Honda HRC Suzuka test - Day 1.

On the opening day of the 2 days HRC test at the Suzuka circuit, Japan, the Repsol Honda Riders and Team technicians spent their time finding optimum settings for the RC211 V - four stoke Honda.

Team Rider Valentino Rossi and Tohru Ukawa have virtually no Suzuka experience with the 5 cylinder 990cc RCV, and spent the majority of their time testing new parts for engine and suspension.

Tomorrow the test continues when the riders will develop new parts in ready-ness for the final pre-season test next week.

"At the beginning of the test I had problems with traction and the suspension settings," said Rossi. "But in the afternoon I began to understand better how to work on the RCV to find the best settings for me.

"Suzuka circuit is one of the most difficult tracks to set up a bike for racing. For example Suzuka feels much harder to work for me than Sepang. But after today I'm confident we are working in the right direction."

"Although I know the Suzuka circuit well, today we were slow to find good settings for the RCV. After discussing everything with Valentino we both understand the direction we should take with this machine.

"At the end of the day I was satisfied with my lap times and with the settings I found," said Ukawa. "I am sure that tomorrow we will progress further and I will set better times."

Team Fortuna Honda Gresini, also attended the Suzuka test. Team rider Daijiro Katoh, the reigning 250cc Champion, was testing the team NSR 500cc -four cylinder- two stroke for the first time at the 5.859 km long Japanese circuit. Daijiro Katoh set a time of 2m 07.3s