Test MotoGP. Phillip Island

Repsol Honda finishes testing in Australia
After these tests, the teams will head for Europe to continue with the 2004 preseason
The riders of the Repsol Honda Team finished the third and last test day at Phillip Island, Australia, this afternoon, very satisfied with the work done and with the results. Both Nicky Hayden and Alex Barros have been improving their lap times day after day on the Repsol Honda RC211V on the tracks in Malaysia and Australia and they will now go back to Europe to continue with the 2004 preseason.Nicky Hayden’s technical team is extremely pleased with the progression shown by the young North American rider. The 22-year-old rider was the fastest in Sepang and has been regularly among the top times on Phillip Island. The ‘Rookie of the Year 2003′ is consolidating the experience gathered during his first MotoGP season.Barros’ team is particularly happy with the testing results, especially taking into account that the experimented Brazilian rider had not been on a bike since the operation on his right shoulder, three months ago. Barros has been working hard with his new team and new bike, finishing the practices, both mentally and physically in good shape.Driver´s commentsNicky Hayden: ‘Overall at Phillip Island we’ve had three pretty productive days. We got to do a lot of laps and we’re happy that many of them were consistently fast. We’re up there with the fast guys and it really feels like I’m riding the bike closer to the limits – pushing more and more all the time. We’ve still have got a lot of work to do in the remaining tests before the start of the season but we’re happy with the position we’re in at the moment. We’re off the Japan next for some wind tunnel tests – I’m going to work on my ‘tucks’, then back to Europe in Early March.’Tuesday best lap 1m31.50; 100 laps Wednesday best lap; 1m31.18; 85 laps Thursday best lap; 1m30.68; 80 lapsAlex Barros: ‘I’m feeling pretty happy. I’m comfortable on the bike and the rhythm is improving. The target for the six-day test at Sepang and Phillip Island was to take it steady, get used to riding again and not to do anything stupid. We have achieved this and it’s pleasing to be not so far off the top already. Every day the shoulder feels better and I am pleased it will have even more time to recover before the next tests at Valencia. This new team is working well and there is a very good spirit – I leave here with confidence and expectation about the season ahead.’Tuesday best lap 1m31.78; 80 laps Wednesday best lap 1m31.59; 58 laps Thursday best lap 1m30.88; 74 laps