Positive end of two-day test in Brno
Nicky Hayden and Max Biaggi finished today the scheduled tests, which have brought positive conclusions for the races ahead
It was back to work after the Czech Grand Prix for Repsol Honda riders Max Biaggi and Nicky Hayden who shared the Brno track with other riders of the MotoGP and 250cc classes. The overall balance has been positive for both the riders and the whole Repsol Honda Team after these two test days on the Czech layout. With no time to rest after yesterday’s race, both riders were able to make a series of tests, putting in a total of 255 laps, getting valuable information for the remaining six races of the season. Max Biaggi was even able to test the longed-for evolution of the RC211V on the second test day in Brno. None of the riders was able to test the evolution of the Honda RC211V on the first test day, after HRCs decision to stop the test program due to a problem found during the parallel tests that being carried out in Japan. According to Ian Mackay, HRC PR officer, the problem could have affected the riders’ safety so they decided not to test the new version on the track until being sure that they would not be taking any risk. Nicky Hayden worked on an improved fork, trying to look for better stability turning into the corners and tested tyres for Michelin. The young North American rider was very satisfied with the information obtained. Max Biaggi was not able to test the new version and continued looking for solutions to minimise the problems with the machine under braking and turning into the corners, which have been bothering him since the start of the season. Today, Tuesday, second and last test day, Nicky Hayden made a big step forward with his usual bike, still working on the bikes behaviour getting into the corners and testing tyres. His team-mate Max Biaggi was able to ride the new RC211V for the first time. The Italian was very pleased with his first impressions on the longed-for evolution. Riders and teams will be back into action in three weeks time for the Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi. Nicky Hayden:Monday, best lap 157.52, 79 lapsTuesday, best lap 157.717, 81 laps’It’s been a really worthwhile test. I was frustrated with the race on Sunday and the poor result was down to me I just didn’t have the pace. On Monday, we worked on getting into the corners a bit quicker and we made a lot of progress with some improved front fork settings. I also tried some new Michelin tyres and put a new-style qualifier in at the end of the day for my best lap. We kept on working today, and we got the machine much better turning into corners and the race tyres I tried today were superb. To lap in 1m 57s on race tyres is a massive step forward and much better than I could have ever expected. We’ve improved the machine, found some good tyres and I think I’ve improved my riding as well over these past two days. We’ve not done any testing since Barcelona in March so it’s great to be able to try some new ideas. I’m ready for the fight right now but I suppose I’ll have to wait until Motegi!’ Max Biaggi:Monday, best lap 159.39, 48 lapsTuesday, best lap 1m 59.399, 47 laps ‘Yesterday we worked mainly on suspension set-up and got through a lot of positive work. We spent a lot of time checking to see if we had missed anything over the weekend here. The lap time was about the same as I did over the weekend. I really wanted to try something new and hoped that it might come on Tuesday, and we did. It was good to get out on the new machine today. I managed about 20 laps and recorded my fastest lap of the day on the new machine. The new machine has lots of potential and I can feel it is a little bit better than my 2005 machine in lots of areas. We found many positive points for HRC to develop especially the feel of the machine under braking and turning into corners. I’m looking forward to racing the machine as soon as it’s available.’ Monday unofficial times: 1. Nicky Hayden 157.6022. Valentino Rossi 158.9693. Colin Edwards 158.9724. Troy Bayliss 158:9815. Sete Gibernau 159.00 6. Max Biaggi 159.397. Marco Melandri 159.6568. Shinya Nakano 159.69. Alex Hofmann 159.9 Tuesday unofficial times:1. Loris Capirossi, 1’57.5682. Nicky Hayden, 1’57.7173. Sete Gibernau, 1’58’4414. Colin Edwards, 1’58’5845. Valentino Rossi, 1’58’6546. Carlos Checa, 1’58’7307. Marco Melandri, 1’58’9778. Alex Barros, 1’59’2219. Makoto Tamada, 1’59’39210. Max Biaggi, 1’59’39911. Nobuatsu Aoki, 1’59’766
