HRC

The first all team MotoGP test session of the 2004 season got underway at the 4.427km Montmelo circuit, in Catalunya. On the opening day of the three-day test the teams faced overcast skies which eventually heavy clouds, then to rain.

Before the rain arrived it was Brazilian Alex Barros (Repsol Honda) who topped the time sheet at 1m 45.464s, just under the official MotoGP lap record, after just 17 laps on his RC211V. Barros, who returns to Honda for the new season, headed reigning champion Valentino Rossi, with Sete Gibernau (Telefonica MoviStar Honda MotoGP) in third place.

Young American Nicky Hayden (Repsol Honda) ended the day in fifth place, running faster than ever before at the ultra-fast track, Hayden was timed at an incredible 335.4km/h on his RC211V down the front straight.

Japanese star Makoto Tamada took his Camel Honda to sixth place before the rain came but covered several laps in the less than ideal conditions. Tamada, on the only Bridgestone shod RCV in the field, worked on tyre testing on the damp surface.

Colin Edwards, on the second Telefonica liveried Honda, set seventh fastest time. Much like team-mate Edwards felt the day was lost to the weather. Equally damp conditions are forecast for the remaining two days and the two men have enough time to acquaint themselves with wet track surfaces.

Max Biaggi started his day late and covered just 21 laps as he began to adjust to his RC211V fitted with the latest version of the 5-cylinder 990cc 4-stroke engine block. The Italian made several visits to the pits for the crew to work on the set up, unfortunately for Biaggi the rain arrived faster than he had hoped and his serious testing was over for the day.

Fastest laps:
Alex Barros, Bra Repsol Honda 1m 45.464s - 18 laps Valentino Rossi, I Gauloises Yamaha 1m 45.542s Sete Gibernau, E Telefonica MoviStar Honda 1m 45.803s – 28 laps Kenny Roberts, USA Suzuki 1m 855s Nicky Hayden, USA Repsol Honda 1m 45.913s – 43 laps Makoto Tamada, J Camel Honda 1m 45.949s – 26 laps Colin Edwards, USA Telefonica MoviStar Honda 1m 46.165s – 27 laps Shinichi Itoh, Pramac Honda 1m 46.281s - 46 laps Max Biaggi, I Camel Honda 1m 46.424s – 21 laps John Hopkins, USA Suzuki 1m 46.782s.


HONDA TEAM QUOTES:

Alex Barros: "Feels good to be at the top of the list - it has been a while! We started the machine this morning and we really didn't make any real changes - just rode. It was too slippery to really tell anything but I'm happy with the results. I was a little disappointed to make a small crash in the afternoon but it was no big deal - by the time the machine went down we were going very slowly and there was very little damage. We are not at 100% fitness yet but I am happy that I feel no pain from my shoulder - I need to build the strength and develop more muscle but I'm sure this will come quick as the doctor is happy for me to train properly. We hope for some good weather tomorrow."

Nicky Hayden: "I was enjoying things this morning - the bike felt strong and it was good to get out with all the riders again. I was real relaxed and things felt good. Then I started to get cold and saw drops on my visor and that was it for the day really! Can't believe how fast we're going! 210mph; crazy! We spent some time in the wind tunnel in Japan after the last test in Sepang and I guess we learnt something. I was working a lot on my tuck. I'm sure hoping that the weather improves, as we don't learn too much when it's like this. Still, not a bad day; I've never been round this circuit as fast as today and we've still got two days!"

Sito Pons: “These IRTA tests in Catalunya are a really important opportunity to come up against all the other contenders and get an idea of the general level of all the teams. It’s a pity about the weather conditions today that broke up the rhythm. Unfortunately, there’s no way we can say we completed today’s work programme. In terms of the bike’s competitiveness, however, we can of course rely on the data we got from the previous winter tests, which clearly showed our potential. So I’m confident about the next few days’ tests, when we’ll be able to work more consistently.”

