The fastest Honda rider for a long time
The rider of the Konica Minolta Honda Team back on his bike again on the first of the last three days of the Official IRTA test scheduled on the track of Jerez de la Frontera.
The weather forecast have been respected, a sunny day with air temperature over 20°C and nearly 30°C on the ground. This weather condition, if maintained, will permit to test with a climate similar to that MotoGP will find next March 26th , here in Jerez, in occasion of the first World Championship GP.

Makoto Tamada completed a total of 69 laps fixing the best result in 1.42`558. The Konica Minolta Honda Team technicians have been focused in the search of the best setting of the rear suspension using exclusively latest generation Michelin tyres.

After five in the afternoon, Makoto Tamada slipped when exiting the corner number 2; at that point the Konica Minolta Honda Team preferred to interrupt the work.

Makoto Tamada – Konica Minolta Honda Rider (1.42`558 – 69 laps)
“Today we could carry out a very important day of test apart from my fall occurred at the end of the day. For a long time I have been the fastest Honda rider but it gives me no satisfaction because even here, as in Catalunya, the gap from the first positions is remarkable. We still have to work before I find a good feeling with my new bike, especially in the central part of the corner. In this phase, the behaviour is not as natural as I would and I think this is the reason of my slip.”

Giulio Bernardelle – Konica Minolta Honda Technical Director
“We have deeply verified the setting of the bike rear suspension and set-up starting from the basic solution we defined in Sepang. The telemetry data analysis showed that Makoto is fastest than last year in some parts of the track while we loose too much in the sections where riding is demanding, as we are not still able to easily cover the ideal line. In other words, Tamada is still obliged to force intensely the bike and this prevents him to be constantly efficacious. Tomorrow and Sunday we should have all the time to solve this problem.”

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