MARCO MELANDRI AND TONI ELIAS LEAVE SEPANG CONFIDENT AND
MOTIVATED
The hot temperatures ( 34° degrees the air temperature
and the 53° degree the tarmac ) made the third and last
day of testing more difficult for the Honda Team riders busy
at Sepang in preparation of the 2007 Championship. Tomorrow
riders and team will fly to Australia for the second testing
session scheduled at Phillip Island starting from the 30th
of January.
Today Marco Melandri focused on tyre testing. He tested many
front and rear tyres and was very satisfied. His team mate,
the Spaniard Toni Elias, focused on the setting of the bike,
working on chassis and suspensions, before continuing some
tyre testing in the afternoon.
 MARCO
MELANDRI (69 laps, 2.02.489): "I'm satisfied,
we worked with method following an intense programme and I
can say that we have met our target. Today I tested different
kind of tyres and I'm satisfied. In particular I like a lot
the front tyre but also the rear tyre is working quite well.
It was important to work along side the Bridgestone technicians
to understand the line to follow so that we can go on improving.
I wanted to do a race simulation but unfortunately I had to
stop after 12 laps because I was suffering too much on my
right foot because of the heat. Now I need to work on the
boot in order to solve this problem. I go to Phillip Island
very confident. There is a lot of work to do but I'm happy
for the situation at this stage of development".
TONI ELIAS (65 laps, 2.02. 927): "I
leave Sepang very confident. This morning we worked a lot
on chassis and suspensions and studied the geometry of the
bike. In the afternoon we could continue some tyre testing.
It was important to understand the line of work also with
Bridgestone technicians and I think these first three days
of testing have been very helpful. I'm not happy with my lap
time but I'm not worried, at this moment it's more important
to work for the race pace".
Sepang Test MotoGP: Day Three
Unofficial Times
1. Rossi (Ita-Yamaha) 2'00"936;
2. Hopkins (Usa-Suzuki) 2'01"026;
3. Capirossi (Ita-Ducati) 2'01"274;
4. Pedrosa (Spa-Honda) 2'01''664;
5. Vermeulen (Aus-Suzuki) 2'01"691;
6. De Puniet (Fra-Kawasaki) 2'01"878;
7. Hayden (Usa-Honda) 2'01"884;
8. Edwards (Usa-Yamaha) 2'02"266;
9. Stoner (Aus-Ducati) 2'02"407;
10. Melandri (Ita-Honda) 2'02"489;
11. Checa (Spa-Yamaha) 2'02"583;
12. Barros (Bra-Ducati) 2'02"630;
13. Elias (Spa-Honda) 2'02"927;
14. Hoffman (Ger-Ducati) 2'03"040;
15. Nakano (Gia-Honda) 2'03"077;
16. Tamada (Gia-Yamaha) 2'03"308;
17. Roberts (Usa-Kr/Honda) 2'03"330;
18. Jacque (Fra-Kawasaki) 2'03"592;
19. Ito (Gia-Ducati) 2'03"973;
20. Yoshikawa (Gia-id.) 2'04"782;
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