We also ran a race simulation in the afternoon, but I had to cut this short due to a small problem on the bike. I improved on my previous best lap time by almost 0.5s, so today has been very positive for us. Overall, this has been a successful test. We’ve completed a lot of work and seen an improvement in lap times every day. Hopefully we can continue the same trend at Phillip Island next week.” Harald Eckl: Team Manager “This has been a successful first test for the new bike, and I’m confident that the information we have collected will be converted by Kawasaki’s engineers into further improvements to the engine before we return to Sepang in February. Both riders were very positive about the chassis and the handling of the bike, and I think we’ve made a definite step forward in this area. Shinya’s fastest lap today was almost 0.5s faster than Loris Capirossi’s pole position time from the race here just four months ago, and I think this indicates best of all the progress we’ve made over the winter. Randy has also impressed during this test with his consistency, and also how close his lap times are to Shinya’s. I’m confident that with the new ZX-RR and our two riders we will see a clear improvement in our championship standing during the 2006 season.” More, from a press release issued by Dorna Communications: MotoGP teams complete first private test of 2006 at Sepang The majority of teams competing in the MotoGP World Championship this year rolled out their 2006 prototype motorcycles at the first test session of the preseason at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia this week. Reigning World Champion Valentino Rossi was joined on track by a host of potential title challengers, including Honda rookie Dani Pedrosa, the double 250cc World Champion, and last year’s surprise runner-up Marco Melandri in a three-day session that ended on Wednesday. However, the time sheets were dominated by one of Rossi’s more familiar rivals in the shape of Spanish rider Sete Gibernau, taking part in just his third test session with Ducati. Gibernau lapped in record times on the final day, clocking an unofficial best effort of 2’01.03 to hold off the challenge of his new team-mate Loris Capirossi, who set the pole position record of 2’01.731 before taking victory in the Grand Prix at this circuit last October. “My settling-in period with the team, the bike and the tyres is continuing and I am increasingly satisfied with the choice that I have made,” reflected Gibernau, who ended a three-year association with Honda to join the Italian factory three months ago. “I used Bridgestone’s qualifying tyres for the first time and they gave me a good feeling. We’ve still got a lot of work to do to be at 100% but we are on the right path”. Rossi ended the test with the fifth fastest time behind Melandri and the impressive Pedrosa. The Italian will now have a twelve day break before rejoining his Yamaha team for further tests alongside Suzuki at Qatar, with Honda, Kawasaki and Ducati scheduled to return to action a few days earlier at Phillip Island in Australia. “In general I am happy with this first test and with the evolution of the new bike – I already have a good feeling with it. It’s not so different from the 2005 version but it’s better in many areas. Yamaha is working especially hard on improving the stability of the bike and making it easier to find the right setting. The engine is also better. Now it’s important that we try the bike at a different track and I think it will be interesting in Qatar.” Full details of the tests, including unofficial lap times, photos, video images and rider interviews can be found at www.motogp.com. More, from a press release issued by Fortuna Racing: LAST DAY / MELANDRI LEAVES SEPANG AS THE FASTEST HONDA RIDER Third and last day of testing for the MotoGP teams, busy at Sepang in the preparation of the 2006 Championship . The Fortuna Honda riders spent their day working at the set up of the bike in order to get the best out of the five-cylinder 990cc. Italian Marco Melandri set the third fastest time of the day and was the fastest Honda rider, despite the difficulties found in getting a good set up. Positive day for the Spanish Toni Elias, who improved his lap time and his feeling with the bike. MARCO MELANDRI ( 81 laps, 2’01.12): “Today we worked with only one bike and we struggled quite a bit to find a reasonable set up. During lunch time my mechanics did an incredible job and in the afternoon my feeling with the bike improved. Unfortunately the research of a good setting took a lot of time and in the end I couldn’t do a race simulation At the moment we are not using all the potential of the RC211V. I’m happy that we have another test next week so that we can continue working on the bike. I’m confident and I look forward to test in Australia.” TONI ELIAS (70 laps 2’02.26): “I’m happy because every day we do a step forward. Today I improved my lap time with race tyres while I still have to work with qualifying tyres. In fact, this afternoon I didn’t succeed to use the qualifying tyre at his best, As far as my adaptation to the bike, I can say that my feeling with the bike improves day by day. I’m confident and I look forward to next test session. In Australia we will continue working in the same direction, completing as many kilometres as possible.” Today it was the third and last day of the 2006 first test session. Tomorrow the Fortuna Honda Team will fly to Australia, where the second test session is scheduled starting from Tuesday , the 31st of January. More, from a press release issued by Team Fortuna Honda: TOWARDS AUSTRALIA WITH OPTIMISM Marco Melandri leaves Sepang as the fastest Honda