Repsol Honda Team jet from Honda kick-off party to Doha tests.
Nicky Hayden and team mate Max Biaggi continued their frantic pre-season schedule by jetting across the globe from last weekends traditional Honda Racing launch event in Tokyo.
Along with a host of world Honda Racing stars that included B.A.R F1 drivers Jenson Button and Takuma Sato and big names for all Honda two-wheel racing disciplines, Hayden and Biaggi were introduced to the invited audience by Takeo Fukui, President and CEO, Hondas Motor Co., Ltd. He proclaimed; Honda will continue to aim for the top in motor sports, working to build on the reputation for innovativeness and advanced technology that is the source of the growing strength of our brand.
Back on their 2005-spec RC211Vs at the 5.4km Losail circuit situated on the outskirts of the capital Hayden and Biaggi had a good day at the dry but windy circuit. Benefiting a reasonably grippy surface, due in part to the fact that the first round of the World Superbike Series had staged their first event of the year at the circuit last weekend, Hayden completed 82 laps and ended the session having posted the fastest time of the day. Biaggi had a steady day building on the experience gathered here last year when he fought his way valiantly up from starting at the back of the grid to end the 22-lap encounter in a very creditable sixth place. The 33-year-old Italian had set-up problems with his machine but felt towards the end of the day he, and his team were making progress in the right direction.
Nicky Hayden,
82 laps. Best lap 1m 58.36s:
Pretty happy after first day. More grip than we had here last time but still real slippery; especially off-line. The wind was the real problem today. In the morning it was hard to find a setting I felt totally comfortable with; things came much better in the afternoon. Im looking forward to the next few days here. We raced here for the first time last year and a few days here will certainly make it easier when we come to the GP here in the fall.
Max Biaggi,
67 laps. Best lap 1m 59.20s:
We had big set-up problems today that effectively destroyed the tyres so we had no grip for most of the time. We tried several different shock settings but we still didnt find the right way. Tomorrow well work again on the suspension geometry. It is important to get the base right and build on that. This is what we need to do to make the rest of the test a success I have a great team around me and I am confident we will move forward!
