GFYT Sepang test day two notes

Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha Team Makes Good Progress in Malaysia

Reigning World Champion Valentino Rossi and his 2005 Yamaha team-mate Colin Edwards finished a second day of testing at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia today. Both riders completed a few laps on the 2005-spec prototype YZR-M1 but spent the majority of the day testing Michelin tyres with the 2004-spec bikes.

With the temperature peaking at 35 degrees, slightly lower than yesterday, the weather once again stayed dry throughout, allowing the team to complete an uninterrupted day of testing. The Yamaha Factory team was again joined on the track by the Suzuki test team of Nobuatsu Aoki and Kousuke Akiyoshi, the only other bikes testing.

Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha Team director Davide Brivio commented, "Valentino spent a little time on the 2005-spec bike again, before concentrating on testing Michelin tyres on the 2004 bike. Both riders tested quite a few tyres today and made some good progress with Michelin. Colin also had a chance to try the new bike, completing just a very few laps on it in order to find a good feeling. It was another productive day."

Rossi and Edwards completed 51 and 56 laps respectively, Rossi recording a best time of 2'02.44, while Edwards finished the day with a fastest lap of 2'02.41.

The team has one final day of testing tomorrow, and will then take a hard earned break during the MotoGP winter test ban period from 1 December to 20 January. The Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha Team will return to the Sepang circuit to continue its testing programme on 22 January.

<pre> TIMES: Colin Edwards Yamaha 2'02.41 56 laps Valentino Rossi Yamaha 2'02.44 51 laps Kousuke Akiyoshi Suzuki 2'03.80 Nobuatsu Auki Suzuki 2'05.02

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