From a press release issued by Fortuna:

MotoGP pre-season IRTA Tests
Friday 21 February 2003 (day 1 of 3)
Jerez de la Frontera, Spain

STEADY START FOR CHECA AND MELANDRI AT COOL JEREZ

Fortuna Yamaha Team duo Carlos Checa and Marco Melandri made steady progress during the first day of the official MotoGP group tests today. With Checa riding the latest evolution of the Yamaha YZR-M1 and Melandri having his first experiment with Yamaha’s new fuel-injection system, the pair recorded the second and fifth fastest time of the fifteen MotoGP riders present.

Checa rode a total of 61 laps and recorded a best time of 1:43.2 – three-tenths slower than his 2002 qualifying time. “We’ve been working mostly on the engine side today and did a little bit of tyre work later on,” explained Checa. “Tomorrow we’ll be able to concentrate more on the chassis settings which is where I believe we’ll make the biggest improvement. We just need to find a better balance. It’s quite cool here in the morning and later afternoon, but at least conditions are better than on our last visit.”

Marco Melandri completed 75 laps with a best time of 1:43.8, equal to the best of his previous test at Jerez.

“I’m really happy,” exclaimed the 20-year-old 2002 250cc World Champion. “I began this morning with the bike I have been using until now which has carburettors, but we had a few problems with the rear suspension. We tried a few things but I didn’t get a good feeling. My crew chief Fiorenzo (Fanali) and I decided to try the fuel injection bike as our plan was always to race with this one. I immediately found a better feeling. The engine feels smoother and it feels even more powerful. The bike also has a different chassis that I found a lot better. For me this is the biggest improvement I’ve had. I’m really happy and looking forward to more time to set up the bike.”

Team Director Davide Brivio added: “We’re now in the final countdown phase to the start of the season. Carlos is working on the latest spec bike and getting used to it while Marco the fuel injection for the first time. On the whole I think it’s been a positive first day but we’ve still got a lot of hard work to do.”


LAP TIMES
1. Alex Barros, Gauloises Yamaha Team 1:42.588
2. Carlos Checa, Fortuna Yamaha Team 1:43.277
3. Colin Edwards, Alice Aprilia Racing 1:43.699
4. Shinya Nakano, D’Antin Yamaha 1:43.794
5. Marco Melandri, Fortuna Yamaha Team 1:43.810
6. Loris Capirossi, Ducati Marlboro Team 1:43.943
7. Troy Bayliss, Ducati Marlboro Team 1:44.125
8. Noriyuki Haga, Alice Aprilia Racing 1:44.242
9. Kenny Roberts, Suzuki Grand Prix 1:44.558
10. John Hopkins, Suzuki Grand Prix 1:44.652
11. Olivier Jacque, Gauloises Yamaha Team 1:44.783


More, from a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM MAKE PROGRESS AT JEREZ

Jerez, Spain
February 21, 2003

Ducati Marlboro Team riders Loris Capirossi and Troy Bayliss had their first outing in full team livery at Jerez today, gathering more crucial data as they prepare the Desmosedici for its much-awaited MotoGP debut in just six weeks time.

The Italian and Australian focused on chassis set-up and ergonomic refinements, and will move on to testing Michelin’s 2003 tyres tomorrow and Sunday. Next week they move onto Estoril in Portugal for further tests, before unveiling the definitive 2003 Desmosedici at next month’s full-teams test at Catalunya, Spain. As at every test so far this winter, the priority is steady progress rather than lap times.

“Today we’ve been concentrating on the ergonomics of the bike,” said Ducati Marlboro Team technical director Corrado Cecchinelli. “This is very important and very interesting work, because it’s essential that both riders are as comfortable as they can be on the bike, so they can be as efficient as possible over full-race distance. We have tried different fuel tank shapes, as well as different footpeg and handlebar positions, just moving the riders around until they feel happy. We decided to do our basic set-up work here with 2002 tyres and tomorrow we will try Michelin’s 2003 tyres. On Sunday we plan to do endurance tyre tests, if the weather permits.”

Capirossi was happy with the progress made today. “We are concentrating hard on our work,” said the former 125 and 250 World Champion, who clocked a best of 1:43.943. “Today we have tried many different set-up solutions, working on the global geometry of the bike, and tomorrow we will continue with this fine tuning. The stopwatch doesn’t concern me at the moment.”

Steady progress was also the theme of Bayliss’ day. “As always, we’ve got lots of little things to test, and we’ve been doing some stuff on ergonomics,” said the former World Superbike king, whose best today was 1:44.125. “I’ve gone faster around here than ever before, and though I’m far from where I want to be on lap times, we’re making good progress, and that’s what counts at this stage.”

This is the team’s third visit to Jerez this winter, though their first test ere last December was washed out due to rain. Local weather forecasts suggest there could be more rain tomorrow.


More, from a press release issued by Aprilia:

TEAMWORK

Aprilia Racing Team started the first IRTA test session of this season in the best way working hardly. Edwards made 78 laps while Haga stopped after 84 rounds! This effort reconfirmed that the Cube is growing and the third lap obtained by the American rider is a little prize. New materials to test and the research of the best setting are the main aims of the tests. The 3 cylinders Italian motorbike and its riders have confirmed their growth.

COLIN EDWARDS: “Even if I like to be the first today it was not my intention. There were a lot of things to test and many experiments to make. The race is a different thing and I am looking forward to begin the championship as I am at 100%. Now I feel peaceful but I absolutely want to get the best results”.

NORIYUKI HAGA: “I feel very tired as I made many laps today, 84! I tested different solutions and tomorrow I will change again. I feel satisfied as the feeling with the bike is growing”.

GIGI DALL’IGNA (MOTOGP PROJECT RESPONSIBLE) : “We are testing here in Jerez with three new bikes and a renewing chassis. Moreover we are testing several suspension settings as well. So our riders must work hardly to give us important information about it. I really appreciated their efforts and the good results”.

MotoGP
1. Alex Barros (BRA) Yamaha 1’42″588
2. Carlos Checa (ESP) Yamaha 1’43″277
3. Colin Edwards (USA) Aprilia 1’43″699
4. Shinya Nakano (JPN) Yamaha 1’43″794
5. Marco Melandri (ITA) Yamaha 1’43″810
6. Loris Capirossi (ITA) Ducati 1’43″943
7. Troy Bayliss (AUS) Ducati 1’44″125
8. Noriyuki Haga (JPN) Aprilia 1’44″242
9. Kenny Roberts (USA) Suzuki 1’44″558
10. John Hopkins (USA) Suzuki 1’44″652

250cc.
1. Manuel Poggiali (RSM) Aprilia 1’45″230
2. Randy de Puniet (FRA) Aprilia 1’45″681
3. Toni Elias (ESP) Aprilia 1’45″862
4. Anthony West (AUS) Aprilia 1’46″351
5. Franco Battaini (ITA) Aprilia 1’46″598