From a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM AND BRIDGESTONE SET RECORD PACE AT JEREZ

Jerez de la Frontera (Spain), 25 November 2004 – The Ducati Marlboro Team has successfully wrapped up its third and final day of testing at the Jerez circuit in Spain.

In collaboration with Bridgestone technicians, Loris Capirossi and Carlos Checa worked non-stop for three days on the testing programme aimed at finalizing the new tyres for next season. Both riders put in numerous sequences of laps on their Desmosedici machines, and for the first time also used qualifying rubber.

The team’s new signing from Spain, Carlos Checa, was in great form today, recording 1:40.065 on qualifying tyres, almost eight-tenths of a second quicker than this year’s pole mark set by Valentino Rossi (1:40.818). Carlos totalled 56 laps and his best time of 1:41.246 on race tyres clearly demonstrates that he has quickly adapted to the Italian bike and the Japanese tyres.

Loris Capirossi lapped on the same pace as Carlos and out of a total of 67 laps, the Italian set a best time of 1:40.926 on qualifying tyres and 1:41.392 on race tyres.

“I am really pleased with these first tests with Bridgestone tyres” declared Loris. “The feeling with the front is already good and this afternoon we did a 20-lap long-run, maintaining a constant pace. For the first time I also tried the qualifying tyres: for sure these have a great potential, but I prefer not to take any risks for the moment. I can’t wait to get to Valencia on Monday to continue testing with the new tyres and developing our bike”.

Today was also the final day of testing at Jerez for Régis Laconi with the development team Desmosedici. Laconi continued to work with the new electronic components, the Frenchman completing 56 laps and setting a best time of 1:41.853.

“We are really pleased with the way the tests went” commented Filippo Preziosi, Ducati Corse Technical Director. “The weather conditions were favourable and we were able to get through a lot of work in these three days and obtain some important results. The basis for the start of our new partnership with Bridgestone is excellent. Now we have some good reference data with the new tyres and confirmation that our bike adapts well to their characteristics. As always in racing, there is still a lot of work to do but our morale is high, we are satisfied and this certainly means we are off to a good start!”

Following these successful tests at Jerez, the Ducati Marlboro Team will remain in Spain next week for two more days at Valencia on Monday 29 and Tuesday 30 November, the final session of 2004 before the start of the winter testing ban.



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

SETE GIBERNAU FASTEST ON HONDA FOR THE SECOND DAY AT JEREZ

Marco Melandri continues his apprenticeship on the RC211V MotoGP test Jerez, Day 2

On a bright and sunny day in Jerez, Spain the Team Tefonica MoviStar Honda continued working hard today with Sete Gibernau focused on making some comparative tests running on a pace of 1’41” in order to better understand the material he got. He totally made 70 laps and was the fastest rider on a Honda while, his new team mate, the Italian Marco Melandri was continuing his apprenticeship with the RCV and improving his feeling with the bike lap by lap.

SETE GIBERNAU, 70 laps, 1’41″036
“I’m testing here at Jerez all the material that Honda is bringing me in order to understand and evaluate all the material we already have. My goal in fact is to create the best package that will be the base for the next season. In particular today I tested a different chassis and a new front fork. I tried to do quality laps maintaining a constant pace on 1’41” in order to understand and evaluate the material we have.
We also did some tyre testing. Michelin, in fact has asked us to test a new front tyre, so I’m very happy because we are all working hard in the same direction. Tomorrow I will go on doing more comparative testing, I have a lot of stuff to test but this is necessary in order to get the best package.”

MARCO MELANDRI, 101 laps, 1’42″023
“I’m very happy of the work done today, my feeling with the bike has improved and I felt much more confident. I have improved my pace and this is the most important thing. I have a lot of work to do, my lap time is still not so high but at the moment I want to procede step by step. I’m very happy of my new team, there is a very good atmosphere and we work with motivation, they make me enjoying riding.”

