Gibernau to continue testing tomorrow as 250 team pack up
The Telefónica MoviStar Honda team extended their stay at the Cheste this week in order to carry out a test at the request of Honda as they look to close the 2004 season with as much information as possible. Sete Gibernau began working on a series of tyre tests, which confirmed his mistaken choice of rear tyre for the race on Sunday. The Spaniard also tried the 2004 exhaust system which he was given halfway through the season and will tomorrow run some laps with an evolution chassis brought to the test by Honda - material which Max Biaggi was able to sample today on his debut with the factory team. Sete left the track at 16.30h. after completing 55 laps and clocking a best time of 1’33”5.
250cc World Champion Daniel Pedrosa concentrated on tests with the 2004 version chassis used this season by his team-mate Hiroshi Aoyama. Meanwhile, the Japanese rider had the opportunity to try the chassis previously used by Dani. The Spaniard ran up 32 laps with a best time of 1’37”7, whilst Aoyama ended the session with a 1’36”9 after 48 laps - 34 of those, including his best time, using Pedrosa’s chassis. The 250cc team, who were joined by Honda’s test rider Kamada, packed up after the test and will continue with their preseason schedule on the 24th and 25th November in Jerez and the 29th and 30th November at Valencia.
LAP TIMES
MotoGP
Sete Gibernau 1’33”5 (55 laps)
250 cc.
Dani Pedrosa 1’37”7 (32 laps)
Hiroshi Aoyama 1’36”9 (48 laps)
SETE GIBERNAU
“The idea of this test is to compare information, have a look at the material which we are interested in and rule out anything we don’t want so that we are ready to start preparations for the new season in good shape. It is what we did last preseason and it worked perfectly well in the first part of the year, when we were very consistent. Today we tried the exhaust system that they gave us back at Brno and I still think that it makes the bike easier to ride, that the power delivery is more progressive, but it is not necessarily any quicker. Tomorrow we’ll get the chance to try the new chassis which Honda have brought. I’m really pleased to be testing because a new season started for me today, a new challenge and, as I have already said this year, I want to have complete control over my bike. For this reason we have to be very clear about what we want and make sure we transmit that to Honda”.
DANIEL PEDROSA
“Honda asked me to go back onto the bike which Aoyama has ridden this year, which I haven’t used, but the conclusions are very similar. I’m not too keen on this chassis and I don’t feel as comfortable as with the one with which I won the championship.”
HIROSHI AOYAMA
“I had never had the opportunity to test the chassis which Dani used and the truth is that I really liked it. At the start the feeling is really different but within a few laps I felt better. The bike is easier to ride and the improvement is quicker. We still don’t have the perfect setting for me but even so it was a pleasant surprise.”