Yanagawa: The team stopped me going out!

While his team-mates were busy enjoying the impressive performance of the Kawasaki ZX-RR in the wet at Estoril yesterday, Japanese test rider Akira Yanagawa wasn't allowed to join them out on track, due to the tricky nature of the conditions.

It wasn't that they didn't trust Yanagawa, a seasoned World Superbike veteran, but more that they were worried about him aggravating his broken pelvis.

"When it rained in the afternoon, my team stopped me from going out again - I am supposed to still be very careful after breaking my pelvis at last year's Motegi Grand Prix," said Akira with a wry smile.

Prior to that point, Yanagawa was an impressive eighth fastest on his first visit to the Portuguese circuit.

"I did 20 laps on this track, and now I know my way around. It's bumpy, but I like it! The biggest problem was some pumping under acceleration, which we will try to fix tomorrow with another set-up for the rear shock," he explained.

Fortuna Yamaha star Marco Melandri separated his shoulder after falling in the wet conditions.