MELANDRI, HONDA FASTEST RIDER ON TRACK
Marco scored the third fastest time, completing 133 laps
 Phillip
Island (Australia), Thursday 2nd of February 2006 - After
yesterday´s washout, that spoiled a whole day of work,
the sunny sky and the dry track allowed a far more productive
session today, third and last day of this Australian test
session.
Marco Melandri put the track to the most use: he completed
133 laps of the Australian circuit, signing the third fastest
time of the day (1'30.60) and the fastest time among the Honda
riders. Together with his team, Marco worked very hard to
complete the whole schedule of work, interrupted yesterday
by the rain.
Toni Elias continued his adaptation to the new bike at his
debut season on the RC211V. The Spaniard tried different set
up solutions and completed 91 laps.
MARCO MELANDRI (133 laps, 1'30"60):
"Today the weather was fantastic and we worked without
a break. He had a lot of work to carry out and after 133 laps
I can say that I am satisfied. I found a good rhythm with
race tyres and the bike worked very well. We also tested many
tyres. I leave Phillip Island with optimism. I think we are
working in the right direction and I look forward to the next
test session."
TONI ELIAS (91 laps, 1'32"15): "I'm
continuing my adaptation to new bike, Today we did a step
forward, eliminating some solutions that I didn't like and
adopting some new ones. I also tested Marco's setting. I got
a good feeling and I could understand the direction in which
we have to go. I still haven't found the right set up for
me and I need to improve the front feeling. I'm happy to have
the opportunity to test again in Malaysia in a few days because
on that track we have important reference data."
The Team Fortuna Honda will fly tomorrow back to Europe but
the preparation of the coming season never stops. In eleven
days a new test session is scheduled at Sepang, Malaysia.
Unofficial lap times
1. Sete Gibernau (Ducati Marlboro) - 1'29.99
2. Loris Capirossi (Ducati Marlboro) - 1'30.20
3. Marco Melandri (Fortuna Honda) - 1'30.60
4. Shinya Nakano (Kawasaki Racing) - 1'30.65
5. Nicky Hayden (Repsol Honda) - 1'30.95
6. Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda) - 1'31.10
7. Casey Stoner (LCR Honda) - 1'31.21
8. Kenny Roberts Jr (KR Honda) -1'31.64
9. Randy de Puniet (Kawasaki Racing) - 1'31.77
10. Makoto Tamada (Konica Minolta Honda) - 1'31.87
11. Toni Elias (Fortuna Honda) - 1'32.15
12. Alex Hofmann (D'Antin Ducati) - 1'32.52
13. Jose Luis Cardoso (D'Antin Ducati)
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