Max Biaggi: “I started out on the tests a bit late today as I was working with the technicians to put the finishing touches on some of the settings. I actually went round only for two and a half hours, and the weather certainly wasn’t on our side. We’ve still got to get the settings right on the gears and on engine management - and we need to get our programme worked out for the next few days. I’m sure we’ll do better if the weather doesn’t get worse – but anyway we’ve still got another four days, if we include the tests in Jerez next week.”

Gianluca Montiron: (Makoto Tamada Team Manager) : “Today hasn’t been without its question marks, which is a pity really since we’ve got a number of new tyres to try out – and Makoto was itching to go. These are important tests, precisely because there’s so much work we’ve got to do. In any case, in spite of the adverse weather conditions, I’m still very pleased with Makoto because he was aggressive right from the first laps.”

Makoto Tamada: “Rather intermittent tests, as first the track was damp, then it dried out - and then the rain came down. I’ve got some new rear tyres to try out, and I was expecting a really tough day’s work. So I’m a bit disappointed, as I was hoping to go flat out right from the first day. I tried some rain tyres – they’re new too – but I wasn’t able to get to grips with some of the other settings on the bike. Now let’s hope the weather gets better and the rain stops messing up these tests.”

Sete Gibernau: “Today the weather spoiled the testing session and we couldn’t test all the new stuff brought here by Honda. I hope that tomorrow the weather conditions will improve. Anyway I’m satisfied and I’m focused on finding the best set up of the bike, I’m not interested in making here the best lap, I’m working in preparation of the first race of the Championship.”

Colin Edward: “Today we try the new parts and we worked all day to find a good set-up. Unfortunately, track conditions were terrible (cold and wet patches), a risk for nothing."

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Dorna

What promised to be a highly competitive and entertaining first day at the MotoGP Official Test turned into a washout on Friday when heavy grey clouds creeping towards the Circuit de Catalunya finally gave way with two and a half hours of the session remaining. Previously, cold track temperatures had been warmed up by Loris Capirossi, who had broken the top speed record for a MotoGP motorcycle with a stunning registry of 338.1km/h on the Ducati D16 GP4, and Alex Barros, who dipped under lap record pace after just seventeen laps on the Honda RC211V.

The Brazilian was left with the quickest time of the day, having stopped the clock at 1'45.464, as the rain continued for the rest of the afternoon. Only Bridgestone tyre tester Shinichi Itoh returned to the wet track, with the rest of the teams and riders analysing the data gathered this morning and hoping for better conditions on the two remaining days of the test.

"There is no need to risk anything at this stage of the season, and we have plenty of time to complete our work," commented Barros. "I'm happy with the lap time we've done today but more importantly for me I felt comfortable with the bike and with my injured shoulder so that is positive. From a technical point of view we haven't really been able to test anything today because of the cold conditions, so hopefully it will improve tomorrow."

On his top speed, which is 10km/h faster than his own previous record at this circuit and almost 6km/h faster than the overall MotoGP record which he set in the race at Mugello last season, Capirossi commented: "For sure, it is really fast - it is quite a strange sensation to go at that speed. The 2004 bike is definitely faster than the 2003 bike but we still need to work on it to make the whole package better. For now it has some strong points but also some not so strong points which we need to work on."

The former 250cc World Champion also admitted that he was looking forward to Sunday's 'Official Practice', with a BMW Z4 on offer for the fastest rider in a 45 minute timed session which also forms the first round of the BMW Award - MotoGP Best Qualifier 2004. "Of course it would be in a nice position to challenge for the car because that would mean we have done a good job this weekend," said Capirossi, who won the same competition last year and drove away in a BMW Cd 330. "It will be tougher than last year because we started testing later but, if I have the chance, I will go for it."

MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi completed his first official laps aboard the Yamaha YZR-M1 today, lapping second fastest and finishing just 0.078 behind Barros. With Barros' Honda colleague Sete Gibernau clocking the third fastest time, former World Champion Kenny Roberts made it three different manufacturers in the top four positions riding the Suzuki. Roberts' team-mate John Hopkins also enjoyed a positive first day, setting the tenth fastest time in his first test since breaking both ankles in a supercross crash in January.

