Sepang Tests 2006
FIRST DAY OF FORTUNA MOTOGP TESTING IN MALAYSIA
Marco Melandri scores the third fastest time while Toni Elias
continues his apprenticeship on the RC211V. MotoGP action
resumes at Sepang, Malaysia for the first testing session
of the 2006 season that will start officially on March the
26th at Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. All the MotoGP protagonists,
together with their technical staff, gathered at Sepang for
a three day testing session in preparation of a demanding
championship. Today, the two Fortuna Honda riders went on
track with the RC211V – 2006 version. Marco Melandri,
2005 Vice World Champion, concentrated on the setting of the
bike. He made 69 laps to recover the rhythm after the winter
break and scored the thirds fastest time of the day. While
his team mate, the Spaniard Toni Elias, carried on his apprenticeship
on the RC211V. He tried different setting solutions in order
to find a good feeling with the bike.
MARCO MELANDRI ( 69 laps, 2’02”29 ):
“I really looked forward to go back on my RC211V. This
morning I lapped to recover the rhythm after the winter pause.
Then I concentrated on the bike setting and finally I could
make some tyre testing. I’m happy with the feeling of
the bike and I like the bike. I’m quite confident.”
TONI ELIAS ( 60 laps, 2’03”8 ):
“Today it was the first time for me that I could ride
a bike after the operation I had at the left hand one month
ago. Today my left hand hurt a little bit but I could manage
to complete 60 laps. At this moment, for me it’s very
important to lap in order to understand and know the bike.
I am not pushing too much and I’m not looking for the
fast time. Today we tried some different setting solutions
and tomorrow we will carry on working with this method. I’m
very happy to be back at work .”
Unofficial Lap Times:
1. VALENTINO ROSSI (ITA) Yamaha 2’02.14
2. Marco Melandri (ITA) Honda 2’02.21
3. Nicky Hayden (USA) Honda 2’02.23
4. Dani Pedrosa (SPA) Honda 2’02.46
5. Loris Capirossi (ITA) Ducati 2’02.55
6. COLIN EDWARDS (USA) Yamaha 2’02.61
7. Sete Gibernau (SPA) Ducati 2’02.77
8. Casey Stoner (AUS) Honda 2’03’57
9. Shinya Nakano (JPN) Kawasaki 2’03.77
10. Toni Elias (SPA) Honda 2’03.80
11. Randy de Puniet (FRA) Kawasaki 2’03.90
12. Alex Hoffman (GER) Ducati 2’04.63
13. James Ellison (GBR) Yamaha 2’06.40
14. Jose Luis Cardosa (SPA) Ducati 2’07.70
Sepang Lap Record: Nicky Hayden (Honda) 2005 – 2’02.993
Sepang Best Lap: Loris Capirossi (Ducati) 2005 – 2’01.731
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