Ducati top 3-day test

Loris Capirossi has made a good start to the MotoGP season, taking the fastest time on all three day’s of the unofficial test in Sepang.

The Malaysian test saw all the top teams in attendance with Honda’s Sete Gibernau taking the second fastest time for the second day in a row, but it was Capirossi that stole the limelight with a best lap of 2: 00.54, knocking 1.3 seconds off the circuits official pole record.

“These were three positive days, especially because we were able to get down to some real testing” declared Capirossi. “We worked methodically on the suspension settings and tyres and managed to find the right balance. I’m very satisfied with the latest technical innovations: the chassis, the swing-arm and the ECU have all made improvements to the Desmosedici. I have to admit that it’s great to be competitive!”

World Champion Valentino Rossi set the third fastest time after 45 laps on a 2005 spec Yamaha M1 with the Hondas of Nicky Hayden and Max Biaggi taking fourth and fifth.

Hayden and Biaggi were both running their 2004 machines to let them test some development parts for the 2005 machine.

Capirossi’s Ducati team-mate Carlos Checa was layed up in bed for the final two days of the test after what was thought to be a reaction to some pain killing medication.

Unofficial times:

1. Loris Capirossi (Ducati) 2:00.54

2. Sete Gibernau (Honda) 2:01.21

3. Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) 2:01.36

4. Nicky Hayden (Honda) 2:01.68

5. Max Biaggi (Honda) 2:01.91

6. Colin Edwards (Yamaha) 2:01.93

7. Shinya Nakano 2’02.7

8. Toni Elías (Yamaha) 2:02.80

9. Alex Hofmann (Kawasaki) 2.03.7

10. Rubén Xaus (Yamaha) 2:04.00