The Repsol Honda Team tries to make the best of the last tests of the 2004 preseason.
The weather forecast threatens with rain for tomorrow. They’ve only been able to lap two hours.
The IRTA tests of the 2004 preseason will be remembered because of the adverse weather conditions predominating both in Barcelona and in Jerez. The MotoGP riders had hardly any possibility to lap at the Catalunya Circuit due to rain and low temperatures, and found a similar situation in Jerez. Despite slightly higher temperatures, the rain made it hard to carry out tests under normal conditions.
The night rain left a completely wet track, and despite the sunshine and partially clear sky, the track didn’t dry until three o’clock in the afternoon, when both riders of the Repsol Honda Team decided to begin their tests. Tyre and setting tests used up almost all of the time Alex Barros and Nicky Hayden had left for testing and at about five thirty the rain caused the end of the first of two planned test sessions.Valentino Rossi was the fastest rider of the session with Alex Barros fifth, three tenths behind the fastest time and Nicky Hayden ninth eight tenths behind.
Alex Barros
5º, 1.42.974 sec, 43 laps
‘The track conditions weren’t good enough until three o’clock in the afternoon so we started to lap between three and three-thirty. Today we’ve mainly been making tests with the settings. Once we started testing tyres the rain showed up again. In the end the times were OK and I’ve been riding well; everything has been fine in general. There are no big differences in the times clocked today; we’re all very close. I’m satisfied because I’ve not only been able to ride fast but also with constancy. This was my aim before the first race. The weather forecast for tomorrow is quiet bad; let’s hope that they’re wrong and we have the chance to test some parts and tyres. I’d be satisfied with that before the first race; and if not, patience and let’s see how things work out over there.’
Nicky Hayden
9º, 1.43.457 sec, 43 laps
‘The day has actually been a bit boring and not very profitable, walking around and doing nothing most part of the day. Finally the track dried and we were able to make some laps. As regards my times last year during the Grand Prix, we made some good clocks today. I was really looking forward to lap on a dry track. We’ve made some adjustments and we’ve got a good set-up for the bike; and we’ve also learned some things, but we still have a lot of work ahead. I still have to improve with regard to my riding technique. Let’s hope for good weather conditions tomorrow to be able to lap on a dry track and improve our times. We’ll be ready for South Africa.’
Classification:
- Valentino Rossi 1.42.656, 39 laps
- Kenny Roberts 1.42.761, 39 laps
- Colin Edwards 1.42.771, 40 laps
- Carlos Checa 1’42.927, 50 laps
- Alex Barros 1.42.974, 43 laps
9. Nicky Hayden 1.43.457, 43 laps
– Pole Spanish GP 2003: 1.41.983 (Loris Capirossi)
– Race record 2003: 1.42.788 (Valentino Rossi)
