2003 preseason. Two days IRTA Test Estoril

Bad weather in Estoril as well, hampering teams and riders work
Repsol riders keep on piling kilometres in this complicated preseason
The second tests organised by the IRTA have been clouded again by the persistent rain over the Iberian Peninsula. After the tests in Jerez, teams and riders travelled to the Portuguese circuit of Estoril at the beginning of this week to take part in the IRTA tests that were held yesterday and today. Yesterdays tests were totally in vain due to the non-stop rainfall. Only a few riders did some laps but quickly went back to the pits to wait for the next day. One of the few who dared to go onto the track, Aspars pupil, Joan Olivé, ended on the floor after a couple of laps, and decided, together with his team, to stop the test and wait for the second day. It rained all night long and it was necessary to wait until the afternoon to start riding on a dry track. From that moment on the activity on the Portuguese track was very intense. The Frenchman De Puniet was quickest of the day in the 250cc, followed by Poggiali and the Repsol rider Repsol Toni Elias. Sebastián Porto was fifth fastest, followed by Fonsi Nieto. The other two Repsol riders, Héctor Faubel and Joan Olivé, set the seventh and twelfth fastest times respectively. Toni Elías, 1´42.8, 70 laps: Weve done a good job today, were finding the way but theres still a lot left to do to be at the front. The rain that had followed us from Jerez delayed us a lot. Although it hasnt been raining all day, the track was wet in the morning and there were some wet sections left in the afternoon. At least weve been able to test several things; weve been working especially on the new chassis and the bikes balances. Weve improved in many aspects and we have to keep on working like this. Todays times have been fast, weve got a bit closer to the front but we have to be even closer. Fonsi Nieto, 1´43.6, 73 laps: We have the same problems we already had in Jerez. I didnt feel very comfortable on the 2002 bike this morning, which is the one weve been working on so far, so I decided to ride the new bike and my times began to improve. I felt much better but we still have to shape it up in many aspects. Im not very satisfied with how these tests have been. The rain has delayed our working schedule; we had a pile of things to test. Well be in Barcelona in two weeks and I hope to find the right way to follow. Sebastián Porto, 143.3, 48 laps: We needed more time to ride and make more kilometres. In the end, and again due to the rain, what was supposed to be a two-day test turned into a half-day one. Yesterday it rained all day and I only made three laps. Today, the track was wet until noon. Weve basically followed the same working line we took in Jerez; making a pile of tests with the chassis and the suspensions. Im still getting to know my new bike, but I guess I can say that what we have achieved until now isnt bad at all, and this tells us that we are working in the right direction. Hector Faubel, 1´44.1, 69 laps: Im quite happy about how things have worked out at these tests. Yesterday I could only do twelve laps because of the wet track and we hardly tested anything. Today weve finally been lucky and it didnt rain. The track was wet early in the morning but it dried and we were able to lap clocking fast times. Weve been working on different possibilities for the suspension settings and we improved a lot. Late in the day the temperature was very low and the track was very cold, but the conclusions of these days have been satisfactory both for the team and for me. Joan Olivé, 145.0, 74 laps: Its a shame that weve only been able to make use of today, because it had been impossible to ride with the rain we had yesterday. I made a few laps and the circuit was just impossible. I had a light crash and we decided that it would be better to wait for a dry track. But the track was still wet this morning because it had been raining all night so we didnt start lapping until the afternoon. But Im happy after all, Ive made more kilometres and this time weve made it on a circuit that is really complicated for a 250cc. I already rode here, in Estoril, last year and the year before on the 125cc but with the new bike its something completely different; its much more difficult. We would have needed more time but at least weve lapped some kilometres that will be good for the Grand Prix of Portugal.