A few boys have popped into Phillip Island for a few days to play on their bikes

:riding

Edwards makes waves at Phillip Island..

Following on from extensive test sessions at the Sepang Circuit in Malaysia last week a squadron of MotoGP teams descended on Phillip Island in Australia on Tuesday. Factory and privateer teams from Honda, Yamaha, Ducati and Aprilia have all migrated south of the equator for three more days of intense development work which began in ideal conditions today, with an ambient temperature of 23ºC and track temperatures of 41º moderated by a cool and stiff breeze, providing a perfect contrast to the heat and humidity of Sepang.

Honda rider Colin Edwards continued the good form he had demonstrated in Malaysia with the fastest time of the day, clocking an unofficial best lap of 1’31.06 – just one second off last year’s pole time set by Valentino Rossi - despite never having ridden the RC211V at the Australian circuit before. The ‘Texan Tornado’ gave credit to his team, led by chief mechanic Fabrizio Cecchini, for his early progress.

”The bike is feeling good and every time I go out I learn more and go faster,” commented Edwards, who contested his rookie season in MotoGP last year with Aprilia. “I think I am getting pretty competent with the bike now.


The Aprilia was a bit of a handful here but with the Honda we’ve been able to get an instant set-up thanks to Fabrizio, who used the data gathered here in the past by Sete (Gibernau) and Valentino (Rossi). I was riding well within my limits and I think there is a lot more time to come off this.”

Edwards’ team-mate Gibernau was second fastest on the unofficial time sheets today ahead of Italian rivals Rossi and Max Biaggi, who both set an identical lap time. Yamaha rider Rossi continued working with one of the new engine specs he first tested at Sepang and spent much of the day trying to establish front-end stability on the M1 which, as a reference, had a highest grid position of seventh at last year’s Grand Prix, when Marco Melandri qualified in a time of 1’31.227.

Melandri crashed out of that race when fighting for the lead and is still recovering from the operation to repair the shoulder injury he sustained as a consequence, but he reported good progress today. The Italian youngster lapped only on used tyres as he tried to string together a series of laps to build up his stamina and endurance, managing ten laps at a time with a short rest in between.

Also struggling with injury today was British rider Jeremy McWilliams, who underwent x-rays during the weekend which confirmed a broken rib sustained in a crash on the second day at Sepang. “This track is more flowing than Sepang so I am at least able to ride the bike,” commented McWilliams, who set a then pole record riding the two-stroke Proton KR3 at this circuit in 2002. “Occasionally the agony gets to be a little too much and I have to stop for a rest but we have a lot of work to do so we’ll keep on plugging away.”

Unofficial lap times:


Colin Edwards (Honda) – 1’31.06
Sete Gibernau (Honda) – 1’31.37
Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) - 1’31.40
Max Biaggi (Honda) – 1’31.40
Nicky Hayden (Honda) – 1’31.67
Alex Barros (Honda) - 1’31.75
Makoto Tamada (Honda) – 1’31.84
Ruben Xaus (Ducati) – 1’32.11
Loris Capirossi (Ducati) – 1’32.16
Carlos Checa (Yamaha) – 1’32.32
Troy Bayliss (Ducati) – 1’32.45
Marco Melandri (Yamaha) – 1’32.58
Neil Hodgson (Ducati) – 1’33.18
Shane Byrne (Aprilia) – 1’33.22
Jeremy McWilliams (Aprilia) – 1’33.66
Norick Abe (Yamaha) – 1’34.40



:confused: If thats the testing times..I cant wait to see practice times in October:bow


*sorry..I just cant get over how quick these guys go....*

PART II-Fresh off the press:yesnod

Reaction from the first day at Phillip Island: Yamaha and Ducati




Marco Melandri (Yamaha) : "This has been much better than in Sepang. We are working well and I am happy because I can rider for more consecutive laps. My fitness level has improved a lot - at the end of the day I was able to ride for ten laps, then have a short rest, then ride for ten more. The race here is 27 laps in total so this is promising. I had a little pain in my shoulder on the last few laps but in general I am really pleased because I have a better feeling with the bike. I did most laps with older tyres so I was not going for a fast time."

Valentino Rossi (Yamaha): "This is one of my favourite circuits; some of my best memories of winning have been here. This is a really important test for us because we are seeing how the bike responds at a new circuit, and so far we've only tested in Sepang. I'm quite happy so far but have had some small problems today with the gearbox, something we've already fixed. Yamaha are really motivated and are helping me to try the new things I want to try. The response of the bike here is good in general, and this is normally a very difficult track so I'm fairly happy.


We need to get as many kilometres as possible under our belt this week. "

Carlos Checa (Yamaha) : "I've still got big problems with the bike when turning. I can't find stability at certain points of the track, which is frustrating. We've been trying different settings again today but I feel a bit like we are against a wall with nowhere to go! We began with the same set-up as at the race last year and then softened the front and rear, which was an improvement. Hopefully tomorrow will be better."

Norick Abe (Yamaha) : "Today was so bad for me! We started with the Sepang set-up but at this circuit it was totally wrong. Normally when I change circuit I don't have to change set-up much but here we have had to make many changes. It is a shame because I was always good here with the 500cc. I hope it will be better tomorrow!"