The MotoGP Official Test continues tomorrow, when a slight break in the action at 1330 CET will see Valentino Rossi officially presented with the first ever World Championship Trophy.

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Kawasaki

After completing three major overseas tests during the winter months, the Fuchs Kawasaki Racing Team arrived at the Circuit de Catalunya today for their first European outing of the 2004 MotoGP season.

Having unveiled the latest version of the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-RR to the world's press the previous evening, Fuchs Kawasaki riders, Shinya Nakano and Alex Hofmann, were keen to put the new bike through its paces today. Unfortunately, the onset of heavy rain during the early part of the afternoon forced both riders back into the pit box, just as they were starting to up the pace.

Although disappointed not to have completed their planned test schedule today, both Nakano and Hofmann are confident that, with better weather tomorrow, a significant improvement in their lap times is achievable.

Shinya Nakano: 1:47.089 (31 Laps)
"This is the first time I've been to Catalunya with Kawasaki, so this morning we started the process of finding a chassis set-up that will work at this circuit. The feeling of the bike was not so bad for the first time, but tomorrow, when hopefully we'll have better weather, we want to try some changes to the front suspension. If it rains again tomorrow then I think I will continue riding as long as I can, because I have not yet had a chance to try the Bridgestone wet tyres and I'm sure we'll have some wet races this season."

Alex Hofmann: 1:47.800 (34 Laps)
"This morning we tested a revised exhaust system from Akrapovic on the bike and also some different carbon front brake discs. We had planned to work on the set up of the bike after lunch, but the rain in the afternoon forced us to cut short the day's testing before we'd had a chance to start increasing the pace. Hopefully we'll have better weather tomorrow and we'll be able to complete more of our planned test schedule."

Harald Eckl: Team Manager
"This is the first time that the new version of the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-RR has been seen in Europe and the reaction from all sides has been very positive. Unfortunately, with the rain bringing testing to an early conclusion today, we didn't really get the chance to show everyone what the new bike is capable of. If we get better weather tomorrow, I'm confident that we'll see a dramatic improvement in lap times from both Shinya and Alex."

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Yamaha

The complete MotoGP paddock was back on European ground for the first time this year as day one of the official Catalunya IRTA tests got under way near Barcelona. A sunny but cold morning saw some good times posted by the re-formed pack of MotoGP riders, before the afternoon gave way to heavy rain. Like most other riders, Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha team-mates Valentino Rossi and Carlos Checa, who had limbered up their M1 machines with a display for the public in the streets of Barcelona yesterday at the Team’s 2004 launch, chose not to resume testing in the wet and spent the afternoon working with their teams in the Yamaha pit garage.

Before the weather broke, reigning World Champion and new Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha rider Valentino Rossi posted the second fastest time of the day during a consistent 27 laps, recording a time of 1’45.542. This was a fraction of a second behind Brazilian Alex Barros, (1’45.464) on his Honda. After Rossi came last year’s Championship runner-up Sete Gibernau (Honda - 1’45.803) and Kenny Roberts on his Suzuki machine (1’45.855). Rossi’s team-mate, local favourite Carlos Checa had a less satisfying day on paper, finishing with the twelfth fastest time of 1’46.834. However this was his first session testing Yamaha’s latest engine spec and he concentrated more on set-up than times.

Valentino Rossi: 2nd, 1’45.542 (27 laps) “We made some progress today, but not so much because it was raining. Like last year here, the temperature is too cold and therefore so were the tyres; the conditions are really different to those of the Grand Prix in the summer here! I’ve had a few braking problems which have been quite difficult to control, but my times have been quite good. We’ve been working quite slowly but we’ve got a bit more potential. I’m also extremely happy because I was on the circuit Security Committee last year and I suggested some modifications to this circuit, and now all that I asked for has been changed.”

