Makoto Tamada has fired yet another warning shot to his 2005 MotoGP rivals by putting a sizable 0.68secs between himself and the best of the rest on the third and - for all but the Camel Honda team - final day of pre-season testing at Qatar.



The Konica Minolta Honda rider had been tied with Ducati Marlboro's Loris Capirossi for the top spot after two days of action - in which the top eight were separated by less than a second - but broke away from the field with a new unofficial circuit record of 1min 56.63secs.

That time was a full 1.06secs quicker than he had managed yesterday and put the double 2004 race winner 0.68secs clear of nearest rival Marco Melandri on the end of day timesheets. It also marks the second time, after Sepang II, in which a pre-season test has finished with the new Michelin backed rider on top.

"I'm very happy for all we have done in these three days since I have been the fastest rider during the second and the third day," stated Tamada after his 77 Thursday laps. "My biggest satisfaction, apart from the lap times we have obtained, is the feeling I have found with the bike.



"We confirmed also, 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 compare to the one we had the past season," he added. "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."

Such a fast time, and the sudden sizable gap between Tamada and the rest of the field, would suggest that the Japanese was using a qualifying tyre for his best lap.

The JiR team didn't directly refer to whether their RCV had been in qualifying spec, but Camel Honda team principal Sito Pons was in no doubt: "Apart from Tamada, who used qualifying tyres for his lap time, the gap between the top riders is small," said the Spaniard at the end of day three.

Nevertheless, qualifying tyres or not, the mood within the Konica camp was overwhelmingly positive as they prepared to return to Europe:

"Today Makoto demolished the best time obtained on this circuit last season by Checa, being over 2.3-seconds faster," said a proud Giulio Bernardelle, technical director of the Konica Minolta Honda team. "The results achieved during this test are simple to analyse as we only need to check the lap times.

"It doesn't happen often, when everything goes well - as it has in the three days we have spent here. Our impression is that we have found a great basic setting concerning the bike's frame and suspensions," he added. "In the last two tests we'll have before the beginning of the season, we'll mostly concentrate on the honing of the setting of the engine's electronics."

Following Tamada and Melandri on the day three timesheets was the second Telefonica Movistar Honda of Sete Gibernau and top Ducati rider Capirossi, both of whom were tied for third - just 0.01secs behind Melandri.

The only riders that can now deprive Tamada of the top spot at Qatar are Camel Honda team-mates Alex Barros and Troy Bayliss who are the only riders scheduled to continue testing tomorrow (Friday).

Camel Honda aside, the next time the teams present at Qatar will be in action is at the Barcelona IRTA test on March 18-20. Meanwhile, main rivals Yamaha - who chose not to test at Qatar - will next be on track at the Phillip Island circuit in Australia from March 9-11.

Qatar test times – Thursday:

1. Makoto Tamada JPN Konica Minolta Honda 1min 56.63secs

2. Marco Melandri ITA Telefonica Movistar Honda 1min 57.31secs

3. Loris Capirossi ITA Ducati Marlboro 1min 57.32secs

3. Sete Gibernau SPA Telefonica Movistar Honda 1min 57.32secs

5. Nicky Hayden USA Repsol Honda 1min 57.33secs

6. Carlos Checa SPA Ducati Marlboro 1min 57.35secs

7. Alex Barros BRA Camel Honda 1min 57.38secs

8. Max Biaggi ITA Repsol Honda 1min 57.94secs

9. Troy Bayliss AUS Camel Honda 1min 58.18secs

10. Roberto Rolfo ITA D'Antin Ducati 1min 59.74secs

Qatar test – Overall best times:

1. Makoto Tamada JPN Konica Minolta Honda 1min 56.63secs

2. Marco Melandri ITA Telefonica Movistar Honda 1min 57.31secs

3. Loris Capirossi ITA Ducati Marlboro 1min 57.32secs

3. Sete Gibernau SPA Telefonica Movistar Honda 1min 57.32secs

5. Nicky Hayden USA Repsol Honda 1min 57.33secs

6. Carlos Checa SPA Ducati Marlboro 1min 57.35secs

7. Alex Barros BRA Camel Honda 1min 57.38secs

8. Max Biaggi ITA Repsol Honda 1min 57.79secs

9. Troy Bayliss AUS Camel Honda 1min 58.18secs

10. Roberto Rolfo ITA D'Antin Ducati 1min 59.74secs

Comparative lap times:
Qatar Grand Prix – 2/10/2004:

Pole position: Carlos Checa SPA Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha 1min 58.988secs

Fastest laps:

Honda: Colin Edwards USA Telefonica Movistar Honda 1min 59.293secs

Ducati: Loris Capirossi ITA Ducati Marlboro 1min 59.875secs

Article from: Crash.Net