Pedrosa and Hayden leave Sepang setting the fastest times.
Repsol riders Dani Pedrosa and Nicky Hayden set today the fastest and second fastest times, thus putting an end to three positive test days.
Rapidly changing weather conditions hindered many of the riders from working as scheduled on the final day of the three-day MotoGP test held at Sepang, Malaysia. The morning session was virtually abandoned by most riders due to the half wet – half dry track conditions but a heavy down pour at lunchtime saw several riders take to the track testing Michelin wet weather tyres.
Repsol Honda rider Nicky Hayden was the quickest to adapt to the adverse conditions and made good use of the 20 laps on the wet track. The North American rider tested the latest RC211V chassis in combination with full wet tyres. When the track dried out Hayden began testing a range of slick tyres for Michelin.
Dani Pedrosa, on the second Repsol Honda, ran his first ever wet weather test aboard an RCV. The 20-year old Spaniard was surprised by how easy the RCV was to handle in the wet in comparison to the RS250R-W he raced to his second 250cc World Championship.Riders and teams packed up this evening heading off for the well-earned winter holidays before the 2006 preseason testing resumes in January next year.
Dani Pedrosa,
2’02.770, 57 laps:
‘I surprised myself this week. I was riding this track sliding with the tyre they gave me. I tried three different tyres today and at the end I began to feel the difference with each tyre. I could understand where the limit of the slide was. Also how the tyres work when they are new and when they have done many laps. It was much different riding this bike on wet tyres. I was surprised by how much grip they have in the corners but I was sliding on the straights when accelerating. Even under braking the rear end bike weaves from side to side and you feel it in the handlebars. But I didn’t do too many laps but I was really happy with the feeling in the wet. It was a very positive experience but I’m tired, very, very tired. I think I will have to rest for five days when I get home to get over it.’
Nicky Hayden,
2’02.790, 89 laps:
‘You know the weather wasn’t the best today but I needed to get in a lot of laps in the wet. We focused on my old bike and put in some decent laps with the wets on. We also tried an intermediate tyre that I really liked. When it dried out we tried out some rear tyres that were a little different from the ones we used at the GP here and they were a little better, which was really good. The three-day’s were really useful for the team and I set my best time of the week today but you always want to be faster. I will leave here with a positive spirit. Go home regroup and wait for the New Year. All the guys on the team have worked so hard, nobody was afraid to get their hands dirty, mechanics, HRC and the Michelin guys. Sure we want more but we will go away from here positive. Not on top of the world but not at the bottom either.’
