07/03/2010 20:54pm
The HM Plant Honda team completed its opening pre-season test at Cartagena today, with both Josh Brookes and Ryuichi Kiyonari making steady progress on the final day as they strived to close in on their championship rivals.
Brookes was able to improve his times in the final sessions of the test to run laps in the 1m35s band, as the team continued to make steps forward with the new electronics system. Returning champion Kiyonari was undeterred by a small crash and believes the developments made at Cartagena will put them in a strong position for the next test at Guadix on Tuesday.
Brookes said: “It has been a bit of a tough day as we haven’t been able to match the lap times of some of the other riders so it has been a bit frustrating, but I know that we have been making progress. The tests aren’t necessarily about setting the fastest lap times, but that is what you need to target and until we are able to match the pace I won’t be satisfied. We have had a lot to work on and the team have been busy in the garage; this afternoon we made some big steps forward and I was able to do 1m35.0s laps consistently so that was good.
“I felt much happier this afternoon and it has to be about consistency which was what we achieved towards the end of the day now we have made progress with the electronics and just general settings. I now feel we are ready to move on to Guadix and carry the momentum so we can finish the test satisfied that we have done everything possible in preparation for the start of the season.”
Kiyonari said: “I have been working steadily with the team as it is important to make progress every day. We have lots to work through and this takes time so we have been very busy on track and in the garage. I had a small crash this afternoon where the track was a bit slippery and maybe a bit dirty from the rain, but there was little damage and I was able to get back out. I haven’t set fast lap times today as we have been working on the engine, but I think I can find some more pace at Guadix and really improve at our next test.”
Brookes was able to improve his times in the final sessions of the test to run laps in the 1m35s band, as the team continued to make steps forward with the new electronics system. Returning champion Kiyonari was undeterred by a small crash and believes the developments made at Cartagena will put them in a strong position for the next test at Guadix on Tuesday.
Brookes said: “It has been a bit of a tough day as we haven’t been able to match the lap times of some of the other riders so it has been a bit frustrating, but I know that we have been making progress. The tests aren’t necessarily about setting the fastest lap times, but that is what you need to target and until we are able to match the pace I won’t be satisfied. We have had a lot to work on and the team have been busy in the garage; this afternoon we made some big steps forward and I was able to do 1m35.0s laps consistently so that was good.
“I felt much happier this afternoon and it has to be about consistency which was what we achieved towards the end of the day now we have made progress with the electronics and just general settings. I now feel we are ready to move on to Guadix and carry the momentum so we can finish the test satisfied that we have done everything possible in preparation for the start of the season.”
Kiyonari said: “I have been working steadily with the team as it is important to make progress every day. We have lots to work through and this takes time so we have been very busy on track and in the garage. I had a small crash this afternoon where the track was a bit slippery and maybe a bit dirty from the rain, but there was little damage and I was able to get back out. I haven’t set fast lap times today as we have been working on the engine, but I think I can find some more pace at Guadix and really improve at our next test.”
