Home favourite Dani Pedrosa, fastest with the new '08 on Wednesday, unexpectedly switched back to the '07 for the final day - and smashed his own Spanish GP pole position time by over one-second during two late qualifying tyre laps.

"Today we only worked on tyre testing with the 2007 machine because we have the most reference data for this," explained Dani. "We've got through a lot of work and this has been a profitable final test of the year."

Pedrosa's Thursday pace was also 1.4secs faster than his qualifying tyre lap with the '08 on Wednesday and the 2007 world championship runner-up hopes the new RC212V can be significantly improved during the winter test ban, which runs from December 1 to January 20.

"The HRC engineers have a lot of data to work with and can now prepare the machine for the next test sessions at the end of January. I think that we have quite a lot more work to do because we're still some way from where we'd like to be, but the signs are quite encouraging," he said.

"We have some time before the beginning of the 2008 season and there is plenty of scope for more improvements, so I hope we will use the time well. I have asked HRC for some similar things that I asked for in Valencia - plus many of the things from Valencia have been improved for this test. Now that there is some time we must focus on the areas that have not yet been improved," added the #26.

Team-mate Nicky Hayden did set his best time with the new '08 machine, just 0.286secs slower than Pedrosa.

However, after spending the test developing the '08 - known to be underpowered at present - Hayden was still instantly faster in terms of race pace when he made a late switch back to the '07, which was thought to have been retired after the recent Sepang test...

"We spent a big part of the day on the new RC212V and tried the machine with qualifying tyres for the first time," stated Nicky. "The lap time I did was pretty good and I really didn't expect to go that much faster than on race tyres, so I'm pretty happy.

"The one slightly frustrating thing was that I rode the new machine for the entire test except for the last hour today [when he switched back to the '07] and I immediately went faster by about four tenths faster on race tyres, which means we've got a bit of talking to do…

"There are still a few issues to iron out with the new [pneumatic valve] engine but Honda knows how to make engines so I'm confident about it. Plus the chassis on this new machine is really good and a big improvement.

"I guess you could say it's been a bad year, but it's certainly not a bad life and so we'll come back give it everything next season," he reflected. "A big thanks to all the team, sponsors and everyone who's given me support this year. I'm really excited about coming back in good shape for when things fire up again in Qatar for the night race."

Closest to the Repsol Honda riders on the final day was MotoGP rookie Jorge Lorenzo, who lapped 0.616secs slower than Hayden on his Fiat Yamaha. Ducati's world champion Casey Stoner didn't test after injuring his shoulder on day two.

Testing will resume at Sepang on January 22, 2008.