The intention of the test was for Noriyuki to become familiar with his new team and to start adjusting the machine to suit his riding style. After working on basic adjustments to create a comfortable riding position, the team has started to try a variation of Michelin tyres and suspension settings.

The teams were hampered by unpredictable weather and spend most of the afternoons in the garage waiting for the rain to stop. Despite the reduced track time and just learning to ride the YZR500, Noriyuki concluded the test by setting the fastest time of all riders present, an impressive 2'07.9., which only about a second a drift of the circuit lap record (2'06.8).

The test has been good to built Haga’s confidence, he said; “I'm learning something every time I go on the bike. Riding the YZR500 is so much fun. I am taking it fairly easy, as the main job is to make the bike suitable for my riding style. It will take quite some time more to arrive at the perfect setting and sort out the tyres. The weather is not so good here so we could not do all we had planned. But that is OK, the team has arranged a good and busy winter testing schedule. I am confident we can make the bike fast for me before the season will start”.