Moto GP 2003 preseason

Day two, of three-day test at Phillip Island, Australia
Repsol Honda teammates Rossi and Hayden continued their preparation for the 2003 MotoGP season
Rossi, just turned 24 years old, is back at the circuit he loves and has huge experience of. Over the last five years he has won four Grand Prix (1998-250cc, 1999-250cc, 2001-500cc and 2002-MotoGP. He still holds the 250cc lap record set in 1999 and is the current MotoGP lap record holder -a time of 1m32.233s he set last year.Hayden in contrast spent his second day it the circuit adding to the 85 laps he did yesterday. The 21-year-old AMA Superbike Champion from Owensboro Kentucky, USA spent a useful day at the sweeping, fast circuit on Phillip Island acquainting himself with the Australian track.Valentino Rossi. Best lap Wednesday 1m31.6s (67 laps) Best lap Tuesday 1m32.1s (92 laps) ‘I’m happy because we had another good day and the 2003 bike is doing most things I want and it feels good at a circuit I like. The track conditions were good and the weather was fine. I was pleased with my performance. We tested many tyres today and are still looking for the best solution but we are not far off as the times show, but for me this is not the most important thing. I feel that the development from last years bike to this one is good and we have the potential of a really good package.’Nicky Hayden Best lap Wednesday 1m33.5 (84 laps) Best lap Tuesday 1m34.5 (85 laps) ‘That was a pretty good day I’d say. We progressed a little bit and I took a second off my time from yesterday. Today I worked on my style a little -tried to smooth out a bit- ride the bike not so ‘superbike-ish’. There were a few areas of the track I wanted to work on and it seemed to come together pretty good. The bike for me feels good, I’m changing a few little things. Mostly suspension but really I’m just trying to ride it and learn. The bike is well proven with Valentino and those guys so I’m not changing a lot. Just minor adjustments and little tweaks and get on and ride the bike and learn the circuits. I did a little bird hunt today. I killed a bird and the bike ran over one, one busted my windscreen and I got a few feathers on me. Other than that it wasn’t too eventful!