From a press release issued by Camel Honda Racing Press Information:

Second good day of tests for Makoto Tamada on Phillip island

Makoto Tamada has completed a highly positive second day of tests on the Australian circuit at Phillip Island. The pre-championship work programme, which is aiming to fine-tune the set-up of the RC211V as much as possible, today gave the results the technicians had been hoping for. After posting a lap time with the bike in race configuration 7 tenths quicker than in the official qualifying sessions of the GP last year, Makoto also worked to obtain a constant and fast pace.

Without using softer tyres in order to improve performance on the single lap, Makoto managed to accomplish a series of fast laps that showed how his confidence with the RC211V 2004 has already reached an excellent level.

Tests on the new materials, which started out in at Sepang, were also concluded this week in Australia. The results achieved are considered satisfactory and an extra day of tests will not be necessary. The next objective – race simulations – are being planned for the forthcoming tests in Catalunya.

Makoto Tamada (# 6 – Camel Honda Team – Bridgestone Tyres)
“I must say that today was extremely important. In the end we put together all the research work we’ve done on the settings of the 2004 bike since the beginning of the year. I think we’ve found a series of adjustments that will form a very good point of departure on many of the world championship circuits, and that will require only just a few tweaks to adapt the bike to the characteristics of each circuit. This is an important result and it will let us focus our preparatory work for each race this season on the choice of tyres.”

Giulio Bernardelle (Technical manager for Makoto Tamada – Camel Honda)
“The ideal weather conditions today again let us successfully complete a series of tests. Makoto Tamada showed he is able to maintain a fast and constant pace. We still need to examine one important aspect in order to prepare for the season: Grand Prix simulations. The next opportunity we’ll have to do this will be in Catalunya, and there we’ll see if Makoto is able to go as fast as he’s been going now for the entire duration of a race. Indeed, if we can create a top-level bike/tyre “package”, we’ll also be able to get up front more than once.”


Times on second day of tests:

Makoto Tamada: 1:31.25 – 54 laps
MAX BIAGGI: 1:31.07 – 86 laps


More, from a press release issued by Honda Racing Information:

Honda teams continue to improve at sun drenched Phillip Island test

Day two of three at Honda’s official testing session at the Australian circuit on Phillip Island took place today, with temperatures soaring once more and conditions near perfect for the MotoGP riders who took to the track. The air temperature was recorded at around 25ºC although it certainly felt a great deal more out of the shade, whilst the track itself fluctuated in temperature between 35º and 40º C depending on the strength of the breezes which continue to blow gently around the picturesque track.

Telefonica MoviStar pairing of Sete Gibernau and Colin Edwards have consistently produced results during recent test sessions, and continued in the same vain today, both posting improved times from yesterday, and proving that they will undoubtedly be in the hunt for the 2004 MotoGP title.

Also sure to be in the title chase are Repsol Honda duo Nicky Hayden and Alex Barros who had their own slight problems today. Hayden, who ran a race distance simulation, was seeking a faster line through two corners, while team debutant Barros spent his time comparing various wheelbase and suspension settings on his RC211V.

Nobody would discount the chances of three-time MotoGP runner-up Max Biaggi in the 16-round series but the Italian is suffering from a cold and did not deliver his best performance today. Biaggi’s daring Camel Honda teammate Makoto Tamada, the only RCV rider using Bridgestone tyres, concentrated his efforts on front end of his machine trying various front fork, and a multitude of settings in a bid to find the best tyre – suspension performance.

Sete Gibernau – 1:30.81 60 laps

“We made a big improvement in terms of setting up the bike today, just by making some small adjustments to the machine has made a big difference. This hasn’t ever been the best track for me, because I’ve never quite been able to get the right balance on the bike. Usually I’ve got too much on the front or then on the rear, and not been able to use both wheels at the same time at the critical parts of the track. This time though I’m consistently going well, and that’s my goal, to focus on the racing aspect. My concern is to get my pace right, to ride in my own style, and it’s coming together here.”

Colin Edwards – 1:30.97 58 laps

“Today was awesome, my best day of testing with the Honda so far. I felt good, the bike was good and did a full race simulation of 27 laps. I was about 21 seconds faster than Valentino’s time in the race, and we all know he pushed it hard here after that yellow flag. A 1:31.6 must have been my slowest I reckon, it was good, and my best lap of 1’30.97 came on lap three of the simulation, so I was pleased. We made some small gear ratio changes overnight, it wasn’t the be all and end all but it certainly helped a bit. This place is fun though and I know it well, when I did the race simulation I just forgot about it and got on with the laps, I soon forgot how many I’d done and it was much easier than say 10 laps at Sepang, I’m just comfortable.”

