GAULOISES YAMAHA TEAM TEST
Phillip Island, Australia
Saturday, February 19, 2005

Ambient temperature:  25 degrees
Track temperature: 30 degrees
Humidity: 45%

GAULOISES YAMAHA CONCLUDES ANTIPODEAN TESTING

The Gauloises Yamaha Team closed another stage in its demanding winter test
programme today in Phillip Island, Australia, with Valentino Rossi taking the
unofficial fastest lap time of the three days. In slightly cooler conditions
than the previous two days, the Italian rider recorded a best time of 1'29.68,
faster than his own circuit best time of 1'30.068 set during the 2003 Phillip
Island round. Rossi's new team-mate Colin Edwards also improved on his previous
two days with an unofficial 1'30.23, quicker than his 2004 Australian Grand Prix
official qualifying time of 1'30.625.

All riders present from the Yamaha, Honda, Ducati and Suzuki MotoGP teams,
except Sete Gibernau, took advantage of the last opportunity to test at the
Australian circuit before they will race there in October. Nearly all lapped
under Loris Capirossi's circuit lap record of 1'31.102, set last year.

Valentino Rossi (1'29.68, 57 laps)

"This morning we tried some different settings from yesterday and they worked
better. We found more agility in the bike. Then we continued testing tyres for
Michelin, which were good. The test has been quite positive and we have
collected some useful information which we'll continue to work with when we
return here soon."

Colin Edwards (1'30.60, 78 laps)

"Today was really encouraging, I got on with some really good tyres and played
around a bit and the result and time was better. I didn't do so many laps today
but the ones I did were good. We checked out all the settings and we feel like
we've made some progress. I'm heading back to the States now for a bit of family
time before we come back here in a couple of weeks. I'm really excited about the
news that we're going to race in Turkey, Rio was always a cool place but it
wasn't one of my favourite tracks. It's always fun to go to new tracks, and now
we've got three new ones in a year, although Laguna isn't so new for me."

Davide Brivio, Gauloises Yamaha Team Director

"We finished the test at a good level, both riders have improved since the first
day, and we've got some good information from the areas we needed to work in.
It's been a positive test for the riders and the bike. We look forward to coming
back very soon to continue this development."

The Gauloises Yamaha Team returns to the Phillip Island circuit for a three day
test on 8 March.

Unofficial Lap Times:

 1. VALENTINO ROSSI (Yamaha)  1'29.68 (57 laps)
 2. Nicky Hayden (Honda)      1'29.78
 3. Carlos Checa (Ducati)     1'29.86
 4. Max Biaggi (Honda)        1.29.88
 5. Loris Capirossi (Ducati)  1'30.18
 6. COLIN EDWARDS (Yamaha)    1'30.23 (52 laps)
 7. Alex Barros (Honda)       1'30.55
 8. John Hopkins (Suzuki)     1'30.86
 9. Troy Bayliss (Honda)      1'30.90
10. Marco Melandri (Honda)    1'30.90
11. Kenny Roberts (Suzuki)    1'31.21
12. Ruben Xaus (Yamaha)       1'31.98
13. Toni Elias (Yamaha)       1'32.16