Yamaha completes final day of pre-season testing in Jerez

Jerez, Spain
27/3/2005

Gauloises Yamaha Team riders Valentino Rossi and Colin Edwards completed the
last of 21 days of pre-season testing as the final day of the Jerez IRTA Tests
drew to a close. Rossi completed the day with the fourth fastest time and his
team-mate was eighth; both bettering the times they set on Friday and well
inside the existing lap record of 1'42.788. They spent the day making last
minute alterations and checks in order to refine the set-up of their YZR-M1s in
preparation for the season-opening Grand Prix here in two weeks time.

After yesterday's rain the Spanish circuit stayed dry today and there were fast
times from all the MotoGP riders throughout. Many elected to try out a
qualifying tyre at the end of the day and the best time of the whole test was
set by Honda rider Nicky Hayden. The American set a lap of 1'39.983 in the dying
stages of the eight-hour session, nearly a second faster than Rossi's pole
position time from last year's Grand Prix. Second fastest was Marco Melandri
(Honda, 1'40.291) and John Hopkins was in the top four for the third day running
after setting a lap of 1'40.418 on his Suzuki. Rossi completed 96 laps today,
his most over the three days of the test, setting a best time of 1'40.539,
despite a few complications with rear grip in the afternoon. Edwards also made
the most of the last hours of testing before the first race, completing 73 laps
with a best time of 1'41.284.

For the Fortuna Yamaha Team the final day of testing proved to be a little more
challenging after both riders ended the day with a crash. Despite this Toni
Elias was happy with the progress the team had made over the past three days and
finished with a best time of 1'42.387 for 16th position. His Spanish team-mate
Ruben Xaus called an early end to the day after his mid afternoon tumble and was
left with a 1'43.961 for 17th place.

Valentino Rossi (Gauloises Yamaha Team) - 1'40.539

"We went quite well until lunchtime. However, during the afternoon we tried some
new things and they didn't go quite as well as we had hoped. We had some
troubles in the braking sections because the bike was quite nervous when the
tyre was coming to an end. We know we can do better and what we have to improve,
so we are not too worried, it's just that there is not quite enough rear grip
after I've done a lot of laps. The front is okay because we already fixed this
in Barcelona. Anyway, I'm now really happy to finish the testing and I am
feeling okay about the first race, the bike has good potential and I am looking
forward to a good battle this year!"

Colin Edwards (Gauloises Yamaha Team) - 1'41.284

"I'm pleased because, other than Valentino, all the seven riders above me in the
timings put on a qualifying tyre. I had a really good pace on the race tyres,
consistently in the low 1'41s, and this bodes well for the race in two weeks
time. However it took a lot of work to get to this point. We tried so many
things today but finally we hit the nail on the head and now the bike works
really well. I've got pretty much the same setting as Valentino, we're very
similar in the way we ride the bike. I am now ready for a quick break at home
and then, finally, the first race! It's been a long winter of testing!"

Daniele Romagnoli, Colin Edwards' crew chief

"Today we had some difficulties with the chassis set-up but we found several
different solutions. We found a good base in the morning and we've found a good
Michelin tyre, which has helped to improve the traction. We've managed to keep
the bike turning well too, which is really important. We did some good runs on a
race tyre and Colin set his best time on this, which is encouraging. I think
we've got a good base to fine-tune when we return here for the GP weekend."

Toni Elias (Fortuna Yamaha Team) - 1'42.387

"We had a few little problems to sort through today but we made good progress. I
have found the last three days very positive and was even presented with the
opportunity to test the bike in the wet on the second day. I'm really happy with
the way we have been working as a tream and I'm confident for the first race."

Ruben Xaus (Fortuna Yamaha Team) - 1'43.961

"I made a small mistake today but I am reasonably happy with the overall
progress we have made despite this. We have been more and more consistent on the
bike and its now only the little things, the fine turning that needs to be dealt
with now. I'm really looking forward to the start of the season."

Official times - day 3:

 1. Nicky Hayden (Honda)                     1'39.983
 2. Marco Melandri (Honda)                   1'40.291
 3. John Hopkins (Suzuki)                    1'40.418
 4. VALENTINO ROSSI (GAULOISES YAMAHA TEAM)  1'40.539
 5. Loris Capirossi (Ducati)                 1'40.559
 6. Alex Barros (Honda)                      1'40.569
 7. Sete Gibernau (Honda)                    1'40.662
 8. COLIN EDWARDS (GAULOISES YAMAHA TEAM)    1'41.284
 9. Makoto Tamada (Honda)                    1'41.380
10. Max Biaggi (Honda)                       1'41.431

16. TONI ELIAS (FORTUNA YAMAHA TEAM)         1'42.387
17. RUBEN XAUS (FORTUNA YAMAHA TEAM)         1'43.961