MotoReview

James Ellison (4th, 1'59.619, 16 laps)

"Overall I am really happy with how far we have come this weekend. I was a bit disappointed with the weather today because we made some huge steps forward yesterday and we had more plans for today, which we couldn't complete because of the rain. In fact we learnt a lot yesterday and improved by about two seconds, so who knows what we could have done today if the sun had shined! It was great to come to a track I really like and to enjoy riding again after hitting something of a wall in sepang. I've been more relaxed and have started to treat the bike a little more like 'my' bike - letting it move around a bit more. The tyres are generally feeling good for me. I tried some qualifiers yesterday but didn't really use them to my advantage and my best times throughout the weekend have been on race tyres. Anyway I was slightly praying for some rain at some point because I know how good the Dunlops are in the rain. It was a real boost to see the number 77 at the top of the screens for some time today during the qualifying session!"

Carlos Checa (8th, 2'00.551, 13 laps)

"We're quite satisfied and working very well together in the team. This has been a good test and we have worked hard on trying to improve the areas that we need to. Obviously it's very encouraging to have been so fast all weekend and it seems that the bike and tyres are working well here. The main area we have to concentrate on is the performance of the tyres after a few laps. Over a short distance everything is great but after six or seven laps it starts to get harder. At the moment it's hard to say what will happen in the race. This is the reality at the moment and it's something that Dunlop and Yamaha together are concentrating very hard on. I hope we will have some new tyres to try soon. My fall in the qualifying session was disappointing but it was the same for Valentino and Kenny Roberts, we all fell in the same place. Anyway I am not hurt and this is the most important thing. The M1 is very good although of course we have some more to do on the setting, and we'll keep working at this next week in Jerez. Anyway I am very pleased with the work we have done this weekend. We have a clear vision of where we need to go and everyone is very happy and enthusiastic about the job we have. We have a good base setting to work on throughout the season. We need to stay focused on the job in hand and I am confident that the results will come."

Herve Poncheral - Tech3 Yamaha Team Director

"This weekend has been incredible; far, far beyond our expectations. So far we've been to three tracks and the bike has behaved very well at all three. We've used more or less the same base setting in each place and it's worked well each time. This shows how good the M1 is and it has also allowed us to concentrate on tyre testing, which is the most important thing for us right now. Tonight I am a very, very happy Team Manager! We've been fast in the dry and in the wet. Carlos is the best thing that could have happened to the Team. He's brought so much to us. He is as enthusiastic as a beginner, but with all the talent and knowledge of experience. He has helped everyone so much and he is the best possible thing also for James. Before there was so much pressure on James, but now Carlos is showing him the way and showing what's possible with this bike and our Dunlop tyres. James has access to all Carlos' data and this weekend he has improved each day. He knows what he has to do. We have the best possible combination between a young, talented rider with a lot to learn but great potential and an older rider with great experience who is hungry for results."