The final track action of 2006 has ended with MotoGP rookie of the year, Dani Pedrosa, putting Honda on top of the timesheets after three days of testing at Jerez.

The 21-year-old completed another full day's development work aboard his Repsol Honda RC212V on Thursday, before setting an impressive lap time of 1min 39.910secs with a qualifying tyre to end the test 0.213secs ahead of former world champion Valentino Rossi, who was fastest for the first two days.

Pedrosa, a double 2006 race winner, began the final day trying alternative chassis and engine settings as his crew gathered further data from the new prototype 800cc machine. Later in the afternoon Pedrosa carried out tyre testing for Michelin, finally taking the chance to complete a single lap on qualifiers. His best time was just 0.176s behind his qualifying time on the 990cc RC211V at the season-opening Spanish Grand Prix.

"Today we worked on just about everything again - chassis, engine, suspension and tyres," said Pedrosa. "We began with chassis and engine testing in the morning and then concentrated on testing tyres for Michelin. I used a qualifying tyre to set my fastest lap time and this is good because it's important to see how a new bike like the RC212V behaves on qualifiers too. Of course there's still plenty of work to do before the season starts but this was a positive test for us. Now I will relax a little over the winter break, before getting ready for the January tests."

Pedrosa's Jerez performance means that he has been fastest of all at two of the three test sessions held since the end of the 2006 racing season - and was forced to miss the other, at Sepang, due to arm surgery. Pedrosa's pace will also help reassure Honda, after its new V4 was worryingly beaten by both Suzuki and Yamaha last time out at Sepang.

Pedrosa's team-mate, and new world champion, Nicky Hayden missed the test due to shoulder surgery, but another Honda rider completed the Jerez top three in the form of Marco Melandri. The Italian finished his first 800cc test 0.4secs from Rossi to be the top Bridgestone rider, but Rizla Suzuki team-mates Chris Vermeulen and John Hopkins were in close pursuit - and claim to have been the quickest riders on race tyres.

Shinya Nakano completed a promising debut for the Konica Minolta Honda team with sixth fastest, 1.2secs from Pedrosa, while Rossi's Camel Yamaha team-mate Colin Edwards was seventh.

Pramac d'Antin's Alex Barros surprised by being the fastest Ducati rider on his 800cc debut - the Brazilian veteran edging out factory star Loris Capirossi and young team-mate Casey Stoner by over two-tenths of a second - while Honda test rider Tady Okada, Ducati test rider Vittoriano Guareschi and Ilmor hopefuls Jeremy McWilliams and Andrew Pitt rounded out the times.

However, McWilliams finished the day in hospital after sustaining multiple injuries - including possible fractures to his femur, collarbone and hand - during a heavy fall and is expected to undergo surgery on Monday (see separate story).

Meanwhile, delays due to day one rain meant that Chaz Davies was unable to make his planned MotoGP debut with Ilmor (see separate story).

The winter testing ban will now officially start on December 1 and last until January 20, 2007. Testing will then resume at Sepang on January 22.


Jerez test times – Thursday:

1. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team 1min 39.910 secs
2. Valentino Rossi ITA Camel Yamaha Team 1min 40.123 secs
3. Marco Melandri ITA Gresini Honda 1min 40.524 secs
4. Chris Vermeulen AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1min 40.766 secs
5. John Hopkins USA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1min 41.049 secs
6. Shinya Nakano JPN Konica Minolta Honda 1min 41.142 secs
7. Colin Edwards USA Camel Yamaha Team 1min 41.254 secs
8. Alex Barros BRA Pramac d'Antin MotoGP 1min 41.276 secs
9. Loris Capirossi ITA Ducati Marlboro Team 1min 41.492 secs
10. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team 1min 41.595 secs
11. Tady Okada JPN Honda 1min 43.392 secs
12. Vittoriano Guareschi ITA Ducati 1min 44.071 secs
13. Jeremy McWilliams GBR Ilmor SRT 1min 44.661 secs
14. Andrew Pitt AUS Ilmor SRT 1min 44.983 secs