Yamaha riders pleased with progress at Malaysian test - day two

Sepang, Malaysia
24/1/2005

Gauloises Yamaha Team riders Valentino Rossi and Colin Edwards completed a
second day of testing at a hot and humid Sepang circuit, Testing their new
2005-specification YZR-M1s, both riders improved on the times they set
yesterday. It was hard work for the entire team, as temperatures reached a
maximum of 40 degrees, but both riders finished the day satisfied with the job
they had done and now look forward to tomorrow's final day of testing.

Rossi and Edwards continued from where they left off yesterday, once again
spending the day refining settings on their M1s as well as testing a variety of
Michelin tyres. According to the unofficial lap times, Ducati rider Loris
Capirossi was the fastest man on the track for the second day running, setting a
time of 2'01.99, whilst Rossi was second fastest once again, completing 55 laps
with a best time of 2'02.16. He was followed by Alex Barros (Honda, 2'02.30),
Max Biaggi (Honda, 2'02.35) - seemingly well recovered from a broken leg
sustained in November - and Kenny Roberts (Suzuki, 2'02.38). Rossi's Yamaha
team-mate Edwards completed 62 laps and was sixth fastest with a time of 2'02.48.

Fortuna Yamaha Tech3 riders Toni Elías and Rubén Xaus also continued their
testing program at the Sepang circuit. Elías clocked a 2'03.2 after 51 laps,
despite the injury to his right hand which he suffered yesterday. His Spanish
team-mate Xaus set a best time of 2'03.40 after 62 laps, having crashed early in
the session without injury.

Valentino Rossi (Gauloises Yamaha Team) - 2nd, 2'02.16

"I am quite happy with the work we've done today. We worked on suspension and
set-up and the bike gave us some good data and a good feeling. Yesterday we went
the wrong way with some things but today we've made some modifications and we've
found the right way forward. We've worked mainly on making the bike more agile;
trying to make it more like the 2004 bike in this area, and we had a really good
run of improvements this morning."

Colin Edwards (Gauloises Yamaha Team) - 6th, 2'02.48

"We sorted out our first-day teething problems and I'm feeling much happier
about everything. I'm so tired tonight, but we knew we'd have to work hard!
Overnight we had some ideas and they seem to have worked; now it feels like
we're going in the right direction. The most important thing is confidence in
the front of the bike, and I had more today. Overall now it doesn't feel so
different from the old bike and the whole package is good. Tomorrow we'll play
around some more, probably do a race simulation and hopefully make some more
improvements."

Davide Brivio, Gauloises Yamaha Team Director

"It was a productive day for both riders. We spent a lot of time testing tyres
for Michelin and we made a good job of this. Before that we were able to improve
the bike settings compared to yesterday, so we are on the way. Tomorrow is the
final day so we hope that we can continue this work and finish on a good note."

Toni Elías (Fortuna Yamaha Tech3) - 8th, 2'03.20

"Much better! Yesterday we were basically riding to get used to the M1 and solve
a few aspects related to the bike and my physical condition. Today we were able
to adjust the engine braking a little more and the suspension, which helped me
to feel much more comfortable on the M1. All that with my injured little finger!
It hurts a lot, and to be honest this morning I thought I would only be able to
manage a couple of laps. The company that makes my gloves came up with something
that allowed me to go out and ride without too much discomfort. My right glove
is actually two sizes bigger than my left! In general I feel really at home with
the team. Nobody is putting pressure on me and bit by bit we're getting better -
tomorrow hopefully more so!"

Rubén Xaus (Fortuna Yamaha Tech3) - 9th, 2'03.40

"In the afternoon everything went much better. Since I'm still trying to get to
know the M1 and everybody wants to try different things - especially me - we
ended up a bit lost. After the crash the Yamaha engineers came to the box and
told us to start from scratch again. It was the right decision because in the
afternoon I felt much more comfortable and the M1 ran much better, allowing me
to lap at a 2'03.40. I carried on riding without really testing anything because
the most important thing right now is to adapt and to get to know the YZR M1".

Testing times - day two

Loris Capirossi (Ducati):                2'01.98 (60 laps)
Valentino Rossi (Gauloises Yamaha Team): 2'02.16 (55)
Alex Barros: (Honda):                    2'02.307 (77)
Max Biaggi (Honda):                      2'02.35
Kenny Roberts (Suzuki):                  2'02.38
Colin Edwards (Gauloises Yamaha Team):   2'02.48 (62)
Troy Bayliss: (Honda)                    2'03.918 (52)
Toni Elías: (Fortuna Yamaha Tech3):      2'03.20 (51)
Rubén Xaus (Fortuna Yamaha Tech3):       2'03.40 (62)