Test MotoGP Valencia

The Repsol Honda Team continues the 2004 preseason at steady pace
Alex Barros fastest after the first testing day; his team-mate Nicky Hayden only two tenths behind the Brazilian in Valencia
 The 2004 preseason continues and the riders of the Repsol Honda Team keep showing themselves highly competitive. During the first of the two private testing days held today at the Valencian Ricardo Tormo circuit, Alex Barros has been fastest of the riders attending the test, setting a time of 1.335. His team-mate Nicky Hayden has been third fastest of the class, behind Barros and the Australian Troy Bayliss, clocking only two tenths less than the Brazilian. The good weather conditions and soft temperatures made working easier for the riders, although the state of the tarmac, quite dirty due to car tests carried out on the previous days, forced the riders to be cautious during the first hours due to a quite slippery track. Alex Barros and Nicky Hayden did not enter the track until ten thirty in the morning. The team will be testing tomorrow in Valencia as well and will then move to Barcelona where the official IRTA tests will be starting on March 26th. Alex Barros, 133.5, 81 laps: Im satisfied. Im feeling much better and I dont need to put ice on the shoulder after every session any more. It usually hurt a lot after only five laps, but now I hardly feel anything. Now, after going back to Brazil, Ill still have ten days left before the IRTA tests and the doctors have confirmed that Ill be able to start working with weights and strengthen the shoulder during the break, because now I feel that my arms have not the necessary strength to ride a whole race at a hundred percent. Everything is working out as expected, both in the sporting area and the recovery of my shoulder injury. With regard to the bike and the work weve done here, today weve been focussing on the settings without needing to try new material. The bike has a very good level already and weve reached the point where times improve because the rider is improving and adapting better to the bike every day. Nicky Hayden, 133.7, 70 laps: Its been a good day. In the morning, when we started, the track was a bit dirty, I dont know if its been because of the rain. Today weve mainly been working on some things with the suspensions. Tomorrow weve planned to make some tests with the tyres, theres definitely going to be much more to do. The light rainfall in the afternoon bothered us a bit and I hope that the weather will be better for tomorrow. The bike transmits very good sensations, the grip is improving a lot and were going to make some tyre testing tomorrow. I think that were on the right path. Results Alex Barros 133.5, 81 lapsTroy Bayliss 133.5, 70 laps Nicky Hayden 133.7, 70 lapsLoris Capirossi 134.0, 46 lapsKenny Roberts 134.7, 61 lapsGregorio Lavilla  135.8, 70 lapsNobuatso Aoki 136.0, 45 lapsMarcelino Lucchi  137.0, 45 laps