2003 preseason

250 Repsol riders continue preparation at the Catalunya circuit
Elias, Nieto, Faubel and Olivé have been working on the settings of this season’s bikes
The Catalunya circuit has been the venue chosen to carry out two private testing days for the 250cc category. Almost all outstanding riders of the category have been lapping on the Catalan track. These tests have been the prologue of the IRTA testing days, which will be held this weekend at the said circuit. The tests have been very profitable for all riders and despite several crashes; there has been no serious accident. Good weather has supported the team’s work and the Repsol riders Toni Elias, Fonsi Nieto, Hector Faubel and Joan Olivé are satisfied on the whole with the work done so far. All of them will be testing again at the Italian circuit of Mugello, before travelling to Japan to take part in the first GP of the 2003 season.Fonsi Nieto: ‘I crashed quite seriously today at the end of the straight and I hurt my collarbone. Fortunately it’s nothing serious and with a little treatment I’ll forget the incident soon. The crash changed our testing plan, but I’m satisfied on the whole. We’ve tested a completely new front suspension with great results. I think that we’re working on the right line, because now the bike is going the way I want. We’ll finish the settings in Mugello, the last tests before the Japanese GP ‘.Toni Elias: ‘We’re still working on the new bike and things are working out well, but there is still a lot left to do. De Puniet has clocked an impressive time, quite far from where we are, but I think that we’ll soon be able to take part in the battle. I crashed twice during the tests but I didn’t get hurt. I think that those two days in Mugello will be of great help to finish setting the bikes up’.Joan Olivé: ‘I had never lapped on this circuit with a 250 machine and therefore we spent most of the time configuring the bike. I’m reasonably satisfied and I think that we’ll get to the first race with a correct condition if we make the most out of the tests in Italy in mid-March ‘.Hector Faubel: ‘I crashed and therefore couldn’t ride for a good part of the day. It’s a shame because if I could have been riding all day the times would have been better. But I’m happy despite it all’.