Bad weather conditions have again been the note during the private tests held by Team Repsol YPF Honda on 14, 15 and 16 of January. Tohru Ukawa has been the only rider present, whilst Alex Crivillé is still recovering from his right hand little finger injury that happened in his accident last November in Jerez.

On Monday 14th, the water in the asphalt would not let any rider test in normal conditions. Only on Tuesday, all the riders present -Tohru Ukawa, Valentino Rossi, Sete Gibernau and Kenny Roberts-could start setting fast lap times.

Today Ukawa has been the only rider who has given 14 laps to the track under the rain. "There are still many things I want to test, whatever the weather conditions. I just need to ride kilometres on my Honda. In the end, we've decided to stop because I had no visibility and the track conditions were getting worse and worse. Yesterday I could test the 2001 bike and all I can say till now is that it's very different to last year's. We're all very satisfied with the results, specially myself. This is going to be a season to learn new things, so there shouldn't be too much pressure. My main aim is to give a step forward every time I ride the bike, do some good results and enjoy riding the 500".

After Malaysia, Team Repsol YPF Honda will be moving onto Jerez from the 16-18th of February and then to Estoril (Portugal) on the 21, 22 and 23 of February and Valencia on the 26, 27 and 28th. The last pre-season test will be held at Suzuka in Japan (21st to 22nd of March), venue of the first grand prix of the 2001 season, starting on the 8th of April.

Best lap times
Tohru Ukawa (96 laps) 2"06.7
Valentino Rossi (76 laps) 2"06.4 
Kenny Roberts (60 laps) 2"06.6
Sete Gibernau (86 laps) 2"06.9