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KONICA MINOLTA Honda starts the next phase of testing with their new Honda RC212V 800cc machine tomorrow at the Losail circuit in Qatar. With just two more scheduled tests to go before the start of the season, it’s vitally important that the entire schedule is completed before the 2007 race season begins on 10th March. Shinya Nakano arrives from Japan fully recovered from the stomach complaint that cut short his first day at the previous Phillip Island test. The team’s aim for this test is to further acquaint themselves with the new V4 Honda and test more tyres and settings in a bid to be in perfect shape for that first race which is less than four weeks away. The three-day test concludes on Thursday, but the team will not have much time to relax as the gruelling schedule continues the following Friday at Jerez in Spain for a further three days over the weekend of 23rd-25th February.
Gianluca Montiron – Team Manager KONICA MINOLTA Honda “These last two tests at Qatar and Jerez are very important to evaluate the gradual improvement of our package and by that the machine, rider, tyres and the team. I think we are ahead of schedule from the management side as we are one of few teams that re-confirmed the support of our sponsors so early, which helps enormously. As everything is new, the next two tests are vital if we are to be in a good condition to start the championship next month. Honda is the number one manufacturer in the world and I believe all Honda riders will have their chance to win and that includes Shinya. Already in the past we have showed that a rider can win even with a satellite machine. We intend to do more of that in 2007. â€
Shinya Nakano – Rider, KONICA MINOLTA Honda
“After being ill in Phillip Island, I feel much better now! After the tests so far this year I can say that we have already found a good base setting for the new 800cc bike and I am more familiar with the Michelin tyres. In Qatar I want to push harder and focus more on getting a good lap time. The Qatar circuit is not my favourite; it is too affected by weather conditions, temperature and the sand. In my experience with the track the first day has never been very good and only after time does the track become cleaner and the grip levels increase. Sand on track can be really dangerous, so I hope that we can get up to speed on the circuit from day one. I’m pleased, as when KONICA MINOLTA Honda’s Technical Director Giulio joined the team in Phillip Island, the internal organization of the team improved and we began to get through a lot of the work and that’s what we need to before the first race of the season next month. â€
Giulio Bernardelle – Technical Director, KONICA MINOLTA Honda
“Last time out in Phillip Island we found a good base set-up for the Honda RC212V, but we’ve still a little way to go to fully understand the character and potential of our new machine. In Qatar, we’ll continue this process of familiarising ourselves with the 800cc bike. Despite the hard work in the first test sessions we still need time to further refine the settings. Michelin is giving us a great support particularly in the development of the front tyre, so we’ll have a lot of material to test in the second and the third day at Losail. We expect that the track will be fast on the 800, so I wouldn’t be surprised for us to have similar lap times to last season’s race. This test session and the official IRTA tests in Jerez will be very important because the Qatar and Jerez GPs will take place just a few weeks later. â€
