Repsol Honda factory rider Nicky Hayden put in another marathon stint of 77 laps making a total of 228 for the three-day test. The American, MotoGP World Champion in 2006, spent the day working hard on finding a perfect balance for the machine testing suspension and tyre combination. The team did a lot of work on the front forks but the rear link changes were restricted to spring rates.
Nicky Hayden, Repsol Honda: 2m 00.326s – 77 laps.
“Today’s gone a lot better than the last couple and we’re feeling positive, I feel like I’m a lot closer than I was a year ago here. This morning we checked the pneumatic valve engine, then we just focused on the standard engine and this year’s chassis, working on the general set-up. I used qualifiers for my fastest lap and they worked well. After that we did a batch of front tyres because one of my weak points here is that sometimes I struggle when this track gets hot. So I did a batch of tyres at the hottest part of the day to improve on that.
“We hadn’t really tested any tyres for Michelin here until today and we wanted to do a long run. That run was decent, probably the best thing I’ve done all week. I did the best lap I’ve ever done round here on race tyres on lap 18, a 2m 01.6s. At the end of three long days that wasn’t too bad. I used a 16.5 on that run but I’ve also been trying some 16 rears here.
“Now we go to Phillip Island which is quite a different track with some long corners, some high-speed stuff and a lot of changes of direction. The big thing there is tyres so it’ll be really important to do some more tyre work with Michelin there. We will also do some more work with the pneumatic-valve engine. I’ve got faith in Honda, so hopefully they can make us proud. I think it’s going to be a good season, there’s a lot of guys going fast, a lot of guys motivated. It’s an exciting time, everyone’s at zero.”
Test Times:
1. Nicky Hayden - Repsol Hrc 2:00.326
2. Casey Stoner - Ducati Marlboro 2:00.660
3. Jorge Lorenzo - Fiat Yamaha Team 2:00.766
4. Colin Edwards - Yamaha Tech3 2:01.179
5. John Hopkins - Kawasaki Racing 2:01.198
6. Valentino Rossi - Fiat Yamaha Team 2:01.425
7. Andrea Dovizioso - Jir Team Scot 2:01.447
8. James Toseland - Yamaha Tech3 2:01.745
9. Chris Vermeulen - Rizla Suzuki 2:01.748
10. Loris Capirossi - Rizla Suzuki 2:01.778
11. Randy De Puniet - Honda Lcr 2:01.873
12. Shinya Nakano - Honda Gresini 2:02.032
13. Alex De Angelis - Honda Gresini 2:02.198
14. Marco Melandri - Ducati Marlboro 2:02.725
15. Anthony West - Kawasaki Racing 2:02.978
16. Toni Elias - Alice Team 2:02.995
17. Olivier Jacque - Kawasaki Racing 2:03.030
18. Sylvain Guintoli - Alice Team 2:03.628
19. Niccolò Canepa - Ducati Test 2:03.703
20. Tamaki Serizawa - Kawasaki Racing 2:04.354
Repsol Honda rider Dani Pedrosa, who crashed at the Sepang test on the first day, went into the USP Institut Universitari Dexeus de Barcelona hospital straight from an overnight flight from Malaysia. Upon arrival and after the relevant diagnostic tests it was confirmed, by the team of doctors directed by, Head of the Hand Surgery and Microsurgery Unit, that Pedrosa has; “a fractured second metacarpal on his right hand with three diaphysary fragments, which are the bones found in the middle section of the metacarpian.”
The operation, which began at 14:00, consisted of, according to the statement made by Dr. Mir himself; “First reducing the fracture and then fixing the fracture with a seven holed titanium plate".
Dr. Xavier Mir later said that the operation proceeded without any untoward happening and was completed according to plan, he also indicated that if there are no post-operation complications, “the recovery of the hand`s functions will start within the next 72 hours".
Finally the surgeon emphasised the fact that; “Just when the rider will rejoin training and his usual sporting activities is unknown since in this type of case it is surprising how quickly top level professional sportsmen recover their abilities compared to the minimum period of the 6 weeks that are needed by most patients with the same kind of injury".
Pedrosa should be allowed to leave the hospital tomorrow at 12.30, and so that is when the press are invited to the press conference which the rider Dani Pedrosa himself will attend, he will be accompanied by Dr. Xavier Mir, Jefe de la Unidad de Cirugía y Microcirugía de la Mano de USP Institut Universitari Dexeus.
