The downsized PSG-1 Kawasaki team completed a promising three-day test at Phillip Island on Monday with
Regis Laconi and
Fonsi Nieto setting the joint fourth and joint sixth fastest lap times.
Both ZX10R riders made final day improvements, with former championship runner-up Laconi beating his team-mate by only a tenth of a second as the Frenchman matched
Troy Corser in lapping 1.5secs behind the untouchable
Troy Bayliss.
That came despite Laconi losing valuable Monday morning track time trying to fix a problem caused by his heavy day two fall.
"Not so bad, but the last day was difficult," he admitted. "We had a very small problem with the bike after yesterday's crash and until 11.30 or 12 I could not get my best chance to set a fast time and I missed the best track conditions. But I did a 1min 32.2secs and I am happy because I am sure in the right conditions it could have been better. We did not get the chance to do a big race simulation but I did many laps."
Nieto, who took his first WSBK podium in 2006, was also optimistic:
"Our bike is largely the same as last year, but every test it is getting better and better," declared the young Spaniard, who was tied with Suzuki's
Yukio Kagayama. "We have new suspension here and at the last test, different from last year, and it is working well. Every test we are nearer the strongest guys and we hope to fight for the podiums. Honestly, a two [instead of three] rider team is much better for us, we can work more clearly as a team. It makes things easier, and for sure it is much better."
