Test Cataluña 125 cc

Repsol riders Pablo Nieto and Sergio Gadea finish the first official 2004 tests
Both riders debuted on their new bikes in Barcelona with positive results
 The first official tests of the 2004 season for the 125 GP class were held on March 23 and 24 at the Circuit de Catalunya. After the private tests carried out this winter, Jorge Martínez Aspars pupils have finally been able to meet all those riders they are going to be fighting against this season. The sun has been shining on both days, although due to the cold weather on the Iberian Peninsula the temperatures have been quite low. Pablo Nieto, already recovered from his wrist injury, used these two days to get back the lost rhythm, while his team-mate Gadea, in his first season in the World Championship is still piling up kilometres looking forward to his first Grand Prix in South Africa. The riders of the Master-Repsol Team will travel to Jerez de la Frontera on Friday 26th to take part in the last official test before the start of the season. Both riders are facing these last tests with optimism, working hard on the development and set-up of their machines. Pablo NietoTuesday 154.270, 77 lapsWednesday 152.537, 61 laps Today weve used the number two bike for the first time. Aprilia shipped it only a couple of days ago to Spain and weve been tuning the chassis settings the way I like it, as well as the dampers, handlebar position, foot-rests and brake-bars. Weve spend the whole day working on this bike because the other one is almost ready set and I want both bikes to be in equal conditions for the start of the season to be able to use them both. From what Ive been able to see these days, there are going to be a lot of fast people and well have to be prepared to be in the front. At the end of these two days Ive been about a second behind the fastest time, although today Ive spent the day working on the settings of my bikes. Therefore Im satisfied with the results and Ive been able to draw many conclusions. Well keep on working on both bikes in Jerez and even though the championship is going to start soon, we still have two tests left, so Ill be able to lap some additional kilometres to be fit for South Africa. Sergio GadeaTuesday 155.247, 60 lapsWednesday 154.505, 42 laps The truth is that I hadnt lapped on this circuit for a long time and I could feel it. I hadnt been back in Barcelona since the World Championship race last year, where I took part as a wild card rider. This is a very technical circuit; you have to follow the right line to set the right times and you have to set yourself reference points and follow them on the millimetre. We made good use of the first testing day and made a lot of kilometres and several changes on the bike. Some of the changes brought the expected results, others didnt. I gave it all today to see what time I was able to set and actually managed to be one second faster than yesterday; but Im still far behind the fastest riders. I thought that I could do better, but this has allowed me to see that people are very fast in the World Championship and that you cannot miss a single instant. I have to keep on working to learn every day and keep on moving forward.