Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
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Tamada Quick in Qatar MotoGP Test Vonia Minolta Honda's Makoto Tamada the Losail circuit in Qatar an impressive 2.3 seconds qukker than the pole position time set at the MotoGP there last October, the Japanese rider posting a I:57.63 to earn bragging rights as the qukkest of the qukk in the three-day test. "I'm very happy for what we have globally done in these three days since I have been the fastest rider during the second and the third day," Tamada said in a Honda release. "My major satisfaction, apart from the lap times we have obtained, is the feeling I found with the bike. We confirmed also on this circuit, after the performances during the Sepang and Phillip Island tests, that the package we have at our disposal for the season 2005 is at a highest level compared to the one we had the past season. Therefore, I'm very trustful and I hope to be able to always perform at the maxImum level during the season which is about to begin." The three-day test further showed just how competitive the 2005 MotoGP season is shaping up to be as the top six riders were on the same second - separated by just.72 of a second. Somewhat of a surprise at the Qatar test was Telef6nica Movi5tar Honda's Marco Melandri, the young Italian setting the second qukkest time - a 1:57.31 - to edge his teammate Sete Gibernau and Marlboro Ducati's Loris Capirossi by just .0 I of a second. "This three-day test session in Qatar was very positive for me," Melandri said. "I'm happy of the method of work we have used here. I believe that, mentally, I have done an important step forward. I have learned from the Australian test session, and I came here more relaxed and with I"apped 6 clear ideas. Today we made some small modifICations to the bike and worked a lot on tire testing. This afternoon, I made a racedistance endurance with very positive results: I lapped consistently in the low I:58s even at the end of the race. For me, it's very important to understand the bike and see how it changes on a race distance." Gibernau shook off the effects of the fever that plagued him in Qatar to set his fast time on the final day of the test. The Spaniard's illness restricted the number of laps he put in and the team elected to spend the time they had available to testing tires. "Considering my physical condition, I can be quite satisfied of the work done," Gibernau said. "We focused on tire testing, and even if I was not IOO-percent fit, Idid the minimum work reqUired for this test session. We are confirming the work done in Malaysia and Australia. There are still some things to improve, and I hope that there will be some new things for 8arcelona." The top non-Honda was the factory Ducati ridden by Capirossl, the Italian lapping at a time of 1:57.32 - identical to the lap turned in by Gibernau. "I am quite pleased with the work we have done over the past three days," Capirossi said in a team release. "We're still not 100-percent right with the front, but we are on the right path. The GP5 is also going really well on this track, and I am sure that the tires will show further improvement before we come here to race in October. I didn't want to use a qualifying tire because we concentrated on development work that was far too important to be distracted by the search for sensational times. We are working calmly; there will be time for that in the future." Nkky Hayden left Qatar full of confi- MARCH 16,2005 • CYCLE NEWS lori. Caplro.1i enclecl up fourth fa....ton hi. Martbcwo DucaIi. dence, the former AMA Superbike Champion right in the hunt with a time that was just .0 I of a second off Glbemau and Capirossi's best, and lust .70 off Tamada's best. Hayden's time was two seconds faster than his qualifying time from the Qatar GP in October. ':After three days here, we're really starting to put it all together," Hayden said. "I really enjoyed it here in Doha. There have been fewer riders around and we have really made some good progress. The conditions here have been good - less windy today. I'm back to Kentucky for a few days before coming back to Europe for the ronal tests before the season starts for real. I feel we're in good shape - the team is working real good, and the bike is working well." Nicky Hayden _ . again impressive In ....-son luting.