Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128206
It was a major triumph for the new Ducati, invading Japanese territory with all flags flying. The hour-long session-within-a-session to win the car was televised worldwide. Barros left the track worried, after dominating all the tests so far in the absence of Honda. "Looking at the top speed charts, Yamaha needs more horsepower, and I have already asked them for it," he said. "We know that the Honda is around 4 ks [2.5 mph] faster, and the Ducati's even faster than that." The defeated Rossi let fly a couple of broadsides. The first was to the organizers of the tests. "It was more like a 17th GP than a test, with just an hour session to try to perform," he said. "The whole test was nonsense. I wasn't able to try anything new." He also let fly at Barros. "It was interesting to see Alex," he said. "When there was something to fight for like the BMW, he was lost. That shows his psychological limitations." "I could have done better on my last lap, but I ran wide at the first corner," continued Rossi. "But I still don't think I could have beaten Loris. It is now clear that the championship is very equal and that Honda and our bike doesn't have any advantage." Biaggi also took the first opportunity to remind everyone that he has not got a full factory bike. "We found a better setup, but I am still not happy with the way it enters corners," Biaggi said. "The problems can be resolved with the new clutch part that other riders have already, but while I wait for it to arrive, I must make the most of what I have." Biaggi and the other production Honda riders do not have the latest drilled-for-cooling slipper clutch used by Rossi and the other factory riders. Those placed from 12th onward face a hard task in the year ahead. The next four were Olivier Jacque (Gauloises Yamaha), new recruit Nicky Hayden (Repsol Honda), Suzuki first-timer John Hopkins, seven tenths slower than Hayden, and Jeremy McWilliams, in a blinding effort on the Proton 500, the only two-stroke still in the field. at his home track and suffering one fall as a result, a disgruntled Rossi was fifth, saying later: "This test was a nonsense, but now I have to add Capirossi to my list of favorites for the season." Max Biaggi's Camel Honda (a production bike) was seventh behind Daijiro Kato's factory machine; then came Shinya Nakano (Yamaha) and Troy Bayliss (Marlboro Ducati). Class rookie Marco Melandri was 10th fastest, seven hundredths faster than his experienced teammate Carlos Checa, now 1.35 seconds slower than Capirossi. "I am really happy," said Capirossi. "I really wanted that [the BMW], and I rode at 110 percent, I went into a few corners too fast, but the bike still turned, no problem." (Top) Max Blaggi and the Camel-backed Honda V-five ended up seventh fastest at the test, with the Italian complaining about a lack of factory parts. (Above) Wearing his Barry Sheene tribute helmet, Valentino Rossi ended up fifth quickest during the two-elay test. (Left) John Hopkins wheelies the Suzuki en route to the 14th quickest time. (Below) Troy Bayliss had never been to Catalunya before. He ended up 10th fastest on his Marlboro Ducatl• ......,...........,....",...,=."., cue I ... n e _ s MARCH 26, 2003 9