The 2005 preseason officially ended today with the final day of MotoGP Tests at the Jerez circuit. The next time the riders take to the track will signify the start of the first Grand Prix of the season, in less the two weeks' time.

 

The Telefónica MoviStar Honda MotoGP team completed their winter testing programme, which began at this circuit back in November last year, in positive mood after another day of intense work, with both Sete Gibernau and Marco Melandri confident that their effort will bear fruit in the first race of the season.

 

The team have spent the last three days refining the basic set-up of the Honda RC211V rather than preparing specifically for the opening race, which takes place at this circuit on the 10th April, as there will be plenty of time for that during the practice sessions for the Spanish Grand Prix. The conditions today were ideal for continued tests after morning rain yesterday had interrupted the team's development programme.

 

Sete Gibernau, last season's World Championship runner-up, managed to set a consistent rhythm in 1'40" and improved his feeling with the bike on corner entry with used tyres, a problem which is even more evident at Jerez because of the nature of the circuit. Sete didn't have time to do a race simulation but his team-mate Marco Melandri ran up 27 consecutive laps in the afternoon with a consistent pace in high 1'41". The Italian set his fastest lap at the end of the day on qualifying tyres and moved second fastest on the overall time sheets.

 

SETE GIBERNAU (1'40"662, 73 laps): "We always work towards the race and, if I'm not mistaken, we were the only people other than Valentino Rossi to lap in 1'40" on race tyres today, which is the most important thing to me. The only thing I didn't get done here was a race simulation because we ran out of time. We've encountered more problems than we expected in Jerez but that's been a good thing because at the end of the day it helped us to go better. It's been a long preseason for everybody but the most important thing is that we have improved at every test and we're ready for the season in even stronger shape than ever - we've been the most consistent all winter. Each year it gets harder because everybody moves on a level but we have done that as well. I'm looking forward to going racing at Jerez."

 

MARCO MELANDRI (1'40"291, 93 laps): "I'm very satisfied with these three days in Jerez because I've been able to improve my race pace, test in the wet and get more experience on qualifying tyres. Today we've done a few different tyre tests with Michelin and I'm happy about that because it shows that they have confidence in me. In the afternoon I did a race simulation with a pace in high 1'41" and, even though the tyre was a little hard for my liking, the endurance was good. Michelin made three different qualifying tyres available to me and I'm happy with my fastest lap. I'm ready for the first race."

 

LAP TIMES

1. Nicky Hayden (USA/Honda) 1'39"983

2. Marco Melandri (Ita/Honda) 1'40"291

3. John Hopkins (USA/Suzuki) 1'40"418

4. Valentino Rossi (Ita/Yamaha) 1'40"539

5. Loris Capirossi (Ita/Ducati) 1'40"559

6. Alex Barros (Bra/Honda) 1'40"569

7. Sete Gibernau (Esp/Honda) 1'40"662

8. Colin Edwards (USA/Yamaha) 1'41"284

9. Shinya Nakano (Jap/Kawasaki) 1'41"328

10. Makoto Tamada (Jap/Honda) 1'41"380