"I am very confident because I was able to ride consistently one second quicker than what I was able to achieve in yesterday's race, therefore I am quite satisfied with this starting point.

"I was also happy to work with my new team, they greeted me with a great enthusiasm and I was very thankful to them," he said.

"I am happy with how this first day of preparation has gone for the 2009 season which has started with many new things. Alex tried the new bike for the first time, while Toni has returned to ride a Honda," declared team manager Fausto Gresini.

"Above all, today has been the first day with the new tyre regulations. Alex has also had to settle into a working routine with his new technical team, working together with Antonio Jimenez, while Toni resumed working with Fabrizio Cecchini.

"It has been a day full of new things but it has been a positive day for us. Alex rode very well and for this I am satisfied. Toni started the process of reacclimatising himself to a Honda machine, a situation that he dealt with calmly, a method of working that I fully support."