Gibernau fastest Honda runner at Valencia test

Unseasonably frigid temperatures greeted the Honda riders at the final test of the 2003 season, causing most to ride conservatively on a cold Ricardo Tormo Circuit in Valencia, Spain. The first day of the three-day test was spent getting the cobwebs out, the riders said, but also testing next generation engine parts that they'll carry into the championship battle in 2004.

By the time the riders took to the track it was after 2:00 p.m., the shortened day putting a premium on time and efficiency. Telefonica MoviStar Honda's Sete Gibernau made the most of it, turning 40 laps and clocking the best time of the Honda riders, a lap of 1:33.9 done while trying to find the balance of the Honda RC-211V that the Spaniard rode to the runner-up position in the 2003 MotoGP World Championship.

Camel Pramac Pons' Max Biaggi clocked less laps (25) and just a slightly slower time, a best lap of 1:34.4, also done while testing engine parts. The veteran Italian only used two rear tyres the en tyre afternoon, but expected to help test the newest Michelin tyres tomorrow once the track was warm and he was up to speed.

The newest member of the Honda family, Colin Edwards, finished his first full day of testing the Telefonica MoviStar Honda with the third fastest time among the Honda men, a one-off 1.34.7. Edwards had ridden the Honda RC-211V at the Catalunya Circuit just after the season-ending Valencia GP, but that was mostly to set the handlebars and foot pegs. The quick-witted Texan is on his third different machine in three years, having spent his inaugural year in MotoGP on a three-cylinder one year removed from winning the 2002 World Superbike Championship on the Castrol Honda VTR1000.

Makoto Tamada worked on a new engine and exhaust combination on the Pramac Honda RC-211V. The Japanese rider turned 28 laps while continuing to make small adjustments to the machine, while seeking a direction for the final two days of the test.

Sete Gibernau, 1:33.9, 40 laps - "It started not so good with the weather, but it turned out to be a positive day. More than anything, we needed to get used to the bike again after a month doing not so much. We are testing some new stuff trying to develop the direction of what we need for next year to try to challenge again for the championship. Today we wanted to make a reset of everything, myself, the team, the bike, and now we have a good basis for tomorrow to start to test. It's the balance that we're trying to get right. It's a little bit of everything. We have a meeting with Honda and Michelin to see what they need for me tomorrow and try to make a plan."

Max Biaggi, 1:34.4, 25 laps - "We got just a normal set-up for day one and tomorrow and Friday is going to be two more days, full days, hopefully, we can test in good weather. We have a new engine solution. That's what we're trying to see. I have not so many laps that I used just two rear tyres. Right now we have to adjust to the new engine solution. It's something that we have to adjust with time. Tomorrow we start for sure in better condition and then I can say more details. The track was so cold that it's very easy to make a mistake if you go too hard. I was trying to be conservative and at the same time try to analyse and take data, speak with the mechanics, try to make it better."

Colin Edwards, 1:34.7, 42 laps - "I was working on a lot of stuff. All of these bikes have limits: You just have to learn how to decipher the code. One of them taps you on the left shoulder, one of them taps you on the right. You have to learn that code. Find the limits. Right now I have somewhat of an idea, but not enough to go out there and try to bust a lap. We just went out and did fairly consistent high 34's and I was happy with that. I didn't feel I was anywhere near the limit. Now we're there. Just push a little and find out where it is. The track was pretty bad this morning. We had no idea if the tyre was going to stick or if it wasn't going to stick. I'm trying to sweat a few beers out first before we get out there."

Makoto Tamada, 1:35.4, 28 laps - "Today we tried a new machine. We put a new engine in and had to learn how the engine works and what is different. Today was just a test. It's very noisy because it's a completely different exhaust, so I have to learn that. We still have to find the best settings. I didn't try to do a fast time because I thought it was best to try to learn."