MotoGP testing: Day two

Makoto Tamada and Loris Capirossi are both claiming the unofficial fastest lap from the second day of a three-day MotoGP test at Losail in Qatar.

Both riders set a time of 1:57.69, over a second quicker than the pole position time of Carlos Checa at the Qatar round in 2004. Both riders achieved their times while also working hard on machine development. Tamada, on the Konica Minolta Honda RC211V, began with testing chassis and suspension improvements before testing Michelin tyres. Capirossi, meanwhile, tried a number of different gearbox settings for his Ducati Desmosedici before testing a number of Bridgestone front tyres.

Nicky Hayden, the fastest rider on day one, improved slightly to finish third fastest, just in front of Repsol Honda team-mate Max Biaggi. Sete Gibernau began testing and finished the day with the ninth quickest time after missing the first day with a fever. Also improving were the Camel Honda riders Alex Barros and Troy Bayliss, with Bayliss taking over two seconds off his time from the previous day.

Testing will finish for the teams on Thursday, March 3, apart from the Camel Honda squad who will stay for an extra day at the track.

Unofficial lap times:

Makoto Tamada, Konica Minolta Honda, 1:57.69.

Loris Capirossi, Malboro Ducati, 1:57.69.

Nicky Hayden, Repsol Honda, 1:57.78.

Max Biaggi, Repsol Honda, 1:57.79.

Marco Melandri, Movistar Honda, 1:57.80.

Alex Barros, Camel Honda, 1:57.89.

Carlos Checa, Malboro Ducati, 1:57.90.

Troy Bayliss, Camel Honda, 1:58.55.

Sete Gibernau, Movistar Honda, 1:58.66.

Roberto Rolfo, D’Antin Ducati, 2:03.00.