The wait is over. Team San Carlo Honda Gresini has returned to track action after the traditional winter break, taking to the Sepang circuit in Malaysia.
Toni Elias and Alex De Angelis started pre-season preparations aboard the new Honda RC212V version 09 with a pneumatic valve engine.
Of particular note, Spanish rider Elias, making his return to Fausto Gresini’s team this year and on his debut with the factory spec Honda RC212, was the fastest of the Honda riders, including the official factory riders.
Toni set the fifth fastest time while his team-mate Alex De Angelis ended the session in twelfth place after a day of re-acclimatisation after two months of winter break.
Toni Elias , 2:02.886 ( 52nd lap of 52)
“I am very pleased to be back on track. I immediately found quite a good feeling with the bike. Being the first day back after a long break, our thought was just to put laps on the bike, to regain the rhythm and also to get a feel for the new engine. It is not easy to give 100% right away, but I am satisfied, both with the bike and with the team. This test session is very important with view to the coming season, and I am very motivated.”
Alex De Angelis, 2:04.396 (48nd lap of 53)
“Today it took me a bit of time to regain the riding rhythm. At Jerez I had tried the Nakano’s bike but this is much different both in terms of power delivery and chassis. I have to understand it better and to adapt myself a bit. In particular, I was not able to let go and to hug the corners as I would like, which prevented me from opening the throttle. We have different solutions to try though, and tomorrow I will continue to put kilometres on the clock and to understand and study the bike better.”
Fausto Gresini - Team Manager
“Finally, the 2009 season gets underway for Team San Carlo Honda Gresini: a very important season in which we can definitely play a competitive role with the bike and rider package that we have at our disposal. With the test calendar reduced by a lot, this session in Malaysia is even more important for pre-season preparations. Tomorrow and Saturday we will have other work to carry out to adapt ourselves to the new 2009 version RC212V with pneumatic valve engine.”
The official times:
1. L.Capirossi (Suzuki) 2:01.869
2. C.Stoner (Ducati) 2:02.038
3. V.Rossi (Yamaha) 2:02.324
4. C. Vermeulen (Suzuki) 2:02.803
5. T.Elias (San Carlo Honda Gresini) 2:02.886
6. Andrea Dovizioso (Repsol Honda Team) 2:03.088
7.C.Edwards (Yamaha) 2:03.254
8. Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team) 2:03.312
9. S.Gibernau (Ducati) 2:03.750
10. J.Lorenzo (Yamaha) 2:03.894
11. N.Hayden (Ducati) 2:04.002
12. A.De Angelis (San Carlo Honda Gresini) 2:04.396
13.M.Kallio (Ducati) 2:04.405
14 J.Toseland (Yamaha) 2:04.502
15. R.De Puniet (LCR Honda) 2:04.882
16. Y.Takahashi (Scot Honda) 2:05.098
17. N.Canepa (Ducati) 2:05.270
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