Cataluyna times

[R1 Biker]

Valentino Rossi was the standout rider on a day which saw the start of the MotoGP Official Test for the premier class of MotoGP. Following on from the 125cc and 250cc categories’ sessions at the Circuit de Catalunya, the teams took to the track for the first of three days of testing.

After John Hopkins and Colin Edwards started promisingly at the start of the day, it was World Champion Rossi who lead the table at 1pm local time. The Camel Yamaha rider had taken to the track just after 12.30, and within six laps he was already heading the leaderboard, putting in a fastest lap of 1’44.571 on the M1. He later improved further on the time, riding in at 1’43.608 on his 23rd lap, before deciding to finish his day after a crash at around 3.30pm.

Teammate Colin Edwards finished the day in second after another strong test showing, whilst Carlos Checa continued to impress on the Yamaha. The Spaniard is certainly repaying the faith placed in him by the Tech3 team, finishing the day third with a time of 1’44.070, ahead of Hopkins and Nicky Hayden.

************************************************** **********

Yamaha Press release

Rossi and Edwards top first official tests at Catalunya

Spain, Circuit de Catalunya
10/3/2006

Camel Yamaha Team riders Valentino Rossi and Colin Edwards made their first
formal track appearances of the year today as the MotoGP Official Tests got
underway at the Montmelo circuit in Catalunya. The traditional pre-season
curtain raiser runs for three days, with a timed 40-minute session determining
the winner of a new car in an exciting climax to the action on Sunday afternoon
at 1405h.

Sporting their new bright-yellow Camel livery, both Rossi and Edwards were in
sparkling form throughout the day, dominating the time sheets and ending the
session with the quickest times. With barely any changes made to the base set-up
of their 2006 version YZR-M1 machines following recent tests, the Italian and
the American were quickly on the pace despite brisk morning temperatures,
backing up impressive results in contrasting conditions at Sepang and Qatar. A
positive first day for Yamaha was completed by Carlos Checa (Tech 3 Yamaha), who
sealed the third fastest time on only his third appearance for the team.

Valentino Rossi (1st, 1'43.608, 54 laps)
"The first day here in Catalunya has been very positive. The weather has been
better than we expected, especially in the afternoon, so the tyres were running
at the right temperature to be enable us to understand the performance of the
bike. The data we are gathering will not be much use for the race here in May
because it will be so much warmer, but at least we are moving forward with the
setting of the bike. I'm pleased because the lap times have been very fast -
this is the third track we have ridden at with the 2006 machine and we have been
very competitive at all of them. Since 20th January we have been thinking
exclusively about race one on 26th March and we will continue with this attitude
for the rest of the test."

Colin Edwards (2nd, 1'44.063, 66 laps)
"We didn't change too much with the bike today - just rolled out what we had at
Sepang to see how it worked. It was freezing this morning but we did some tests
for Michelin and things just got better and better for the rest of the day. I'm
happy with the bike, I'm happy with everything really, but as good as it looks
and feels we still have a lot of work to do. It's nice to be running up at the
top from the start and I must admit it's hard not to have one eye on the car on
Sunday! I don't know what I would do with it if I won but we'll figure that out
when it comes!"

Davide Brivio - Camel Yamaha Team Director
"It is a positive surprise to see three Yamahas at the top of the time sheets
and of course we are all very pleased. It's only the first day of a long test
but we hope it is a good sign of things to come. Things ran very smoothly today,
we continued working to our testing programme, on the setting and on the tyres.
The base setting seems to work well - this is the third circuit with this bike
and it's encouraging that it has worked so well in so many different conditions.
Both riders look relaxed and concentrated on the job at hand so let's just keep
working this way!"


Lap Times:
1. Valentino Rossi (ITA) Camel Yamaha Team, 1'43.608
2. Colin Edwards (USA) Camel Yamaha Team, 1'44.063
3. Carlos Checa (SPA) Tech 3 Yamaha, 1'44.070
4. John Hopkins (USA) Rizla Suzuki MotoGP, 1'44.197
5. Nicky Hayden (USA) Repsol Honda Team, 1'44.209
6. Shinya Nakano (JPN) Kawasaki Racing Team, 1'44.399
7. Sete Gibernau (SPA) Ducati Marlboro Team, 1'44.556
8. Marco Melandri (ITA) Fortuna Honda, 1'44.672
9. Toni Elias (SPA) Fortuna Honda, 1'44.702
10. Makoto Tamada (JPN) Konica Minolta Honda, 1'44.721
11. Kenny Roberts (USA) Team Roberts, 1'44.868
12. Dani Pedrosa (SPA) Repsol Honda Team, 1'45.011
13. Randy de Puniet (FRA) Kawasaki Racing Team, 1'45.111
14. Loris Capirossi (ITA) Ducati Marlboro Team,1'45.253
15. Chris Vermeulen (AUS) Rizla Suzuki MotoGP, 1'45.968
16. James Ellison (GBR) Tech 3 Yamaha, 1'46.217
17. Jose Luis Cardoso (SPA) D'Antin Pramac, 1'46.603
18. Alex Hoffman (GER) D'Antin Pramac, 1'46.606
19. Vittoriano Guareschi (ITA) Ducati, 1'47.379


Catalunya Lap Record: Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) 2005 - 1'43.195
Catalunya Best Lap: Sete Gibernau (Honda) 2005 - 1'42.337