At Catalunya 250cc IRTA test
Work is going on relentlessly in Catalunya.
While the 125cc riders are already on their way to Jerez for the second and last IRTA test of the year, after a day and a half lapping on the circuit of Catalunya, the 250cc are busy finding the best set- up to their 2006 machines.
Jorge Lorenzo ruled out the first session, held from 14h15 to 18h on Wednesday, clocking a fastest time of 1`47``622. The Fortuna Aprilia rider topped the timesheets ahead of fellow Aprilia riders Alex de Angelis and Héctor Barbera.

The first Honda rider was Andrea Dovizioso who took fifth, 0.7s away from Lorenzo. The Italian edged out Sebastian Porto by a clear margin. Both KTM of Aoyama and Poggiali were relegated to 18th and 19th.

A full day of action awaits the field on Thursday before it leaves the track.

Previously, Mika Kallio had set a record lap time of 1`50``489 sending a clear message to his rivals to the 125cc crown. KTM`s Finn rider dominated Lukas Pesek`s Derbi and both Aprilia Aspar riders Alvaro Bautista and Sergio Gadea.

“I am happy with this first confrontation with my rivals. We have to keep on working but we have a good base and I feel I have a competitive bike that will help me achieve good results. I set my fastest time in the last minutes when I finally found the right balance between the engine and the chassis set-up”, explained Czech rider Lukas Pesek.

World Champion Thomas Luthi came only tenth. The Swiss rider crashed and left Catalunya nursing a broken left collarbone. He will probably be out of action for the next couple of weeks, missing the Jerez IRTA test, but should be fit for the first race of the season.

Catalunya IRTA test - Official lap times 01/03/06 :
125cc
1. Mika Kallio – Red Bull KTM – 1`50”489
2. Lukas Pesek – Derbi Racing – 1`51”158
3. Alvaro Bautista – Master MVA Aspar – 1`51”356
4. Sergio Gadea – Master MVA Aspar – 1`51”365
5. Angel Rodriguez – 3C Racing – 1`51”382
6. Simone Corsi – S.C. Metis Gilera – 1`51”495
7. Julian Simon – Red Bull KTM – 1`51”499
8. Mattia Pasini – Master MV Aspar – 1`51”692
9. Pablo Nieto – Multimedia Racing – 1`51”743
10. Thomas Lüthi – Elit Caffe Latte – 1`51”821
...

250cc
1. Jorge Lorenzo – Fortuna Aprilia – 1`47”622
2. Alex De Angelis – Master MVA Aspar – 1`47”949
3. Hector Barbera – Fortuna Aprilia – 1`48”082
4. Jakub Smrz – Cardion AB Motoracing Aprilia – 1`48”317
5. Andrea Dovizioso – Humangest Honda – 1`48”374
6. Sebastian Porto – Repsol Honda – 1`49”032
7. Roberto Locatelli – Team Toth Aprilia – 1`49”082
8. Yuki Takahashi – Humangest Honda – 1`49”378
9. Marco Simoncelli – S.C Metis Gilera – 1`49”456
10. Arturo Tizon – Wurth Honda BQR – 1`49”476

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