MThe lap record at the majestic 4.448km Phillip Island, Australia was shattered today as three riders set lap times inside the 1m 30s lap bracket. The elusive threshold time barrier finally fell on the second day of the planned three-day MotoGP test at the Island circuit with Sete Gibernau (Telefonica MoviStar Honda) Carlos Checa (Marlboro Ducati) and Repsol Honda factory team rider Max Biaggi dipping inside 1m 30s.

Fastest man of the day Gibernau had completed his test programme at the end of today and with nothing more is already on his way home. Before he ended the session Gibernau put in five fast 1m 30s laps pronouncing himself satisfied with the results and the data gathered by the team and HRC Engineers.

His teammate, Italian Marco Melandri improved yet again. Testing a range of chassis and suspension setting he consistently lapped at 1m 31s. Hs day was not perfect as he slid off at turn at turn 6 (Siberia) a slow left-hand corner but escaped unscathed although his RC211V Honda sidelined Melandri for two hours.

Melandri’s fellow countryman Max Biaggi also crashed at Siberia, on his run down lap. At the time Biaggi was on his way to the pits to change a tyre that was causing front-end chatter. He lay the blame for the crash at his own door but was pleased with his overall performance on the second day at Phillip Island testing two versions of the RCV’s rear suspension links.

Nicky Hayden, on the second factory RC211V Repsol Honda, ran an astonishing 115 laps of the circuit. Hayden also tested the upper and lower mounted rear suspension links but found little difference. “I think really it boils down to what feels most comfortable for the rider,” said the young American.

The Camel Honda camp was one of mixed emotions at the end of the day. Brazilian Alex Barros was disappointed failing to find the amount of front-end grip he needed to set fast times while teammate Troy Bayliss was happier with his performance than at any time since joining the team.

Australian Bayliss is finally making progress and, although there is a long way to go before he feels completely at home on he RCV. All the hard work he and the team has put in over recent weeks is beginning to establish the direction he needs to take on machine set up. Using his vast knowledge of the circuit to full advantage Bayliss had a better understanding of the RCV than at any time during pre-season testing.

Fastest man at the Sepang MotoGP test of last week, Makoto Tamada did not test today. The Japanese rider crashed yesterday and although he emerged with no broken bones Tamada was badly bruised and very stiff and the team decided he would benefit from a day of rest before taking to the track again.

Sete Gibernau, Telefonica MoviStar Honda: 1m 29.855s – 81 laps - “In Sepang we were not in the perfect conditions for a long run but there was not enough time to test. Here we worked on the set up of the bike, chassis and tyres and found the best combination of what we have. I lapped fast since this morning and the long run was quite good as I was lapping consistently in low 1’30”0. There are still some areas that can be improved but I’m! happy because I have clear ideas and we are working in the right direction. The team is doing a great job and HRC and Michelin are helping us a lot.” We have concentrated in two days the work scheduled for this test session, testing all the new items. I leave Australia satisfied and look forward to next test session in Qatar.”


Marco Melandri, Telefonica MoviStar Honda: 1m 30.953s – 71 laps - “It was not a good day, I’m sorry because I was doing well but the crash of this afternoon has spoiled today’s test session. This morning we made some changes in the front of the bike and I had a better feeling in fact I was lapping consistently on low 1’ 314. In the afternoon we were looking for a final confirmation of our changes and we went back to the setting of this morning. It was a mistake, the bike was more difficult to ride and I lost the front, crashing at Turn 6. It’s a pity because I lost two-hours of testing. Tomorrow I want to ride more carefully, even if this means to run 8 tenths slower. If possible, I would like to do a long run in the afternoon.”


Max Biaggi, Repsol Honda: 1m 29.970s – 96 laps - "I felt stronger today even though I had a crash. We've definitely improved again today with a better suspension setting and the machine felt more consistent for a long period of time. I'm preferring the lower rear suspension link at the moment, the lap time between that and the upper link is the same but the feeling is slightly better with the lower link. But then a single lap doesn't mean you will be fast in a race condition. The crash was my own fault really. We tried a new tyre and I knew quickly that the tyre could well be an improvement but it caused some chatter and the machine needed adjusting for the tyre. I lost the front at turn six on the lap I was coming back into the pits to make the adjustment, turn six was where the chatter was worst."


Nicky Hayden, Repsol Honda: 1m 30.430s – 115 laps - "We really got working on some chassis testing today, spent a lot of time trying to make the changes work and it was a valuable exercise. We then had a go with what I'm normally used to but I suppose that's what testing is all about. I tried the lower rear suspension link today, for the first time since a test in Malaysia in 2003. There's very little difference between the upper and lower links and I think it really boils down to what feels most comfortable for the rider. I did a lot of laps today, maybe too many, which is something we want to address tomorrow and hopefully I can get a good run on a rear race tyre and grab a fast lap along the way."


Ramon Forcada – Camel Honda – (Alex Barros’ Chief Engineer) - “Today we tried every setting possible with the front fork but given that we haven’t taken many steps forward with it we are already preparing a new one for Alex to try tomorrow. This track is different to Sepang, there are no heavy braking areas, so we have to prepare a special fork which adapts to Phillip Island and other circuits with flowing corners like this. It’s good that we have the chance to work like this now because we will be ready
when we come up against a similar situation at a Grand Prix, when you don’t have much time.”


Alex Barros, Camel Honda: 1m 30.680s – 93 laps - “This morning we worked on the electronics and we were able to improve the odd thing. Since then we’ve been working on improving grip on the front end but we’re not succeeding at the moment, even after trying a lot of things with the forks and the geometry of the bike. The rear of the bike is fine but at the moment the front is preventing me from being as efficient as I could be. I’m having to lean too far over to take the corner and that means I’m not getting the most out of the tyre. Obviously we’ll keep working on that tomorrow. As far as the cancellation of the Rio GP is concerned, obviously I’m disappointed. It is the second time this has happened (the first was in 1998) but this is even more disappointing because it was probably going to be the last Grand Prix at this track. The city prefecture is actually planning to demolish part of the track and reduce the overall length to 3,100 metres. That means it would only have been used for national races”.


Ramon Forcada, Camel Honda – Alex Barros’ Chief Engineer - “Today we tried every setting possible with the front fork but given that we haven’t taken many steps forward with it we are already preparing a new one for Alex to try tomorrow. This track is different to Sepang, there are no heavy braking areas, so we have to prepare a special fork which adapts to Phillip Island and other circuits with flowing corners like this. It’s good that we have the chance to work like this now because we will be ready
when we come up against a similar situation at a Grand Prix, when you don’t have much time”.


Troy Bayliss, Camel Honda: 1m 30.961s – 75 laps - “Better... things are starting to get better. I’m still not perfectly comfortable on the bike but we’re getting there. The whole team, myself included, are working really hard and even though we’re not satisfied with the lap times we can see that we’re making progress and that gives me confidence for tomorrow and the next tests. We’re working hard with the guys from Michelin, the tyres are perfect and together with the set-up of the bike, which we are defining bit by bit, we’re able to make progress in the right direction. We have to keep going like this.”


Santiago Mulero, Camel Honda - Troy Bayliss’ Chief Engineer - “Troy is getting the measure of the RC211V. We’ve still got work to do, there’s no doubt about that, but we are all much more satisfied at the end of today. We have worked well with the tyres and we have found a setting for the cycle part of the bike that he likes quite a lot. Tomorrow we’ll keep working on it and we’ll also try some new settings in the electronics.”