Max Biaggi – 1:31.07 86 laps

“I’ve spent most of today with a cold to be honest. My temperature’s normal, but it’s just a bit of a cough and I feel cold all the time. Other than that we have two bikes, one we didn’t use because there is a lot of front wheel jumping, like a big chatter. Also in Malaysia we couldn’t fix this, it feels like maybe a structural problem or something, maybe with the swinging arm or chassis, we don’t know. So yesterday and today I just concentrated on my second bike, which has no chatter, but doesn’t quite have the same feeling. I can’t go really fast because I don’t feel as confident in it. I’ve tried but it’s easy to go straight on. We don’t have a spare chassis, and it’s no advantage to use one bike. But we’ll keep working hard on it tomorrow, and see what we can do. ”

Nicky Hayden – 1:31.18 88 laps

“Today was OK but I still would have liked to have made more progress. We’ve been trying to find a good base set-up after the big tyre test yesterday. We changed things around a little and found a base that worked better although we still tried some more tyres today. I did a long 25-lap run that was faster than my race time (Hayden finished third in the race). I did my best lap time at the end of the day, which is encouraging. I’ve got a few things to think about tonight – where I can really gain a little time – the S-corner in particular. I want to end the test on a high tomorrow and have a big day – just like the final day in Sepang.”

Makoto Tamada – 1:31.25 54 laps

“I’ve been working on the front fork and tyre settings mainly today, as well as some engine mapping. Our Bridgestone tyres mean that me can’t use the same data as the other Honda riders who are all on Michelins, so we’ve been looking at improving the engine’s performance, and especially in finding some more rear wheel grip. When I came here the bike was set-up well, we’re just looking to try to improve it. I never get tired of testing and would go on past tomorrow if I could, to make sure we get it all right.”

Alex Barros – 1:31.59 88 laps

“Yesterday I made a lot of laps – many of them consecutive – and felt pretty sore this morning with the shoulder. We made quite a few changes on the machine to help it turn better – we use the 16.5 inch front rim – and everything started to feel better and it was possible to go faster. However as the day moved on my shoulder started to feel some pain so I listen to my body. I will take a good rest tonight and use the ice again that helps. Tomorrow we will start with the same settings and hope to finish this important test session in good shape.”


More, from a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

CAPIROSSI QUICKEST AT PHILLIP ISLAND

DESMOSEDICI GP4 MAKES MAJOR PROGRESS IN AUSTRALIA TESTING

Phillip Island (Australia), 18 February, 2004 – Loris Capirossi powered to the quickest time in today’s second day of testing at the Phillip Island circuit in Australia, where the Desmosedici GP4’s development programme is continuing. Both Loris Capirossi and Troy Bayliss made major progress from yesterday and the early indications given by the Ducati Marlboro Team riders to the engineers are beginning to confirm the new bike’s potential.

Today’s weather conditions saw clear skies and a light wind typical of the spectacular Australian circuit, while temperatures were similar to yesterday (air 19° – 25° ; track 21° – 48°).

Loris Capirossi saw all the hard work of the past few days rewarded with a superb lap time of 1’30.71 in his 65 laps. This was not only the best time of the day, but also almost two seconds quicker than yesterday, and just two tenths of a second slower than the time he set in Australian GP qualifying last year on soft tyres. “That was really good” commented Capirossi at the end of today’s session. “The changes we made to the set-up confirmed that the bike has great potential. I lapped most of the day with the familiar 17″ front tyre to verify the new set-up of the GP4 and it was only towards the end of the session that I used the 16.5″ front. Tomorrow I’ll concentrate exclusively on this new tyre.”

Troy Bayliss also focussed on finding the best set-up for the Desmosedici on his home circuit, the Australian knocking almost a second off yesterday’s time. Troy completed 63 laps, recording 1:31.56. “I’m pleased with the progress we made today” declared the Australian. “I’m still missing a bit of feeling with the front, but we’re gradually getting there. We’re working on it and we know exactly where to intervene to improve the bike.”

Tomorrow is the third and final day of testing for the Ducati Marlboro Team, which after returning to Europe will continue its development schedule at the Valencia circuit in Spain on 6-7 March.


