Test MotoGP

Hayden satisfied after the final tests of the year
Two days in Valencia circuit
 On Monday, first of the two testing days planned by the Repsol Honda Team at the Valencia track, Nicky Hayden completed just 26 laps due to the cold and damp conditions, which had nothing to do with the warm and dry conditions the team experienced last week in Jerez, thus hindering them from drawing many useful conclusions. Things went better however on the second testing day. The young North American rider was able to lap comfortably along with a host of MotoGP riders under better conditions than the day before on a cold but dry 4km track in Valencia. Hayden completed a total of 70 valuable laps on the twisty Ricardo Tormo circuit, with a fastest time of 133.7, before the winter test restrictions come into play from Wednesday 1st Dec through to Thursday 20th Jan 2005 inclusively. The Repsol Honda Team will be back in action towards the end of January in Sepang, Malaysia in order to prepare the 2005 season. Meanwhile, Nicky Hayden will travel tomorrow to Japan to take part in several PR activities before travelling back to the USA to enjoy well deserved vacations. Nicky Hayden: We couldnt test much on Monday. It was one of those days when it’s not wet enough to do a proper wet test and not dry enough to learn anything. We did try playing around with the mapping of the engine to help with the power delivery in these sort of conditions which could turn out to be useful, but overall it was a pretty boring day I even had time for a Spanish style siesta. It took a while in the morning for the track to dry out and there were a lot of guys jumping off everywhere; we just took our time and had a solid day. Generally it was a good few days of testing we had in Jerez and Valencia. It was really good to be working with the new team and everyone seems to be gelling real well. We’ve got a pretty good base setting and I’m pleased to go into the winter break with a positive feeling. I’m off to Japan for some PR work and then back home next week for a little rest but I know it won’t be long till I’m really wanting next year to come and to get back on the bike..