2006 Australian Superbike Championship (YMF Loan) - Round Four - Queensland Raceway

Konica Minolta Honda Day 1 Report

The riders participating to the 2006 MotoGP World Championship are back on their bikes on the Czech circuit of Brno. The typical summer temperatures helped the first day of practice which marked the beginning of the preparation works in view of 2006 season race number 12.
The KONICA MINOLTA Honda Team rider has not reached the best physical condition yet; he’s still aching for the injury he suffered during the Sachsenring race. Makoto came back from Japan determined and with the firm intention to have good performances in the remaining six races. During today, the Japanese rider, together with his team, profited of the two practice hours to refine his Honda RC211V setting starting from the configuration used in the German GP.

Makoto Tamada – KONICA MINOLTA Honda Rider (13° - 1'59.919")
“I really wanted to be on track again. After the “Suzuka 8 hours” held last July 30th, I did not ride anymore to avoid the worsening of my already precarious knee conditions. My sole target was to reach the physical condition permitting me to well approach the final part of the season. In this first day, we dedicated much time to test rear tyres to obtain a first idea of the solution to use on Sunday as tomorrow, the weather conditions could change. This morning, the main problem was the lack of traction. In the afternoon the situation got better and now we have to find the right setting to improve the feeling with the front tyres.”

Giulio Bernardelle –KONICA MINOLTA Honda Technical Director
“Starting from the Donington Grand Prix, we slightly changed our bikes setting approach during the race week end. Until then, we worked to find Makoto’s best feeling with tyres in the middle of the corner. Now, instead, we try to permit Makoto to better feel the rear suspension work in acceleration. We made this to meet Tamada’s need who’s attempting to adapt his riding style to get the best from the technical packaging we have. It’s a hard job to be done during the preparation of a Grand Prix and here in Brno, after the first day of practice, we need an even better balancing to have a better front tyre performance.”