Conditions were not perfect for the team's first pre-season test, with strong winds gusting across the track bringing sand and dirt from the nearby construction sites.
The third member of the team, Max Neukirchner, was absent from the test as a "gentleman's agreement" between the top teams means that only two riders per team are allowed to take part.
"I'm pretty happy with how today went and I spent the time learning about my bike and also getting to know my team properly,” said Nieto. “They are a great bunch and I'm really looking forward to working with them. We started the day with everything as the bike finished the 2007 season and we made good progress throughout the morning.”
In the afternoon session the team worked on exhaust and chassis changes which didn't work for Nieto as he went on to say: “In the afternoon we made some changes and I didn't get on with the bike as well. So we will look at the data this evening and decided where to start tomorrow. One thing that did excite me today is that I was able to pass Haga on the straight! It's probably the first time in three years that I've been able to do such a thing and it made me very happy. It was very windy and dusty today so I hope tomorrow will be a bit better and we can carry on the good work."
Kagayama was thrilled to be back in action now that he is fully recovered form his injury strewn season. "I am happy because it was as much a test of my body as the bike!” he said. “And I'm happy to say that my body feels ok after 55 laps and I didn't have any pain. It was very windy and that is a good test for the handling of the bike. It was also very dusty and dirty so I took it steadily - I did not want to crash!”
He also agreed with Nieto over the changes made in the afternoon saying: “When we tried a new exhaust, the feeling of the bike changed and we will need to make some more adjustments to get the bike working the way we want. We also tested quite a few tyres - some that we did not have time to try or use during the season - and some were good and some not so good. We will carry on our work and see what we can do."
