Finally the sun shines on Phillip Island. Team Gresini could not have expected better weather for the NSR250 debut of their new Spaniard Emilio Alzamora.

The step-up from the 125 class to a NSR250 factory machine proved to be not so difficult for Alzamora to make. The 1999 125cc world champion tested the machine in readiness for the 2001 season when he will race for Team Gresini Honda alongside Daijiro Katoh.

Alzamora said. "This bike is very fast, it is more aggressive and it makes me also more tired, but riding it is good fun. I thought it would be more complicated to ride, but at the moment I honestly feel at my ease. But I know this is just the beginning…" 

After a total of 80 laps (391 kilometres) he finally stopped and ended his first day of testing.

"I feel very good on this bike, compared to Honda 250 version I rode in '97, this NSR has really been developed a lot. Today we just concentrated on making the bike suitable to my riding style and I didn't care about lap time. I have much more fun than with 125 and from now on till the beginning of the new Championship I want to run more and more, in order to really get used and completely at my ease on this bike" said Emilio at the end of practice.

This was also the opinion of Fabrizio Cecchini, technical manager of Alzamora's new team: 

" Today we just wanted to make Emilio as confident as possible with the NSR250. It was important just to let him ride and ride and he made a positive impression on the team. We used standard tyres and we changed brakes, because we realised he has a different style compared to Daijiro Katoh, so it was important to make adjustments in order to get the best setting for Alzamora. 
Tomorrow we are starting to test new tyres and suspension settings".  Cecchini said.

Team owner Fausto Gresini was happy with his new rider's first performance on the NSR:

Gresini said of his new charge. "Emilio did a good job today, especially considering it was his debut. He run many kilometres, trying to understand his new machine. We didn't want to test anything particular, it was just necessary for him to gain confidence with the NSR250 and with his new team."