The morning rain doesn´t hinder Nicky Hayden from finishing again among the fastest in Jerez.
Hayden again second fastest, while his teammate Max Biaggi, having problems with the set-up, finishes in a back twelfth place
The forecasts announced rain for today and this time they were right. The Paddock of the Jerez circuit woke up this morning under the heavy rainfall and remained like that until past midday. Some time later, the gusts of wind took the water away letting the sun shine through. Thus the track dried up completely around five oclock in the afternoon, one hour before the scheduled end of the session.
As regards the activity on the track, only a few riders, including Max Biaggi and Nicky Hayden, decided to lap under the heavy and intermittent rain. Others, such as Gibernau, Barros, Hopkins or Capirossi preferred to do only a couple of laps in the wet and wait until the track had dried. For the riders of the Repsol Honda Team, this rainy second test day was a good occasion to work on the wet settings of their bikes, as a precaution against what may happen in two weeks time on the Andalusian track. In the morning, Max Biaggi, with fewer problems with the set-up than yesterday thanks to the rain, managed to be among the fastest riders of the MotoGP pack.
However, as the track was drying, the Repsol rider began loosing positions again, and was even unable to improve the time he had set yesterday. Max and his team will keep on working this afternoon-night, checking the telemetry and looking for solutions to allow the brave Italian rider improving his times and being competitive again.
Nicky Hayden, in constant improvement since the first tests in Barcelona last week, showed himself very fast and consistent again during this second session, setting once again the second fastest clock, this time behind a surprising Shinya Nakano on his Kawasaki. Hayden, who made a total of 43 laps today, covered several laps on low 142s, and was very satisfied after this second testing day. Tomorrow, the 22 riders will have the last test day of the 2005 preseason. The next time theyll get ready to put on their racing overalls to get on their machines will be on April 8th already immersed in the Spanish Grand Prix.
Nicky Hayden
2nd, 142.139, 43 laps:
It obviously hasnt been a great test day due to the rain, but we tried to make the most of the situation with the wet track. It didnt rain strong enough to push hard, but to test some new Michelin tyres. The last time we lapped on a wet track was during the preseason tests in Valencia, but then we couldnt test these tyres and I also had a different team. Its always fun to lap on a wet track and weve learned some new things. The track dried in the afternoon but the conditions werent good either. We havent learned much but its been a good test for the next time in Jerez. Im enjoying a lot on the bike and Im very satisfied because were on the right path. The team is working really hard and Michelin as well; tomorrow will surely be a great day. We still have a lot left to do, but well try to get ready for the event in two weeks.
Max Biaggi
12th, 143.559, 40 laps:
There hasnt been any improvement compared to yesterday. Were still having more than one problem here in Jerez. The rain was to blame this morning but during the almost two hours weve been testing in the afternoon we havent been able to improve at all. Im really worried, but we still have tomorrow to make a leap forward. It isnt normal that my teammate is lapping more than one second faster than me; that shows that were having serious problems. Tomorrow well keep on searching for a better set-up of the bike in order to let me lap the way I like it, much faster.
Track conditions:
- Air : 21º
- Track: 25º
- Humidity: 73%
- Wind: 10 Km/h
Classification
- S.Nakano (Kawasaki) 1.42.112
- N.Hayden (Repsol Honda) 1.42.139
- S.Gibernau (Honda) 1.42.278
- J.Hopkins (Suzuki) 1.42.359
- M.Melandri (Honda) 1.42.573
12. M.Biaggi (Repsol Honda) 143.559