Carlos Checa: 12th, 1’46.834 (27 laps)
“I went out at 13:00 hours, as the track conditions were not right until then and I thought the weather would be okay later. I hope tomorrow I can do more! I tested the new engine spec today, it helps in many areas but we are looking to find a better balance, especially in the front area. There is still not enough comfort and I don’t feel a huge amount of difference with the chassis, but I do feel the engine improvement.

Davide Brivio (Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha Team Director) “Unfortunately the weather didn’t allow us to do what we wanted, but it was an interesting day. This is a new track for Valentino this year and it was good for him to feel how the bike responded. It was not too bad and he was near the top of the time sheet so this is a good sign. Carlos tested the new engine which he agrees helps and is good for him too. However the weather stopped him from continuing to work on the chassis. It was a good day but we are hoping for better weather tomorrow.”

Rain brings early close to day one IRTA test Fortuna Gauloises Tech 3

The unpredictable coastal weather systems of Spain’s eastern seaboard played havoc with today’s test session. Temperatures were low in the morning session with a track temperature fluctuating around 20 degrees and an ambient temperature that peaked at 15 degrees. The rising humidity eventually turned into a full-on shower after early specks of rain showed at three o’clock. With a soaking track at 4:30pm the Fortuna Gauloises Tech 3 outfit, along with all the other teams, decided to stop for the day.

Fortuna Gauloises Tech 3 riders Marco Melandri and Norick Abe finished the day frustrated at not having the dry track time they crave as the first race of the season looms at Welkom in South Africa on April 18th. Both riders are still looking to get the best from their Yamaha M1 four-cylinder machines and today’s curtailed session was exactly what they didn’t want.

But these three days of IRTA (International Racing Teams Association) tests are the first time this year the full MotoGP field tests directly against each other on the same track, which can often be an indicator of early season form. The top three riders after this truncated first day were Alex Barros (Honda) with a time of 1’45.464s closely followed by Valentino Rossi (Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha) who put in a 1’45.542s lap. Sete Gibernau (Honda) posted the third fastest time with 1’45.803s.

Marco Melandri: 19th, 1’48.443s (21 laps) “My injured shoulder is still improving and I’m still looking to get the bike closer to how I like it as I get stronger. But the weather is not improving and there’s nothing we can do about that. We have so much to go through and the first round is only around the corner so I really hope we have a more productive day tomorrow.”

Norick Abe: 21st, 1’48.869s (28 laps)
“We really needed more dry time, especially as we had a few small problems today that combined to keep us off the track more than we would have liked – and now this weather happens. I’m still looking for feel from the bike and we’ve got two more days to find it – if this weather will let us.”

Gilles Bigot (Melandri’s Crew Chief)
“We softened the rear end set-up in the morning for the cold conditions and we’ll start with the same set-up tomorrow if conditions are similar and go forward from there. Then, hopefully, we can start looking at improving things as the times come down.”

Guy Coulon (Abe’s Crew Chief)
“It was a bit cold earlier and then it became too wet. We’ve already tested some Michelin wets at Phillip Island, so we’ll wait for tomorrow before we do any more.”

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Ducati

Ducati Marlboro Team riders Loris Capirossi and Troy Bayliss had their first rides on their full 2004-spec Ducati Marlboro Team GP4s during today’s Catalunya tests, the first all-team test session of the year. The pair spent the day bedding in their machines and making the kind of minor adjustments that brand-new equipment usually requires. Rainfall brought an early end to proceedings, robbing the riders of around two hours of track time.

Capirossi ended the outing in 13th position, three places ahead of Bayliss, and headed the speed charts at 338.1kmh, the fastest top speed ever achieved by a MotoGP bike

The bikes, which had never turned a wheel until this morning, are the product of a busy winter testing programme that has already taken the Ducati Marlboro Team to Australia, Malaysia and Valencia. They are similar to the machines used in earlier test outings, but with many detail improvements, plus new engine mapping and an all-new exhaust system.

