Nicky Hayden puts and end to the tests in Jerez with an impressive fastest lap.
The rider of the Repsol Honda Team was the only one to lap under 1’40. His teammate Max Biaggi, still immersed in problems with the set-up, finishes eleventh.
Impeccable tests of Repsol Honda Teams North American rider Nicky Hayden on the three days. Second fastest on Friday behind Hopkins and on Saturday behind Nakano -, Hayden clocked today an extraordinary time at the end of the third day of the MotoGP Tests in Jerez, being the only rider capable of lapping under one minute and forty seconds. With a total of 97 laps on the circuit, the North American rider leaves Jerez highly satisfied, not only for the fastest time set, but also and especially for having found a good base set-up for his bike. Today the sun was present again throughout the session and the riders were able to work from early in the morning to make good use of what was going to be their last test session before the Spanish Grand Prix. Past midday, the engine of Nakanos Kawasaki broke down at the end of the main straight forcing the track marshals to show red flags on the circuit and interrupt the session to clean the oil stains on the track. After a break of approximately half an hour, the session was restarted, finishing at six oclock in the afternoon. For Max, the end of the tests in Jerez did not have the same result as for his teammate Hayden. Focussed on the set-up of his bike and suffering chattering problems, the Roman rider of the Repsol Honda Team has not been able to feel comfortable at all in Jerez, something really worrying considering that it will be the venue of the first Grand Prix of the season in two weeks time. Eleventh on this third and definitive test day, Biaggi is now hoping to find, together with his technical squad, the right solutions for his problems. Well have to wait for the answer until April 8th.
Nicky Hayden
1st, fastest time: 139.983.
Sunday 1st, 139.983, 97 laps.
Saturday 2nd, 142.139, 43 laps.
Friday 2nd, 141.045, 90 laps.
These have been fantastic tests. The team has been working really hard throughout the weekend and Ive tried to give my best to do everything theyd asked for. I made my best lap today on qualifying tyres. What we did is very important, especially considering that were only two weeks away from the first Grand Prix, and that its going to be raced here. Then Ill have to do it again. I still need to find a bit more speed on a race distance. Fortunately weve been able to identify the problem I had in the third section, where I was loosing a lot of time and the truth is that Ive been getting faster all the time. We still have to work a little more on that aspect for the race in fifteen days time. Its been fantastic to see the guys in the box laughing again. This has been the last of twenty-six preseason test days, and everybody has done a great job. Now Im really looking forward to the start of the Championship.
Max Biaggi
11th, fastest time: 141.431.
Sunday 11th, 141.431, 59 laps.
Saturday 12th, 143.559, 40 laps.
Friday 15th, 143.508, 88 laps.
This has been a hard weekend. The good bike I had in Barcelona has disappeared. Ive been having countless problems from Friday to Sunday. The set-up weve been working with on all the circuits did not work here and I dont know why. Ive had a lot of chattering entering and exiting the corners and also traction problems during the start which I never had before. Anyway, I wont give up. Right now, and more than ever, I have to be strong and let the team work on it.
Track conditions
- Air: 22º
- Track: 30º
- Humidity: 65%
- Wind: 5 Km/h
