MotoGP

Rain changes plans on Phillip Island day two

When the rain appears in a test day, it spoils all predetermined work and lap times become meaningless, and that was what happened in the second day of activity for the FIM Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix (MotoGP) held on the Phillip ...

Published: Feb 9, 2006, 1:31 PM

Copy link

Share on Facebook

Share on Twitter

Share on WhatsApp

Share on Linkedin

Share on Pinterest

Share on Viber

Add as a preferred source

When the rain appears in a test day, it spoils all predetermined work and lap times become meaningless, and that was what happened in the second day of activity for the FIM Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix (MotoGP) held on the Phillip Island track, where Shinya Nakano set the fastest lap on a Kawasaki.

With the conditions, the Honda (Repsol and Fortuna) teams, Kawasaki and Ducati dedicated the day to testing their new bikes on a wet track for the first time, as getting good setup was the main target in the pits.

"I didn't complete so many laps today, but we did end the day with a wet set-up on the new bike that I'm happy with, so it was a worthwhile test for me", stated Nakano, who spent his day working on the reactions of the new Ninja ZX-RR.

The Japanese rider set a time of 1m42.6 after 27 laps around the Australian circuit.

Randy de Puniet was in charge of the second Kawasaki. The former 250cc rider, who will debut in MotoGP this season was focused on adding experience driving the Ninja ZX-RR for the first time in rainy conditions.

The Repsol Honda team with Nicky Hayden and 250cc World Champion, Dani Pedrosa, used the day to check the RC211V on the wet track and the results were positive.

"These laps in the wet are useful for sure, but it would be nice to get a dry day tomorrow because we have some work to do", was the honest comment of Hayden.

The American rider set a time of 1m42.62 and was the one who completed the most laps: 47. Pedrosa stayed cool in the rain and was two seconds slower than his teammate with 1m44.87 in 32 laps.

Fortuna Honda team worked with similar intentions to Repsol: they used the time to test the bike in the rain.

Marco Melandri completed just laps 19 and felt comfortable with the RC211V in wet tyres, while teammate Toni Elias used 45 laps to get an idea of the Honda in such conditions.

The Ducati Marlboro team took a light day with Loris Capirossi riding just 10 laps and Sete Gibernau staying in the pits, preferring not to takes any risks with the Desmosedici GP6.

All teams and riders will now wait to have a nicer sky tomorrow that will allow then to carry on with the shedule work in Phillip Island for their final test day at the circuit.

We want your opinion!

What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?

Take our 5 minute survey.

- The Motorsport.com Team

Read and post comments

Read also :

Share Or Save This Story

Copy link

Share on Facebook

Share on Twitter

Share on WhatsApp

Share on Linkedin

Share on Pinterest

Share on Viber

Previous article Tech 3 Yamaha signs Carlos Checa

Next article Back on a bike, Rossi on top in Qatar

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

View More & Comment

More from

Randy de Puniet



Former LCR MotoGP rider joins team in MotoE

MotoE

MotoE

Former LCR MotoGP rider joins team in MotoE



De Puniet becomes KTM tester for rest of 2018

MotoGP

MotoGP

Austrian GP

De Puniet becomes KTM tester for rest of 2018



KTM's MotoGP bike completes Jerez test

MotoGP

MotoGP

KTM's MotoGP bike completes Jerez test

Latest news



Catching Larson in the NASCAR Chase has to start at track where 'I suck'

NASCAR Cup

NAS NASCAR Cup

Phoenix II

36 min

Catching Larson in the NASCAR Chase has to start at track where 'I suck'



Verstappen charges from 24th to ninth as GetSpeed wins Portimao GTWC finale

GT World Challenge Europe Endurance

WCEE GT World Challenge Europe Endurance 1 h

Verstappen charges from 24th to ninth as GetSpeed wins Portimao GTWC finale



Colton Herta “maybe underestimated the difference” from IndyCar – F2 boss

FIA F2

F2 FIA F2 5 h

Colton Herta “maybe underestimated the difference” from IndyCar – F2 boss



WEC Barcelona: Genesis secures maiden series pole from Toyota

WEC

WEC WEC

Barcelona

6 h

WEC Barcelona: Genesis secures maiden series pole from Toyota

Feature

Discover prime content



MotoGP riders could get what they want, and fast, if only they would stand together

MotoGP

Indonesian GP

By Richard Asher

MotoGP riders could get what they want, and fast, if only they would stand together



Five things we learned from MotoGP's brutal Indonesian Grand Prix

MotoGP

Indonesian GP

By Richard Asher

Five things we learned from MotoGP's brutal Indonesian Grand Prix



The contrasting tactics used by Ducati and Aprilia in MotoGP 2026 title fight

MotoGP

Japanese GP

By Rachit Thukral

The contrasting tactics used by Ducati and Aprilia in MotoGP 2026 title fight



Five things we learned from MotoGP Japanese GP after tyre drama

MotoGP

Japanese GP

By Rachit Thukral

Five things we learned from MotoGP Japanese GP after tyre drama

Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.

From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.

You have 2 options:

Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here

Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page

Manage Alerts

Subscribe