Loris Capirossi (Ducati): “Today we began the tests with the same set-up used at Sepang, but it proved not to be suitable for this track” commented. “I don’t have enough confidence in the fast curves and I still have to find the best feeling with the front. We’ll make some changes tonight to be ready for tomorrow with a new set-up that will be more suitable for this circuit. The bike is brand-new and we have to learn in different conditions, it’s all part of the development process.”

Troy Bayliss (Ducati): “I tried to get confident with the new bike on a track I know really well” commented the Australian rider. “We’ll have to make a few changes because for the moment the set-up is not suitable for the fast curves at Phillip Island. With a few modifications I’m sure we’ll make a lot more progress tomorrow.”

Ruben Xaus (Ducati): "There is no doubt that I am much happier than I was a few days ago. Things are going better here and I think we are starting to get where we need to be. Today we have worked how we would like and I only hope that I can get a little more support from Michelin in the future because this will enable use to ride for longer stints and continue to make progress."

Neil Hodgson (Ducati): "I am feeling really comfortable on the bike now. The Desmosedici is giving me really good feedback here and I can put it where I want on the track. I've enjoyed today a lot and I feel really strong. I've lapped close to the times Loris (Capirossi) set in the race here last year and I'm sure we can keep improving. To tell you the truth I wouldn't mind racing here next week - I want to get into some action!"



I think I may be "sick" one day this week to pop down and have a look:lol



Anyone know if its a closed circut testing??

Cheers.
:thumbup

When does the season start, anyone got a Race Shedule ?

*cough* i feel a sore throat coming on.. *cough*

Cool... very close laptimes between the top 7... :yesnod

Originally posted by R1DER
When does the season start, anyone got a Race Shedule ?
2004 Racing Calender

Apr, 18 AFRICA'S GRAND PRIX Phakisa Freeway

May, 2 GRAN PREMIO MARLBORO DE ESPAÑA Jerez

May, 16 GRAND PRIX DE FRANCE Le Mans

Jun, 6 GRAN PREMIO CINZANO D'ITALIA Mugello

Jun, 13 GRAN PREMI DE CATALUNYA Circuit de Catalunya

Jun, 26 GAULOISES DUTCH TT Assen

Jul, 4 CINZANO RIO GRAND PRIX Nelson Piquet

Jul, 18 MOTORRAD GRAND PRIX DEUTSCHLAND Sachsenring

Jul, 25 CINZANO BRITISH GRAND PRIX Donington Park

Aug, 22 GAULOISES GRAND PRIX CESKE REPUBLIKY Automotodrom Brno

Sep, 5 GRANDE PREMIO MARLBORO DE PORTUGAL Estoril

Sep, 19 GRAND PRIX OF JAPAN Motegi

Oct, 2 MARLBORO GRAND PRIX OF QATAR Doha

Oct, 10 MARLBORO MALAYSIAN MOTORCYCLE GRAND PRIX Sepang Circuit

Oct, 17 CINZANO AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX Phillip Island

Oct, 31 GRAN PREMIO MARLBORO DE LA COMUNITAT VALENCIANA Comunitat Valenciana

This also goes to show what a good PIT CREW and MECHANICS can do for a rider...

example:

Look at Checas statements "I've still got big problems with the bike when turning. I can't find stability at certain points of the track, which is frustrating. We've been trying different settings again today but I feel a bit like we are against a wall with nowhere to go!"

Rossi only had a slight problem with the gearbox which was fixed already, and he was third in testing !!!

If I was a Yamaha team manager I would find more fault with the techs than with the rider, because Rossi has only ridden the M1 for a month and a half, and Checa has been riding it for 2 years now.


Does anyone else see this ?!?!?!?!?

Originally posted by Magnus
Rossi has only ridden the M1 for a month and a half, and Checa has been riding it for 2 years now.


Does anyone else see this ?!?!?!?!?

I would say the oppisite,which would b possibly its RIDER fault:yesnod

Checa has been with them for 2 years as you said,so Im sure that in that time they wouldve been able to meet his needs..but why isnt he getting the results he should be.

Rossi's gone onto a completley different and new machine,and already he's posting times that would never have been expected. We all know that Rossi is in a class ofhis own-no doubt about that,but in regards to Checa's probles,as I said maybe its him and not the bike......

Just my 0.2cents worth,
:thumbup

Originally posted by Magnus
This also goes to show what a good PIT CREW and MECHANICS can do for a rider...

example:

Look at Checas statements "I've still got big problems with the bike when turning. I can't find stability at certain points of the track, which is frustrating. We've been trying different settings again today but I feel a bit like we are against a wall with nowhere to go!"

Rossi only had a slight problem with the gearbox which was fixed already, and he was third in testing !!!

If I was a Yamaha team manager I would find more fault with the techs than with the rider, because Rossi has only ridden the M1 for a month and a half, and Checa has been riding it for 2 years now.


Does anyone else see this ?!?!?!?!?


My opinion is . . . Carlos hung around Max way too long :lol

True that you have to give a lot of credits to the crews, but about Checa, I've to agree with Ozzy_R1_demon more, casue just look at the result from the first day at Sepang... :yesnod