More, from a press release issued by Yamaha Racing:

YAMAHA MOTOGP MEN MAKE STEADY PROGRESS DOWN UNDER

Yamaha’s two MotoGP teams spent a mostly successful second day testing at the Australian Phillip Island circuit today in near perfect sunny but breezy conditions alongside several of their MotoGP competitors. The morning was unfortunately marred when ex-World Superbike rider and MotoGP rookie Ruben Xaus (Ducati) had a bad fall coming out of a right-hand corner. The Spaniard was flown to a Melbourne hospital by helicopter with concussion but is said to be recovering under observation. Yamaha rider Norick Abe walked away unharmed from a fall in the final stages of the session, and chose to sit out the last 20 minutes while debriefing with his crew.

Twenty-five-year-old reigning World Champion Valentino Rossi took the second fastest time of the day (1:30.76), seven-tenths of a second faster than the time that he set yesterday, and just 0.05 seconds from leader of today’s time charts, Ducati rider Loris Capirossi (1:30.71). Spanish Sete Gibernau (Honda) closely followed the pair with a best time of 1:30.81, while fellow Honda pair Max Biaggi and Nicky Hayden set impressive respective times of 1:31.07 and 1:31.18. Fortuna Gauloises Yamaha rider Marco Melandri was second fastest of the Yamaha line-up with a best time of 1:31.70.

Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha rider Rossi continued to test one engine spec today, which he will continue with for the final day of testing tomorrow. Towards the end of the day the youthful Italian tested new tyres with team partner Michelin. Meanwhile his Spanish team-mate Carlos Checa continued to make small set-up alterations, while Tech 3 rider Melandri enjoyed his best day of testing so far this year while recovering from a shoulder operation he had in October. Melandri’s colleague Norick Abe also had a much better day, until his unlucky fall stopped his session slightly early.

Valentino Rossi (Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha) 70 laps, 1:30.76

“I’m very happy in general, the engine works very well here, and the difference is quite clear from the other engine spec we tried before. We still need to find more horsepower as that’s where we are losing out to the others at the moment. We tested some new Michelin tyres towards the end of the day which was quite helpful, and in general we’re taking our time to find the ideal set-up rather than going flat out for hot laps. We hope to do a race simulation tomorrow, and who knows, maybe we can improve on this good lap time.”

Carlos Checa (Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha) 70 laps, 1:31.80

“I am a bit disappointed today because we still couldn’t get to the level we are looking for. We kept trying for a more competitive set-up but didn’t find it. We’re working with the same engine spec, and are still making minor chassis alterations. We planned to put in a fresh engine for tomorrow, the last day of the test, so we stopped a bit early today. I really hope we make a breakthrough tomorrow.”

Davide Brivio (Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha Team Director)

“We have mixed feelings in the team because Valentino and his crew were very pleased with the job they made, and the rider is very positive with the changes made to suspension and engine. He is up there with the top group and has been both in Sepang and here, so even though we know we still have a lot of work to do for him, it’s a positive and motivating situation. Carlos, on the other hand, had a difficult day again and is still struggling to find his way at this circuit and feel totally comfortable with the bike. We will help him as much as we can to remedy this situation, his crew are working extremely hard as always, and will continue in the same way tomorrow.”

Marco Melandri (Fortuna Gauloises Tech 3) 84 laps, 1:31.70

“It was a difficult day but it was better than yesterday because we made more consistent laps, and tested different rear tyres. Some of the tyres were better than others and it was clear which were better. We’re still using the 16.5 inch front tyres and we made some more very small suspension settings. I would really like to try and go for 15 to 20 laps in a row tomorrow but the only problem is that I feel so tired right now. If we do that many laps we will have to do them in the morning because I don’t know if I will last until the afternoon! My shoulder and my back are aching now; I’m so exhausted from doing so many laps today. Anyway, in general I’m feeling quite positive, much more so than in Sepang.”

Guy Colon (Marco’s Crew Chief):

“Marco’s time was better today, he did many consistently good lap times close to 1:32.0. We did some good work with the chassis and good work with the engine braking system. We have really made improvements since Sepang. We also did a good tyre test with Michelin. He did so many laps that he was worn out at the end of the day but his condition is getting better every day. Tomorrow we hope to do many more laps in a row, in preparation for the race here.”

Norick Abe (Fortuna Gauloises Tech 3) 54 laps, 1:33.74

“Still not such a good day for me today but I tried many different settings and I was feeling okay towards the end of the day before I fell off. I hit my head when I fell but I feel okay now. I finished early though as I thought that would be safer than going straight out again after hitting my head. We have another day tomorrow and then 3 days next time we’re here. I don’t want to crash again so I’m going to take it a bit easier tomorrow, but at least I managed to improve my lap time slightly today.”