22006 MotoGP Championship - Round 13 - Sepang, Malaysia - September 8/9/10

Konica Minolta Honda Day 1 Report

A very good start for the KONICA MINOLTA Honda Team at the Sepang International Circuit.
Right from this morning, Makoto Tamada demonstrated he has not lost its determination in searching a good result in this season. The day was characterized by the usual sultry Malaysian weather, but the cloudy sky maintained the ground temperature under 45°C.
Tamada, who was tenth this morning, definitely improved in the afternoon’s free practice session finishing fifth quickest and clocking a time of 2’02.918.

Gianluca Montiron – KONICA MINOLTA Honda General Director
“We have not been in the leading positions since a long time and the fact we ended up in fifth position really impressed us. The important would be to change the performances trend of the latest races that, apart from the Sachsenring GP, saw us unable to maintain or improve the position on Saturday or on Sunday during the race. The next three races will be fundamental as they’ll decide both Makoto and our future; therefore we need to see our rider’s strength of character. Our target is still the same: to do our best to permit Tamada to be protagonist during the race.”

Makoto Tamada – KONICA MINOLTA Honda Rider (5° - 2'02.918")
“I have had a good feeling with my bike since this morning and this permitted us to focus on the research of the best rear tyre to be used on Sunday. In the second free practice hour of today I found a tyre which seems to be really valid but we need to deeply check its duration. I’m convinced I still have a margin to improve and tomorrow I’d like to obtain a good position on the starting grid.”