UNOFFICIAL LAP TIMES
1. Carlos Checa (Sp/Ducati) 1’40″065
2. Loris Capirossi (Ita/Ducati) 1’40″926
3. Sete Gibernau (Sp/Honda) 1’41″036
4. Makoto Tamada (Jap/Honda) 1’41″098
5. Tohru Ukawa (Jap/Honda) 1’41″636
6. Troy Bayliss(Austr/Honda) 1’41″663
7. Shinya Nakano (Jap/Kawasaki) 1’42″012
8. Marco Melandri (Ita/Honda) 1’42″023
9. Nicky Hayden (USA/Honda) 1’42″029



More, from a press release issued by Fuchs Kawasaki:

MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2004
KAWASAKI RACING TEAM JEREZ TEST
25TH NOVEMBER 2004

KAWASAKI RACING TEAM CONCLUDE SUCCESSFUL JEREZ TEST

Fuchs Kawasaki riders Shinya Nakano and Alex Hofmann completed a successful three-day test session at the Jerez circuit in southern Spain this afternoon.

Both Kawasaki Ninja ZX-RR riders made maximum use of excellent weather – sunny and warm conditions with no wind – for the end-of-season test.

The primary strategy behind the test was to provide a data bank of information on which Kawasaki engineers will base development of the 2005 version of the 990cc, inline four-cylinder Ninja ZX-RR.

Although not chasing outright lap times both Nakano and Hofmann were able to improve on their previous best times at the Jerez circuit, in both cases using race tyres, not soft compound qualifying tyres.

Many rival teams and riders also present at the Jerez test posted their fastest laps on the final afternoon with the use of qualifying tyres.

While Nakano concentrated on evaluating various engine configurations, Hofmann was given the task of running back-to-back tests of various chassis and suspension set-ups.

On the third and final day Hofmann also ran a grand prix race simulation.

Another key element of the three-day test was the opportunity for Nakano and Hofmann to test a range of new Bridgestone tyres, both front and rear, of varying constructions and compounds.

This tyre data will also form part of Bridgestone’s plans for the 2005 season, when they will once again be Kawasaki’s tyre partner in MotoGP.

At the conclusion of the test the Kawasaki Racing Team began the long road trip to the Paul Ricard Circuit in southern France.

A two-day test, only for Bridgestone wet weather tyres, has been scheduled for next Monday and Tuesday, 29th and 30th of November. The Paul Ricard circuit has a trackside water sprinkling system that provides an ideal test venue for wet weather tyres.

The Paul Ricard test will bring to an end an exhausting year of racing and testing for the Kawasaki squad, with both Nakano and Hofmann looking forward to their winter holidays.

Nakano will spend time with his family in Japan at his home near Tokyo, while Hofmann plans to relax at his home near the Swiss Alps.

Shinya Nakano: 1’41.94
“My main job over the three days was engine work, as we need this information to prepare for the 2005 season. It was important to confirm the performance data we logged during the season, and also to test some new components. I tested different crankshaft set-ups, fuel injection throttle bodies and a revised cylinder head specification. In the tyre tests I found a very good front tyre from Bridgestone, which was a definite step forward from our race tyres at the end of the season. Although it will be good to relax, my focus is already on next season; everyone at Kawasaki is motivated to improve our performance.”

Alex Hofmann: 1’42.37
“The weather was perfect for three days; I’ve never seen it so consistently good at Jerez. My main job was to confirm the set-up work we have done this year, to provide information so the engineers can check the direction for next year. It was important to do this in the back-to-back situation of a three-day test. We also did some work to make me more comfortable on the bike because of my height; I’m much taller than Shinya. I did consistent laps of 1’42” in my race distance simulation, and my fastest lap on race tyres was 0.7s faster than my qualifying time in May. I think the direction we found at this test, with both the ZX-RR and the Bridgestone tyres, is going be a very good direction for the engineers over the winter.”

