With some positive resultsThe Repsol Honda Team completed its two-day test at Brno on Tuesday with Nicky Hayden and Dani Pedrosa winding up a useful programme of engine, chassis set-up and Michelin tyre evaluations.
With overnight rain slow to clear, the track remained
damp in the morning, but once the surface dried the assembled MotoGP field could begin work. With conditions less favourable than yesterday very few riders improved their times today, though both Repsol Honda men deemed the day's testing profitable.
Hayden completed 72 laps, making shock and fork adjustments before trying a batch of new Michelin tyres. After yesterday's engine and chassis tests, Pedrosa focussed on tyre testing today, completing 59 laps of the 5.403km (3.357-mile) Brno circuit.
The factory Honda squad now heads for the revised Misano World Circuit in Italy which hosts round 13 of the 2007 MotoGP series on September 2. The renowned venue is making a return to the Motorcycle World Championship calendar for the first time since 1993.
Nicky Hayden Best lap time: 1m 58.70s – 72 laps
“It's been a positive test and a decent weekend as a whole for us. We've been towards the sharp end most of the time and, considering where we've been at times this year, that's a definite improvement. Today we tried some shock and fork settings, a few little changes in the engine and also did quite a lot of tyre testing with Michelin. We didn't find any major breakthroughs but it was worth our time here and I'd like to say a big thanks to the team because it's been five days in a row and the boys have been working really hard.”
Dani Pedrosa Best lap time: 1m 59.23s – 59 laps
“Today we were mainly testing tyres for Michelin – some variations in construction and compound to try to improve our performance and endurance, especially towards the end of the race distance. It was damp in the morning and also quite windy so we lost a little testing time today, although the forecast was for rain and we had a dry afternoon so we were lucky. It was useful to test these tyres.
We didn't find anything that made a huge difference but the information we got today should be useful to Michelin and help them with their development ahead of the next race in Misano. I'm looking forward to going there because I have never been to this track.”
Repsol Honda
