San Carlo Gresini Honda rider Alex De Angelis was one of the quick to learn brigade. The young Sanmarinese had tested at the circuit in November and was impressed with the improvements made in the meantime. Once his night vision was dialed in De Angelis used the base set up the team have established for the MotoGP Rookie’s RC212V to test tyres for Bridgestone testing both soft and medium compounds.His San Carlo Honda team-mate, Japanese star Shinya Nakano took longer to adjust to the experience but after two hours he felt confident enough to test a variety of tyres in combination with suspension settings.
The San Carlo Gresini Honda squad continued their solid pre-season progress with both riders setting consistent fast times all day while testing tyres for supplier Bridgestone. MotoGP debutante De Angelis has been a revelation aboard the big 800cc RC212V four-stroke so far this winter. The young Sanmarinese was holding second place on the time sheets at one point eventually ending the day with eighth fastest time. De Angelis’ team-mate, Japanese star Shinya Nakano has found a spiritual home at Gresini Honda and his lap times reflect the progress he has made by switching to the vastly experienced San Carlo sponsored team. Nakano ended his day four-tenths of a second behind De Angelis.
The San Carlo Gresini Honda team were again in top form in today’s IRTA ‘Official’ pre-season MotoGP test shoot out with Shinya Nakano working off the dry weather base set up of yesterday. Japanese star Nakano came into the pit early in the session to soften up the suspension slightly before returning to the track to set sixth fastest time in the shoot-out.