Harald Eckl: Team Manager
“This was an excellent opportunity to confirm our data and direction for next year. One thing is clear – our focus for 2005 is on engine performance and driveability, getting the power to the ground in most efficient way. Our chassis and suspension tests here confirmed that we have an excellent basis for 2005, and we also have some ideas to maximise the performance of our Bridgestone tyres. The latest tyres have improved edge grip, so we will look at some swinging arm options and other chassis revisions to ensure we get the best from the latest generation of tyres. It’s been a lot of hard work by the team, but well worth it.”



More, from a press release issued by Honda Racing:

HONDA RACING INFORMATION

MotoGP test Jerez, Spain November 25, 2004. Day two of a three-day test.

Gibernau fastest RC211V rider on day two of Jerez test

Warm sunny conditions again prevailed on day two of the three-day MotoGP test at Jerez, Spain allowing the Honda teams a full day of testing that ended at 18.00. The teams dedicated the best part of the day to tyre testing with Michelin and it was Spaniard Sete Gibernau (Telefonica MoviStar Honda) who emerged as the fastest RCV rider on the day.

Gibernau worked hard evaluating a range of chassis and suspension combinations before moving on to tyre testing with Michelin. His new teammate, Italian Marco Melandri ran an incredible 101 laps of the 4.423km circuit today basically getting in as many kilometers as possible on the 5-cylinder 990cc Honda. The Italian steadily improved his speed and consistency during his 101 lap stint slightly under his lap time of yesterday.

For American Nicky Hayden (Repsol Honda), fastest Honda on the opening day, today was one to forget. He crashed at high speed but escaped unscathed but his RCV was extensively damaged. The team is investigating the cause of the crash. The damage badly disrupting his test programme. Extensive tyre testing scheduled for today was postponed until tomorrow.

Makoto Tamada (Konica Minolta Honda) covered 77 laps today running exactly the same time as his best of yesterday, 1:41.9. Tamada worked together with Michelin technicians to on various tyres sizes and combinations as he adjusts to the performance of his new tyre supplier.

Honda rider lap times and quotes:

Sete Gibernau: 1:41.036 – 70-laps.
“I’m testing here at Jerez all the material that Honda is bringing me in order to understand and evaluate all the material we already have. My goal in fact is to create the best package that will be the base for the next season. In particular today I tested a different chassis and a new front fork. I tried to do quality laps maintaining a constant pace on 1:41 in order to understand and evaluate the material we have.

“We also did some tyre testing. Michelin, in fact has asked us to test a new front tyre, so I’m very happy because we are all working hard in the same direction. Tomorrow I will go on doing more comparative testing, I have a lot of stuff to test but this is necessary in order to get the best package.”

Marco Melandri: 1:42.023 – 101 laps.
“I’m very happy of the work done today, my feeling with the bike has improved and I felt much more confident. I have improved my pace and this is the most important thing. I have a lot of work to do, my lap time is still not so high but at the moment I want to proceed step by step. I’m very happy of my new team, there is a very good atmosphere and we work with motivation, they make me enjoying riding.”

Nicky Hayden: 1:42.0 – 62 laps
“This morning didn’t really get going like yesterday. I had a pretty big crash that really messed the whole day up. HRC are looking into the causes but it was third gear and the bike went straight up and down. We’ve only got one machine here and the crash really did a number on the bike and the boys had to change nearly everything! Physically I was okay in the crash but it shook me up quite a bit. We managed to get out there again towards the end of the day and put in quite a few laps but I never got back in the times that I know I should be doing. I’ve had better thanksgiving days in my life before but that’s what you get in the sport. Some days are better than others and today wasn’t one of the good ones.”

Makoto Tamada: 1:41.9 – 77 laps.
“We made no technical changes to the bike today I have to learn to understand the feeling of the Michelin tyres over a distance so we concentrated on running a lot of kilometres today. Tomorrow we will try different front suspension settings with various tyres and hope to get even better understanding of how the Michelins perform.”