MotoReview

John Hopkins, Rizla Suzuki - 7th (1'43.970)

"We continued improving from where we left off yesterday. We worked really hard with Bridgestone to get the right compounds and put a lot of distance on the tyres. We had already done enough laps to make a race distance on one set of tyres and then we did a full race simulation on another set, maintaining our pace all the way through. I am still very happy with the way the Rizla Suzuki is improving, we still have a lot to do but it is certainly looking good at the moment. I am also extremely happy with my fitness, because after a decent amount of laps I was still feeling really good. It is all solid preparation for the first race and everything is going well."

Chris Vermeulen, Rizla Suzuki - 14th (1'45.001)

"My second day at the track felt a lot better, I was able to go out and feel more comfortable with the circuit. It was a lot colder this morning but the team worked really hard and we were able to make some changes to the bike - which seems to be in the right direction. I tried another new tyre from Bridgestone which was another step forward and I was able to go a second faster. If we can be another second quicker tomorrow I'll be up there with the fast guys - so we'll have to wait and see."

Nicky Hayden, Repsol Honda - 8th (1'44.029)

"We spent a lot of time working with the new chassis today and testing some improved parts that Honda has brought from Japan. The bike's now really stable on the brakes and turning into the corner is much better, so we're getting there. It's still moving around a bit on the exit of corners and better traction is something we're working on. We're moving forward though and we've still got a lot of stuff to try."

Dani Pedrosa, Repsol Honda - 10th (1'44.369)

"Today was good and not so good because we were making some progress, I was getting a better feel with the bike on this track, and then I crashed. Physically I'm ok but I think the bike is not in such good shape! I lost the front entering turn four and I think maybe it's because I was using too much brake into the corner. I went out again and I was able to get up to speed again so I feel ok."

Makoto Tamada, Konica Minolta Honda - 9th (1'44.246)

"The performance of today has got better, but we are still far from the top standing positions. It seems the fastest riders have found the right setting to obtain the best performances of the new 2006 tyres. Today, we have started testing the new rear Michelin tyres but, to be effective as I would like to be in the central phase of the corner, I still have some little problems to solve. At this juncture, the bike behaviour is completely different from last year and we need much more time to find the best configuration. Anyway, I am satisfied because I could verify that the global potential of our technical package is definitely high."

Kenny Roberts Junior, KR Honda - 11th (1'44.407)

"We just couldn't find grip with the new chassis early this morning and went back to the chassis we ran at the last Sepang test. That chassis has been modified and brought up to close on new bike spec. We got it too work pretty good and used the data on the new bike and ended the day with both chassis' working pretty much the same. But I don't think we will have two bikes with the same frames and performance before we get to the Jerez race."

Sete Gibernau, Ducati Marlboro - 5th (1'43.784)

"Today was a tough, tough day, very physically and mentally demanding but it's been good. We went through a lot of stuff and I'd like to thank the team and Bridgestone for giving 100 per cent and doing a great job. We are still working hard on the bike, we've still a way to go but we're definitely chipping away. We worked on geometry, electronics, tyres, everything. We are making the whole package better, more predictable, more consistent, and the tyres are giving me more driveability now, which is the whole ballgame."

Loris Capirossi, Ducati Marlboro - 13th (1'44.581)

"What a bad day. I didn't sleep all night, I was sick and had stomach pains, probably because of a virus. This morning the Clinica Mobile put me on a drip, but they advised me not to ride. Anyway, I wanted to test the set-up changes we'd made. I did just two outings and that was enough to realise we had taken the right direction because I faster straight away, even though I'm sick. This is very important for tomorrow. If the dry weather stays and I'm feeling better we will be able to fully exploit our last day here."

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