MotoGP news

Nakano happy with progress made in Qatar

The Konica Minolta Honda Team made more progress on the third and final day of the MotoGP tests here in Qatar. With the season opener taking place at the Losail track in less than a month's time, it was important that the team worked hard with rider Shinya Nakano and the new 800cc Honda RC212V.

The team worked hard to get a good set-up for the bike and test a selection of Michelin tyres in preparation for the 2007 season opener here on 10th March. The 29-year-old Japanese rider did a total of 73 laps today and improved his time by about three-tenths of a second to record a best lap of 1.56.980.

Speaking about this week's work in Qatar rider Shinya Nakano commented: "During these three days on the Losail track, I did the best I could and rode hard. I'm happy about the level of feeling I'm now getting from the front tyre, as this was our target during this test and we've achieved that. Every test I make with the new bike, I'm able to make a further step forward and I hope to move ahead again next week during the IRTA test. This is vital if I'm to be in the best shape for the first race of the season here in Qatar in 2007."

Next weekend the Team will travel to Jerez in southern Spain where they will join the majority of MotoGP teams at the official IRTA tests. This three-day session over Friday to Sunday will be the final tests of the year before the season begins at the Losail circuit on 10th March.

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