rider, while his team mate Toni Elias continues improving his lap time. Sepang (Malaysia), Wednesday 25th January 2006 – Third and last day of testing for the MotoGP teams, busy at Sepang in the preparation of the 2006 Championship . The Fortuna Honda riders spent their day working at the set up of the bike in order to get the best out of the five-cylinder 990cc. Italian Marco Melandri set the third fastest time of the day and was the fastest Honda rider, despite the difficulties found in getting a good set up. Positive day for the Spanish Toni Elias, who improved his lap time and his feeling with the bike. MARCO MELANDRI ( 81 laps, 2’01.12): “Today we worked with only one bike and we struggled quite a bit to find a reasonable set up. During lunch time my mechanics did an incredible job and in the afternoon my feeling with the bike improved. Unfortunately the research of a good setting took a lot of time and in the end I couldn’t do a race simulation. At the moment we are not using all the potential of the RC211V. I’m happy that we have another test next week so that we can continue working on the bike. I’m confident and I look forward to test in Australia.” TONI ELIAS (70 laps 2’02.26): “I’m happy because every day we do a step forward. Today I improved my lap time with race tyres while I still have to work with qualifying tyres. In fact, this afternoon I didn’t succeed to use the qualifying tyre at its best. As far as my adaptation to the bike, I can say that my feeling with the bike improves day by day. I’m confident and I look forward to next test session. In Australia we will continue working in the same direction, completing as many kilometres as possible.” Today it was the third and last day of the 2006 first test session. Tomorrow the Fortuna Honda Team will fly to Australia, where the second test session is scheduled starting from Tuesday , the 31st of January. More, from a press release issued by Honda Racing Information: MotoGP test Sepang, Malaysia. Final of three-day test, January 25, 2006. Honda RC211V riders complete successful MotoGP test at Sepang The three-day MotoGP test at the Sepang, Malaysia ended on a positive note for the Honda riders in action at the 5.542 km grand prix circuit. Four of the five riders equipped with RC211V five-cylinder 990cc four-stroke Hondas and Kenny Roberts Junior aboard the Honda powered Team Roberts KR211V set their fastest lap times of the three-day test in the closing hours of the day. Casey Stoner aboard the LCR Honda was the sole exception. Australian Stoner spent the entire day working hard developing his spare machine in preparation for the next MotoGP test, at Phillip Island, Australia that begins on January 31. The fastest RCV rider of the day was Italian Marco Melandri (Fortuna Honda) who set a time of 2m 01.12s. Melandri, second in the MotoGP World Championship of 2005 worked on his spare bike before moving on to his number one machine improving the chassis settings then tested a range of tyres for Michelin. The two Repsol Honda factory riders also set very impressive times. Spaniard Dani Pedrosa bettered his previous best lap time by seven-tenths of a second circulating at 2m 01.56s with team mate Nicky Hayden just over a tenth of a second slower at 2m 01.69s. Both riders spend a large part of their day testing tyres. Reigning double 250cc World Champion Pedrosa is entering his MotoGP debut season and has little experience of tyre testing. However, it took the 20-years old Spaniard little time to analyse the performance of the range of tyres he tested. Pedrosa tried no less than six new rear tyres for Michelin before trying a set of qualifying tyres for the first time in his career. Former US Superbike Champion Hayden is the more experienced of the two riders and has born the brunt of development work at Sepang. Hayden, from Kentucky, worked hard all day, probably too hard and was not at his best when the time came for a time attack with qualifying tyres. Marco Melandri’s Fortuna Honda teammate Toni Elias did not quite make the progress he had hoped for but still lowered his best previous lap time by well over one-second. Elias races the RCV for the first time this season and continues to follow the rigid pre-season test programme devised by the Team Gresini technicians. The same programme produced astonishing results for team mate Melandri in 2005. Kenny Roberts Junior continued his impressive debut test session aboard he KR211V and the team ended the three-days in very positive frame of mind. British based Team Roberts designed and built the rolling chassis of the KR211V, installed the RCV engine and tested the machine, all in less than three months. The team can be proud of such an impressive motorcycle engineering achievement in this high tech modern era of MotoGP racing. Honda riders lap times and quotes. Nicky Hayden, USA Repsol Honda: 2m 01.69s – 95 laps. “Three days in the books and it’s over. We’ve definitely learned a lot in the test and we can look forward to taking it to Phillip Island and seeing if what we like here works there then it’s pretty good for our weapon. They’re two very different tracks – Phillip Island has a lot more high-speed corners and it’s the kind of put-it-together track I like and I will try and reconfirm everything. Today didn’t go especially great for me we tested some tyres and stuff I liked. We tested a lot of things and racked up a lot of laps, in the end probably too many laps and it all got a bit numb for me, but we had a bit of work to get through and we got through it all. I did a 20-lap which is one short of race distance session and I went faster than I went here last time but it wasn’t quite enough and I