Qatar 2005 pre-season testing session - MotoGP
Losail - Tuesday 1st March 2005

Ideal weather in Qatar for first day of tests for Camel Honda

Qatar today hosted MotoGP teams for the first of three test days at the Losail
International Circuit, with pleasant 25oC conditions compared to the habitual
scorching weather which hits the deserts of Doha. Despite the late arrival of
fuel, and thanks to the kind help from Honda colleagues Team Gresini who lent
some of their supply, the Camel Honda team began their work after the lunch
break, working hard on a set-up for the Losail track, both with Alex, who was
quickly amongst the fastest riders, and with Troy who continues to improve his
feelings with the RC211V.

Ramon Forcada - Camel Honda - (Alex Barros's Technical Director)

"We have only been to this track once before, for last year's GP, and the
conditions were completely different back then, both in terms of the weather and
the track itself. Nevertheless we began from the settings from October, and
continued with the work on the forks which we had begun in Australia. We also
tried two new fronts from Michelin and tomorrow we will do tyre tests and more
set-up work."

Alex Barros - Camel Honda - 1'58.90 (27 laps) 3rd fastest

"We didn't do that many laps today, because we didn't have that much fuel, but
we still began well. The conditions are definitely better than when we came here
for the race, also because the Superbikes raced here on Saturday which laid some
good rubber down on the track. I felt comfortable pretty much straight away, the
bike is set-up well and we went quickly straight away, even though 28 laps
doesn't give you much opportunity to test too much."

Santiago Mulero - Camel Honda (Troy Bayliss's Technical Director)

"Today was quite a good day, Troy is already riding at his race pace from last
year and he doesn't have too bad a feeling with the bike. We started from the
position we were in Australia as regards base set-up and tomorrow we will
continue to work in that direction."

Troy Bayliss - Camel Honda - 2'00.68  (26 laps) 8th fastest

"I'm quite satisfied with the first sensations at this track, even though we
couldn't ride too much. We have been lucky to get such good conditions, but
there is still a little bit of wind around. If only it could be like this when
we come back here to race, but I don't think it will be. However we will try to
make the most of these days here and tomorrow apart from the set-up work, we
will work alongside Michelin to try some new tyres."

Official Times

 1. Hayden (Honda)         1'58.38
 2. Melandri (Honda)       1'58.52
 3. Barros (Camel Honda)   1'58.90
 4. Capirossi (Ducati)     1'58.94
 5. Checa (Ducati)         1'59.11
 6. Biaggi (Honda)         1'59.20
 7. Tamada (Honda)         1'59.50
 8. Bayliss (Camel Honda)  2'00.68
 9. Rolfo (Ducati)         2'03.50