MotoGP 2003 - Sepang Test - Day 1

The Honda RC211V riders contesting the 2003 MotoGP World Championship were all present at the Sepang circuit for the first test of the year. Seven riders, led by reigning MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi, will race the five-cylinder, 990cc four-stroke machine in the 16 round championship which kicks off at Suzuka, Japan, on April 6.

Rossi, and his new Repsol Honda teammate, Nicky Hayden, the American Superbike Champion, were testing with different aims in mind today, the first of three days of testing. Champion Rossi evaluating the machine under braking, while Hayden spent the day learning the Sepang circuit.

Valentino Rossi: "Today we did only 23 laps. We only have one bike and started with the set up we had at the GP in Sepang last year. We concentrated on braking today and the transmission performance while under braking. But if I need adjustments made it's difficult with only one bike, I have to wait while the mechanics get it ready. This afternoon when we came in to make changes it was dry, when the bike was ready it was raining. So we decided to stop. This is just the first day and we hope for a full days testing tomorrow."

Nicky Hayden: "This is another good chance for me to get in some training on the bike. This is my first time at Sepang and I like it, it's a real GP circuit, fast and safe. I didn't push so hard today I just concentrated on finding a set up for the circuit and trying to find a good rhythm out there. I need the experience."

The Telefonica MoviStar Honda Gresini team began the Sepang test as a full team, with team riders, Daijiro Kato and Sete Gibernau testing their RC211V machines at the 5.548km circuit. New boy to the RCV camp, Sete Gibernau, who had only once briefly tested the RCV prior today, spent the opening day of the test finding a base set up to work from.

Sete Gibernau: "This is my first full test on board the Honda RC211V, and obviously it will take time to adapt to the new machine, but there is no rush. There are a few little things, mainly electronics, that need setting up to suit me, but little by little it will come. Also, after a break such as the one I've just had, you need to get back into the mind frame of racing once again, to pick up the rhythm where you left off. This is obviously harder when you have to get used to a new bike too, but for an initial test, I'm very satisfied indeed. The team is very good and very supportive, and I'm excited about the year ahead, and about fighting for the top positions once again."

Teammate Kato concentrated his efforts on suspension work, an area the diminutive, lightweight Japanese feels vital to his success in 2003.

Daijiro Kato: "I feel refreshed after the short winter break, but I picked up a bit of a stomach upset yesterday, and I still feel a little under the weather today, so that didn't help me, even though I set a good lap time. We are working mainly on the suspension settings for the bike, which is where I need to focus most. We do not have the new parts for this season to test yet - they will arrive in February at the next session. I'm looking forward to 2003 now, and although it rained here this afternoon I decided against going out, because I got lots of rain laps in during the test we did in Jerez."

Third place finisher in the MotoGP Championship last season, Tohru Ukawa, was at Sepang with his new team. Ukawa completed put in 56 laps aboard the Honda Pons RCV during the opening day of the test.

Tohru Ukawa: "Everything is going okay here in Sepang, where we are currently working mainly on both the front and rear suspension settings. We have already improved it considerably and will be working on it more tomorrow. This afternoon I was going to dedicate to tyre testing, but then the rain came, so I couldn't do any of that, hopefully the rain will stay away for the next two days. We are still using the same machine as last year, testing some of the new parts added whilst they construct a whole new bike in Japan. Overall though, I am happy with how everything is going with my new team, communication is good and we work well together."

Italian Max Biaggi returns to the Honda camp in 2003 racing an RCV for the Pramac Honda Team. Biaggi completed 27 laps today, primarily trying various adjustments to the seating position, footrests, and the controls, in a bid to find the most comfortable riding position.

Max Biaggi: "Today was the first time I sat on a motorcycle for over two months. I didn't do so many laps today, it's a new bike and we have a lot of testing before we start the season. We were working on the electronics today and we needed some help form the Japanese technicians. They had many riders to look after so it took time. We spent time on my seating position on the bike, footpegs, levers, I have yet to feel comfortable on the bike. The important thing now is for me to understand the strong and weak points of the motorcycle. Right now I feel the strong point is the power and the delivery, the weak point is the clutch."

Makoto Tamada makes his MotoGP debut in 2003, riding the second Pramac liveried RCV. Tamada's machine will be equipped with Bridgestone tyres as the Japanese manufacturer steps up its tyre development programme, working with four-stroke MotoGP machines for the first time. Tamada completed 56 laps of the track today.

Makoto Tamada: "The first day of testing was, as always, dedicated to the set-up of the bike, partly because it's the first time I've ever been to Sepang and I need to understand and interpret the circuit. I'm pleased with the way things went today, as I've been able to prepare well for the days ahead. There's plenty of room for improvement, and we'll be carrying on with the test programme tomorrow."

Bridgestone have also recruited the services of former grand prix rider Shinichi Itoh to assist with their winter testing programme. Itoh, now an HRC test rider, has been working on various Bridgestone testing projects in recent years and his vast knowledge of grand prix racing and Bridgestone tyres will be invaluable to new boy Tamada as he approaches the most important season of his young career.

Shinichi Itoh: "I hadn't ridden at Sepang for a year - and last time I was using tyres from a different manufacturer. I noticed the difference, and after trying out a few solutions we drew up the work programme for the coming days. It's going to be pretty intense but I'm not worried about the quantity of work as I'm sure we'll be able to achieve some excellent results."

Testing times Sepang January 20, 2003 - Honda

Daijiro Kato, JPN Telefonica MoviStar Honda 2m 05.02s - 29 laps.
Valentino Rossi, ITA Repsol Honda 2m 05.76s - 23 laps.
Tohru Ukawa, JPN Honda Pons 2m 06.0s - 55 laps.
Max Biaggi, ITA Pramac Honda Team 2m 06.0s - 27 laps.
Sete Gibernau, SPA Telefonica MoviStar Honda 2m 06.6s - 28 laps.
Shinichi Itoh, JPN HRC Honda 2m 07.5s - 55 laps.
Nicky Hayden, USA Repsol Honda 2m 07.76s - 58 laps.
Makoto Tamada, JPN Pramac Honda Team 2m 09.2s - 56 laps.