definitely need to find a bit more rhythm. It’s definitely a long three days in the heat, but I enjoy being back here with the boys, and I feel good.” Dani Pedrosa, E Repsol Honda: 2m 01.56s – 77-laps. “Today we did many laps and I got more and more feeling for the bike. We tried some race starts for the first time, and at the end we did some tyre testing for Michelin and I did one long run, not very long, but this was half a race it’s good to get the experience. I learned that the Michelin tyres are quite consistent, but I was worried at the beginning I just wanted to get an idea of what the qualifying tyre is like because it is so important to have a good grid position. I was worried at the beginning about crashing so by the time I realised how much grip the tyre had I was more than half way through the lap. So I am happy with my time. I haven’t really thought about the next test. I just want to relax for a few days and then I’ll get back in the groove in Australia.” Makoto Tanaka – Repsol Honda Team Manager “This test has been very useful for us and we have gained a lot of information that will be useful for the next tests in Phillip Island and back here in Sepang in February. Because of his experience Nicky has been doing most of the development work on the RC211V and he tested many things – perhaps he did too many laps because he was very tired at the end of three days, which is understandable. Dani made very good step-by-step progress. He tried a qualifying tyre for the first time and he was very good, we are pleased. He also did a longer session and was consistent.” Marco Melandri, I Fortuna Honda: 2m 01.12s – 71 laps. “Yesterday we had many problems with my second bike and also this morning. It was nowhere near as good as my number one bike. I did not have a good feeling running into the fast corners, the front end felt vague. We had to try many things to improve the front end today. Last year we could usually fix this problem with suspension setting but we tried every potential solution we could with the suspension and balance of the bike. Then we worked on the geometry and the bike improved a lot so I am happy with my team for improving the total performance of the bike especially the work on the front end and rear end grip. Now the difference between the two machines is not so much. When we finished working on the settings of the spare we tyre testing for Michelin. With even better chassis settings than before and the tyres Michelin gave us I was seven-tenths of a second faster than my previous best lap time at this test. So the three days have been positive.” Toni Elias, E Fortuna Honda: 2m 02.230s – 72 laps. “I just didn’t find a good feeling with the bike today. We tried many things with the suspension and chassis and improved the bike a lot but we can still improve the front end more. But in fact we have improved on each day of the test. We also tested tyres today and the bike was predictable with a full tank of fuel, and when the fuel level was low so I’m pleased with that. We ran qualifying tyres at the end but I didn’t put in a good lap time using them. We go to Phillip Island next week and will continue our planned schedule for the various parts of the machine. It will be interesting to see how the RCV performs there before we come back to Sepang for a test in February.” Casey Stoner, AUS LCR Honda: 2m 02.67s – 59 laps. “Today I had a lot of difficulties adjusting to my second bike. We had to work hard all day to improve the handling. We took a couple of backward steps but bit by bit we found the right direction to work in. We did a lot with the suspension and got the front end near where we are with my best bike and had really good grip on the rear. At the end it was working good.” Kenny Roberts Jnr, USA Team Roberts: 2m 03.40s – 67 laps. “I think that overall we did a lot of good work here. We know the engine, suspension and tyres are very good we also know we have the tyres to do the job. There are a few fundamental things we have to improve on the chassis and we have collected a lot of data that we can work from. I had hoped to run a 2m 02s lap but I didn’t make it, we just ran out of time trying so much stuff. Thanks to Honda, Michelin and my Father I have a good machine and I have a positive feeling about the season leaving here.” More, from a press release issued by Ducati Corse: Loris Capirossi and Sete Gibernau both hit the front on final day of three-day test at Sepang. Sepang (Malaysia), Wednesday 25 January 2006 – The tropical rainstorm that put paid to yesterday’s session for all the MotoGP teams present at Sepang made way for excellent weather for the final day of testing. The Ducati Marlboro Team engineers and riders were able to put in a full day’s work and Loris Capirossi and Sete Gibernau ended up at the top of the unofficial timesheets, both on race and on qualifying tyres. Sete Gibernau worked hard to reach a total feeling with his Ducati. The Spanish rider, after getting to grips with the GP6, today also completed six laps with the GP5, confirming yesterday’s impressions from his team-mate. With the GP6 successfully completing its roll-out test, the natural life-cycle of the Ducati Desmosedici GP5 has now come to an end at the Sepang track, where Capirossi set pole and took the win in the 2005 Malaysian GP. Sete Gibernau (73 laps – 2m01.83s race, 2m01.03s qualifying) “My settling-in period with the team, the bike and the tyres is continuing and I am increasingly satisfied with the choice that I have made. Today I felt pretty good on the GP6 and I also wanted to do a few laps on the GP5, which I have never tried, to make a back-to-back test. This confirmed what Loris, who knows