Competitive weekend for the Repsol Honda Team in Barcelona.
Next Friday, Saturday and Sunday the team will continue testing in Jerez.
Third and definitive official test day of the 2005 preseason at the Circuit de Catalunya. Today was the most spectacular and active of the three days due to the 40 minute timed session with an award promoted by the car make that sponsors the championship. Any reason is a good reason to let the best riders of the premier class take each other on and the favourites this time were: Max Biaggi, Valentino Rossi and Sete Gibernau. The biggest surprise was Nicky Hayden, who managed to improve along the weekend setting the third fastest time of the day. The less positive side of the day for the Repsol Honda Team was suffered by Max Biaggi, who crashed before the timed session due to an oil stain and then had a technical problem towards the end, hindering him from taking part in the battle for the fastest time. When Max entered the garage to put on qualifying tyres, an electrical problem caused by the previous crash hindered him from restarting his bike having to watch frustrated how he lost all options to get back on the track and set the fastest lap. The fastest rider was finally Gibernau, followed by Rossi and Hayden. Max continued testing after the technical problem had been solved, working with perseverance until six oclock in the afternoon, when the tests were concluded. These tests have meant for the Italian a total of 240 laps on the Catalan track and 1,128 kilometres covered.
Nicky Hayden, faster and more consistent on this third day, made a total of 251 laps and y 1,180 kilometres.
MotoGP Max Biaggi
2nd. Best time of the weekend: 142.260
Friday 1st, 143.158, 85 laps.
Saturday 1st, 142.260, 68 laps.
Sunday 6th, 142.977, 87 laps.
I already said yesterday that I wasnt here to take the car, but the truth is that Im quite disappointed. Just in the crucial moment, when we had put on the qualifying tyres and were leaving the garage to go for a good time, a small electric connection part broke and the engine didnt start. There were less than five minutes left for the end of the session and we were not able to get back on the track. The team has to reflect on it because its a problem that cannot happen again, especially not in a qualifying session. Im not worried, Im quite relaxed and Im positive, because compared to the start of the preseason tests weve made a big leap forward. We kept on testing some small set-up changes in the afternoon and well continue with our working plan these days in Jerez.
MotoGP. Nicky Hayden
3rd. Best time of the weekend: 142.507
Friday 11th, 144.284, 84 laps.
Saturday 5th, 142.953, 92 laps.
Sunday 3rd, 142.507, 75 laps.
In general terms, this has been the best of the three days. Im very happy to have been fighting for the leading spots and Ive done it real hard. I obviously would have liked to win the car, its really a fantastic car, but Im happy with the time set. My driving technique and the bike have improved along the three days: weve had a good evolution. The differences with regard to last year are minimal but weve made small steps forward. Rather than getting more horsepower, you should know how to use it in these bikes. My team and I have preferred to work on small details and focus on them instead of making big changes, and the results have been there. Weve learned a lot these days, but we have to keep on working to keep on improving. Thats what were going to do the next days in Jerez.
Track conditions
- Air: 22º
- Track: 31º
- Humidity: 22%
- Wind: 4 Km/h
Combined classification
- Gibernau (Honda) 1.41.851
- Biaggi (Repsol Honda) 1.42.260
- Rossi (Yamaha) 1.42.270
- Barros (Honda) 1.42.506
- Hayden (Repsol Honda) 1.42.507
