MotoGP tests, Catalunya, Spain Tuesday, June 10 2008 Repsol Honda RC212V rider Nicky Hayden completed his second afternoon of testing at Catalunya today, working between the rain showers. The American continued back-to-back tests with the pneumatic-valve RC212V engine and the conventional valve-spring RCV engine. He rode a promising race simulation using the pneumatic-valve engine, averaging high 1m 42s and low 1m 43s, a second faster than he had managed in Sunday’s Catalan Grand Prix, for which he used the valve-spring engine. Hayden tested alone today. Team-mate Dani Pedrosa, winner on Sunday, didn’t ride today following yesterday’s painful highside accident that left him with a sore back and shoulders. Nicky Hayden, fastest lap: 1m 42.555s (43 laps) “The weather definitely was not cooperative today. A few showers would come over every hour, make things just wet enough so we couldn’t get all the work done that we wanted to, but that’s how the weather goes. Nonetheless we rode the new engine a lot of the day, tried to get it dialled in, but we had a few little problems with it, which was frustrating. We also worked on trying to make the engine better over a long run. I did a run of over 20 laps and was able to stay very consistent which was good. We would’ve liked to have got more time with it, but I’ve seen enough that I like. I’ve got a better feeling with the pneumatic-valve engine, so I look forward to racing it as soon as the guys say it’s ready.” Kazuhiko Yamano – Team Manager “Nicky was impressed with the pneumatic-valve engine this afternoon but we think that further fine-tuning of its electronics is required to improve overall race-distance performance. If we are able to complete this work before the British Grand Prix, then Nicky would like to use the engine at Donington. Otherwise we hope to use the engine at the Dutch TT the following weekend.” LAP TIMES 1. C.Stoner (Ducati) 1:42.180 2. C.Dovizioso (Honda) 1:42.222 3 N. Hayden (Repsol Honda) 1:42.555 4. C.Vermeulen (Suzuki) 1:42.590 5. R.De Puniet (Honda) 1:43.039 6. N.Canepa (Ducati) 1:43.683 7. S.Guintoli (Ducati) 1:44.074 8. T.Elias (Ducati) 1:44.538 More, from a press release issued by Marlboro Ducati: POSITIVE END TO TESTING AT CATALUNYA FOR DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM The second and final day of testing at Catalunya concluded today, with the teams getting their final opportunity to run back-to-back tests with a Grand Prix until the end of August at Brno. It has been a crucially important test for the Ducati Marlboro Team, with both their factory riders getting the chance to try technical developments aimed at the 2009 season. It has also been a hugely positive tyre and set-up test for Casey Stoner with his current machine, the GP8. In spite of less-than-perfect track conditions caused by light but intermittent rain showers, the Australian was able to try some new electronic solutions and set an excellent pace, clocking the fastest time of the day with a 1’42.180 lap on race tyres. As planned Marco Melandri completed his first laps with the GP9, on which he made four runs, with a best time on race tyres of 1’46.163 In the afternoon development of the GP9 was taken up by Ducati test riders Vittoriano Guareschi and Niccolò Canepa, the youngster who has been signed up this season to aid with Bridgestone tyre development. Canepa, on his first visit to Barcelona, completed four runs on the GP9 and set a best time of 1’43.683 before rain began to fall again at 17h, effectively ending the test. Vittoriano continued his development work on the GP9 with 31 laps and a best time of 1.47.022 CASEY STONER (Ducati Marlboro Team) Best lap on race tyres: 1’42.180 “I’m happy that despite the conditions not being as good as yesterday we have managed to complete the work we had planned with the GP8. We were able to try a new electronic configuration that noticeably improved my feeling in the corners where we had problems over the weekend. Even though the track wasn’t in good shape because of the rain we still set good lap times and I can leave Barcelona feeling satisfied and confident that we’re working well for the present and for the future.” MARCO MELANDRI (Ducati Marlboro Team) Best lap on race tyres: 1’46.1 “Today I completed a few laps on the GP9, which definitely has some positive aspects whilst in other ways it is similar to the GP8. That’s why for me it’s difficult to get a good feeling for it.” Unofficial lap times: 10th June 2008 1. Stoner (Ducati) 1’42.180 2. Dovizioso (Honda) 1’42.222 3. Hayden (Honda) 1’42.555 4. Vermeulen (Suzuki) 1’42.590 5. De Puniet (Honda) 1’43.039 6. Canepa (Ducati) 1’43.683 7. Guintoli (Ducati) 1’44.074 8. Elias (Ducati) 1’44.538 9. Aoki (Suzuki) 1’44.665 10. Jacque (Kawasaki) 1’44.938 11. Nigon (Honda) 1’45.181 12. Melandri (Ducati) 1.46.163 13. Guareschi (Ducati) 1.47.022