“I’m happy with this first day with our new bike,” said Ducati Corse CEO Claudio Domenicali. “We weren’t looking to get the best top speed but I think this does illustrate the new bike’s potential. We are here to continue testing and to finalise the set-up for the start of the World Championship.”

Capirossi was also satisfied with progress, though less happy with the Barcelona weather. “We are trying a new exhaust system and some new engine mapping,” said the Italian. “This track is good for us, as my victory in last year’s Catalan GP demonstrated. I haven’t done so many laps today because the weather has cost us time and because we’ve been making many little adjustments. We’re working hard, and I’m confident that the bike will keep improving, so I’ll have a machine that does exactly what I want it to do. I’m happy about our top speed but I still want to improve the overall package. No one has done really great lap times here, the weather’s too cold for that, I hope it’s better tomorrow.”

Bayliss had a minor spill during the day but reckons that he is also moving in the right direction. “Both my bikes are brand new, they’ve just been put together, so we’ve been dialling in the settings,” said Bayliss. “We were just starting to get going this afternoon when I had a little ‘off’, then down came the rain, so we’ve not been able to do as much as we wanted to. I feel like we’re headed in the right direction, but these next few tests are really important, we need some good weather to help us make some more progress.”

Testing continues at Catalunya until Sunday afternoon. Capirossi and Bayliss then head south to Jerez where they take part in their final pre-season test next Wednesday and Thursday.

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Suzuki

Rain cut short the first day of three days of MotoGP testing at Catalunya GP circuit today but not before the new 2004 version of the Suzuki GSV-R had given positive proof of progress over the winter, with Kenny Roberts Jr. setting fourth-fastest time, less than half a second off the lap record, in spite of low track temperatures.

Second Team Suzuki rider John Hopkins was less than a second slower, placed tenth overall, in his first time back on a racing motorcycle since breaking both ankles in a Supercross accident in January.

Today was the unofficial start of the season the significance assumed in recent years by the final round of pre-season tests, run by teams association IRTA and open to all. With all teams in attendance, it is a first chance to assess the opposition, and to measure the value of technical development over the winter.

The results were highly encouraging for Team Suzuki, working to regain the winning positions after two seasons without a race victory.

Roberts was testing different exhaust pipes today, with a lot of other technical ideas to try over the next two days at this track, then two more in Jerez next week.

The test had another significance for John Hopkins, making his return to a motorcycle after surgery on both ankles in January, and an intensive programme of rehabilitation.

"Basically today I wanted to make sure I hadn't forgotten how to ride, he quipped. It's been four months since I rode a racing motorcycle.

"Right away, even in poor track conditions, I was able to run with the top group. The bike is definitely coming on.

"I tested this new chassis and swinging arm in Malaysia last year, and it was already considerably better. There have been more improvements since then.

"It's considerably better than last year, and it's nice to be able to get the times without having to turn the bike settings on their head. We have made hardly any setting changes all day, and we're already somewhat on the pace.

"My ankles are a lot better I've been able to start jogging, and I didn't have any trouble on the bike. It started to ache a bit in the cold, but that's normal," said Hopkins.

Times

1. Barros 1m45.4

2. Rossi 1m45.5

3. Gibernau 1m45.8

4. Roberts 1m45.8

5. Hayden 1m45.9

6. Tamada 1m45.9

7. Edwards 1m46.1

8. Itoh 1m46.2

9. Biaggi 1m46.4

10. Hopkins 1m46.7

11. Hodgson 1m46.7

12. Checa 1m46.8

13. Capirossi 1m46.9

14. Xaus 1m46.9

15. Nakano 1m47.0

16. Bayliss 1m47.5

17. Byrne 1m47.7

18. Hofmann 1m47.8

19. Melandri 1m48.4

20. McWilliams 1m48.7

21. Abe 1m48.8

22. Aoki 1m49.3

23. Guareschi 1m50.1

24. Lavilla 1m50.8

25. Fabrizio 1m50.8

26. Lucchi 1m53.3