Roberts enjoys 'incredible' KR211V debut.

After spending the past seven years at Suzuki, former 500cc World Champion Kenny Roberts Jr took a real step into the unknown at Sepang today when he completed his first ever laps with the brand new RCV powered 'KR211V' - which the American will race for his father's team in the 2006 MotoGP World Championship.

Monday was a set aside as a preliminary shakedown for the new creation, but team and rider were still delighted with the results as Kr Jr set a best lap time within 1.61secs of fastest man, and reigning world champion, Valentino Rossi.

That pace was enough to place Roberts above both factory Kawasakis, both d'Antin Ducatis, the Fortuna Honda of Toni Elias and the Suzuki of Chris Vermeulen. Indeed, Roberts was only 0.064secs slower than his fastest race lap on a factory GSV-R at last September's Malaysian Grand Prix.

"The Honda engine is incredible!" beamed Roberts Jr after his 55 laps. "You hear a lot said about the power and response of the Honda engine but you have to experience it to believe it. It's a really user-friendly engine, very smooth it has exceeded all my expectations. The chassis can improve and we have identified the areas that we need to work on, it's only the first day we have tested the bike."

Having taken on the Japanese manufacturers first with his own engines and then an ill-fated campaign with the Austrian KTM engines last year, Kenny Sr was equally delighted by the KR211V's debut performance.

"There are just not enough words to describe how I felt when Kenny Junior came in early in the test to say just how he felt about the engine and the bike," revealed Kenny Senior. "It was a great moment for me and the team because we knew we were back in the good times and competitive which is something we have not been for many years. We were nervous about it before today but Kenny's and the performance of the Honda engine made us all realise we are right back in it.

"The last few years have been really tough and frustrating for Kenny Junior and everybody has their opinions about it. I admire the way he kept cool because it was a very frustrating time for him. I would have not been the same because I'm a lot more aggressive in pit lane.

"Last year I think he would have won the Chinese Grand Prix in the rain until he had mechanical problems and I think podium finishes for him and the team this season are an absolute possibility. It's early days and it's going to be a very competitive season but the first day of testing on a new bike does not get a lot better than this," concluded the former triple 500cc world champion.