The opening day of the two-day HRC MotoGP test at Valencia was held in less than ideal conditions with low track temperatures and gusting wind disrupting race team plans. Consequently the lap times set were well outside those set by the riders in the MotoGP race of Sunday last.

The experienced riders spent time confirming various chassis and suspension options while the new RC211V recruits spent their time acquainting them selves with the 990cc 5-cylinder four-stroke machines they will race in the
2006 world championship.

Repsol Honda rider Nicky Hayden, a three-year MotoGP veteran who finished second in Sunday’s GP, spent the day tested several options on the geometry and different suspension links. The young American and his crew were curious about the potential of other race options available to them but ended the day happy with the choices made for Sundays race.

Marco Melandri, Valencia GP race winner, completed only eight lap of his planned tyre testing session the track temperature of 16 degrees insufficient to deliver any worthwhile information.

Reigning double-250cc World Champion Dani Pedrosa made his RCV debut and covered 62 laps of the tight and demanding 4.005 km Valencia circuit as he began the long hard task of finding the ideal machine set up to suit his riding style.

The diminutive Spaniard was impressed with the RCV but realises he has a long learning curve ahead of him before he fires up the 990cc four-stroke for the first race of the 2006 season at Jerez, Spain on March 24.

Toni Elias has one year of MotoGP experience having raced for the Tech 3 squad in 2005 but was making his Honda RC211V debut today. He has an almost complexly new pit crew for the coming season and establishing a working relationship was the priority. The team worked on adjusting the machine to suit both his size and style eventually putting in 34 laps in the cold blustery conditions. At the end Elias of the day Elias pronounced himself positively motivated by the potential for success with the RCV.

The Honda Pons team were present at the test and fielded two new riders, near veteran Carlos Checa and new to MotoGP Casey Stoner. Checa had the misfortune to crash in the morning session but returned to the track after lunch to set competitive lap times for the conditions.

Stoner, still just 20-years old was making his MotoGP test debut aboard the RC211V Honda. Australian Stoner took to the RCV in quick time and the initial impression suggest he will be more than competitive in the senior category of two-wheel GP racing. The Australian youngster set lap time of 1m 35.1s, one-tenth of a second faster than his team-mate.

Honda rider lap times and quotes, Valencia November 9, 2005.

Nicky Hayden: 1m 34.40s - 53 laps. “I’m still running the last two laps of Sunday’s race through my head, I’m still not over finishing second. Today was not the most productive day of my life either conditions were not ideal for testing it was too cold and windy. We don’t want to read too much into today. Basically we confirmed we were right with the set up on Sunday. Tomorrow, if it’s dry, we’ll get into some serious tyre testing.”

Peter Benson, crew chief Nicky Hayden: “Nicky tested several options on the geometry and different suspension links. The results confirmed that the basic set up he used for the race on Sunday was the best for the track and conditions. Tomorrow we test tyres, maybe rain tyres by the look of the weather forecast.”

Dani Pedrosa: 1m 35.50s – 62 laps. “It was a very important day for us today. My first impression of the RC211V is positive but it is bigger, faster and more difficult to control than the 250cc machine I have been riding for two years. Today was all about trying to understand the bike, how it behaves and what I have to do to understand the machine. The team make up is also different. I have some of my old mechanics who don’t have MotoGP experience and three very experienced guys from the Honda team but they are all serious and very calm. Tomorrow we will try many things again maybe even the feel of different tyres.”

Marco Melandri: 1m 34’8s – 8 laps. “We have an intense testing programme planned with Michelin but the weather conditions didn’t allow it. It is a real shame because I wanted to ride and also because it was important to get started on testing some evolution tyres. The weather doesn’t look good for tomorrow so we’ll have to wait until the Sepang test at the end of November to continue working with Michelin on the new rubber for next season.”

Toni Elias: 1m 35.7s – 34 laps. “I’m really happy with this first contact with my new bike. My first sensations of it are very positive. Considering the small amount of time available I can say that I have already worked out some characteristics of the RC211V, which seems to adapt well to my riding style and size. It is a very agile bike in the changes of direction and feels manageable. I’m still not completely comfortable, we have a lot of work to do but I feel calm and motivated. I also felt good with my new team, I have only been with them for two days but I feel at home. I have been very impressed with their professionalism and organisation. I am sure we will have a good season together.”

Sito Pons, Team Principle Honda Pons: “Today we have been working with Carlos Checa and Casey Stoner preparing for the new season in 2006. Both riders have shown great potential with the RCV and have adapted to the machine very quickly. Carlos had a crash this morning but returned to the track in the afternoon and set some good times, Casey was a about a tenth off a second quicker but he had more time on the bike. I’m quite happy with both riders and look forward to testing with them.”

Young Guns test the RCV at Valencia.

HRC gave three of their young guns the chance to sample the awesome power of the RCV as a thank you for their race performances in 2005. Klaffi Honda World Superbike star Max Neukirchner, Scot Honda 250cc rider Andrea Dovizioso and newly crowned 125cc World Champion Thomas Luthi (Elit Honda RS125R) all put the RCV through its paces at Valencia yesterday and today.

Neukirchner had the best of the weather on Thursday afternoon and consequently set the fastest time of the three riders at 1m 37.49s.
Dovizioso, third in the 250cc championship, and Luthi had to contend with a cold track and brief rain showers but both riders acquitted themselves well. All three enjoyed the experience and were eager to return for more track time on the machine.

Max Neukirchner: 1m 37.49s – 20 laps. “The RCV was easy to get used to - it’s more like a 250cc to handle than a Superbike. You sit in the RCV the Superbike you sit on, big difference. When I first took it out I expected the power to be extreme but it was easy to handle, the delivery was very smooth, linear. The carbon brakes are super, I was a little worried about them before I tried the bike but no problem. The bike steers very well, I was really impressed by the way it changes direction so quickly, the Superbike is much more physical, hard work compared to the RCV. I really enjoyed my laps on the bike the ride was fun. I hope I get another chance to ride it.”

Thomas Luthi: 1m 44.29s – 25 laps.
“Good fun, really good fun to ride. Pity the conditions were not ideal and I didn’t push too hard because of that. The bike has a lot of power, quite amazing but so easy to use. The most impressive thing is the speed of the bike and how early you have to break for the corners. The carbon brakes are just fantastic to ride with but with the speed and weight of the bike you really need them. I need more laps on the bike to understand it better but I must say I felt comfortable on it at the lap time I was running. It’s a great bike, I really like riding it. I have a car that produces 246hp this bike has 250! You cant compare them because on the bike you only have two wheels and you’re sitting on the outside and you can really feel the speed!”

Andrea Dovizioso: 1m 39.50s – 27 laps.
“In comparison with the RCV I tested at the end of last season the first thing you notice is the difference in power. This bike has more power but it’s also easier to use. The front end is better, it feels different going into the corners. The only thing about the bike that gave me a little problem was the rear end – under heavy braking the rear wheel hops a little but that might just be the set up.”