Marco Melandri scores the third fastest time while Toni Elias continues his apprenticeship on the RC211V.
MotoGP action resumes at Sepang, Malesia for the first testing session of the 2006 season that will start officially on March the 26th at Jerez de la Frontera, Spain.
All the MotoGP protagonists, together with their technical staff, gathered at Sepang for a three day testing session in preparation of a demanding championship.
Today, the two Fortuna Honda riders went on track with the RC211V - 2006 version. Marco Melandri, 2005 Vice World Champion, concentrated on the setting of the bike. He made 69 laps to recover the rhythm after the winter break and scored the third fastest time of the day. While his team mate, the Spaniard Toni Elias, carried on his apprenticeship on the RC211V. He tried different setting solutions in order to find a good feeling with the bike.
Marco Melandri (69 laps, 2'02"29):
"I really looked forward to go back on my RC211V. This morning I lapped to recover the rhythm after the winter pause. Then I concentrated on the bike setting and finally I could make some tyre testing. I'm happy with the feeling of the bike and I like the bike. I'm quite confident."
Toni Elias (60 laps, 2'03"8):
"Today it was the first time for me that I could ride a bike after the operation I had at the left hand one month ago. Today my left hand hurt a little bit but I could manage to complete 60 laps. At this moment, for me it's very important to lap in order to understand and know the bike. I am not pushing too much and I'm not looking for the fast time. Today we tried some different setting solutions and tomorrow we will carry on working with this method. I'm very happy to be back at work."
