Roberts rode only on the first day, with Gibernau continuing for the second, clocking up some 80 laps each day on one of seven different road circuits at the La Doux test facility, on an impressive 1,000-acre site among extinct volcanoes close to Michelin's Clermont Ferrand headquarters.

The weather was fine, but the wet weather tests continued in spite of warm sunshine, the track kept wet by a truck which dumps 15 tons of water at regular intervals.

"We were able to wet test with track temperatures like those found in Malaysia, and also in cooler conditions in the early mornings," said team manager Garry Taylor.

The team were testing Michelin's new-generation front and rear wet weather tyres, which will be available not only to Telefónica MoviStar Suzuki but to all the Michelin teams, and also taking the chance to develop wet-weather settings for the exciting new four-stroke GSV-R MotoGP machine. Since testing of Suzuki's Blue Baritone began in January, they have only encountered wet conditions once - on race day at Suzuka, for the season-opening Japanese GP.

Since that race, where factory wild card rider Akira Ryo finished second in the machine's first public outing, the team have changed from Dunlop tyres to return to the Michelins they have used almost without interruption for more than 25 years.

"We were happy to stop off at Michelin's fantastic testing grounds on our way from the Spanish GP at Jerez to the French round at Le Mans," said Taylor. "It's a truly impressive facility, with not only laboratory testing equipment but also 50km of paved track, and a lot else besides.

"Kenny was only able to test for one day," he continued; "But Sete has really applied himself to the job, and we've made a lot of progress, hopefully for Michelin and certainly for ourselves.

"Both riders finished well in the top 10 in Spain, our first race on Michelin tyres. We're aiming to do even better, and this will help us to get there.

"If there's rain about at Le Mans . bring it on," Taylor concluded.

Sete Gibernau - "I've been working hard for the last two days - even riding at 8am today to try some cool conditions. But you have to be prepared to work to make progress, and I think we are making progress.

"With the rain tyres, we're pretty satisfied with the front, and still determining a couple of things on the rear. The extra engine braking of the four-stroke makes it want to slide going into the corner, so we're looking for some more grip. If the wheel steps out on the way into the corner, it stays out all the way round, and it's difficult to set the bike up for the exit.

"We'll finish up with testing the tyres on a drying track - we need to confirm what will happen if conditions change during a race."