the bike well, had said yesterday: the GP5 is a good bike but the GP6 has more development potential and from now onwards we are only going to use that bike. For the first time I used Bridgestone’s qualifying tyres and they gave me a good feeling. We’ve still got a lot of work to do to be at 100% but we are on the right path”. On the final day of the session, Loris Capirossi focussed on getting through an intense programme of tyre testing, accumulating information that will be useful for the next session scheduled for Sepang. Loris Capirossi (76 laps – 2m01.64s race, 2m01.08s qualifying) “We can also be satisfied with today’s performance. The weather was good all day and we were able to do all the scheduled tyre testing. Bridgestone are working well and we have gathered a lot of useful information for the next test session here at Sepang. I also tried the new qualifying tyres, which have a good potential. I like the GP6 more and more and I can’t wait to test it in Australia, where last year I only did a few laps on the Friday morning before crashing, which forced me to miss the Australian and Turkish GPs”. The next test for the Ducati Marlboro Team will be from January 31st to February 2nd, at Phillip Island in Australia, the second scheduled 2006 winter session. More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki: Frustration but high potential for Team SUZUKI MotoGP at Sepang Team SUZUKI MotoGP completed a frustrating third and final day of the first MotoGP test of 2006 but still have some positive results to take forward into the new season. John Hopkins and Chris Vermeulen were joined at Sepang in Malaysia by team test rider Kousuke Akiyoshi. All riders were testing the all-new Suzuki ‘XRE4′ GSV-R prototype race bike for the first time and all three Suzuki racers showed a noticeable improvement over the test. Hopkins’ best time during the test on normal race tyres – was 2’02.40, over a second faster than his best 2005 race lap. The hard charging Anglo-American pushed the new GSV-R to its limits throughout the test and although he was unable to complete any meaningful testing on the third day due to an electrical control fault – he was able to give his crew invaluable feedback as they seek to get him the best racing package possible. Vermeulen bettered his times during the test and was able to complete 75 laps on day three. His best time of 2’02.30 was a massive four seconds quicker than his time from day one. Akiyoshi recorded a quickest time of 2’03.00 as he gave the GSV-R a thorough chassis evaluation to assist the team in getting as much data for the new bike as possible. Team SUZUKI MotoGP will next be in action at Doha in Qatar on Sunday 5th February for a further three day test. The 2006 MotoGP World Championship begins at Jerez in Spain on Sunday 26th March. John Hopkins: “I am obviously frustrated after what happened today. I really don’t like sitting in the garage and watching all my competitors go quicker and quicker. I feel like I now have a bit of catching up to do but I am certainly ready for that. However, despite the teething problems I still managed to go quicker at this test than I did last year and the bike showed good potential. If I can lap at those speeds with one hand tied behind my back, things will really pick up once this new bike is fully refined. I feel I’ve improved myself in terms of fitness, riding technique and mental strength. All the crew worked really hard especially today and we are leaving Sepang with a very positive feeling because we know what the bike, the team and I am capable of this year.” Chris Vermeulen: “It was great to have the new bike here to test. Over the three days we lost a bit of time due to various little things but today I really got a chance for a long run on the GSV-R. It felt great to be out there on track again with all the other riders and I was able to learn a lot from them about how to ride a GP bike. I was pleased with my times as this is only the third test I’ve done and I got down to the low 2’02s. I know I can go a bit quicker but I also now that races aren’t won or lost at the first test of the season. There’s a lot more to come from me and from the bike, so I am very satisfied with how things are going.” Paul Denning Team Manager: “To say that the test was frustrating would be an understatement. The new GSV-R is very innovative in a number of areas and has shown huge potential during the factory’s winter development programme – certainly the bike is very capable of massively improved results. We did suffer a number of niggling issues here that we were unable to fully resolve at the track, but Suzuki is fully committed to quickly solving these issues. “We were very pleased with the attitude and performance of both riders. John had to sit out most of today but he was very committed to helping his technicians find a solution. When he was out on the track he comfortably posted times in the mid 2’02s on race tyres and if he’d had a solid final day there is no question that his final best lap time would have been extremely competitive. Chris impresses me every time he goes out. He is still very much in the learning stage, but his feedback and improvements are great and he has immediately become an integral part of the team. Akiyoshi san worked tirelessly for us throughout the whole test and the extra information that he has supplied will prove invaluable, he also managed to post some very competitive times and we are grateful for his help this week. “We now move onto Qatar for the next test knowing that the basic package of the GSV-R is massively improved, and the team cannot wait to move onto the next stage in the development of the bike.”