On the opening day of the 2 days HRC test at the Suzuka circuit, Japan, the Repsol Honda Ridꦰers and Team technicians spe🐬nt their time finding optimum settings for the RC211 V - four stoke Honda.

Team Rider Valentino Rossi and Tohru Ukawa have virtually no Suzuka experience with the 🦩5 cylinder 990cc RCV, and spent the ♊majority of their time testing new parts for engine and suspension.

Tomorrow the test continues when the riders will develop new parts in ready-ness for the final pre-season test next week.

"At the beginning of the test I had problems with traction and the suspension settings," said Rossi. "But in the afternoon I began to understand better how to worಌk on the RCV to find the best settings for me.

"Suzuka circuit is one of the most difficult tracks to set up a bike for racing. For example Suzuka feels much harder to work for me than Sepang. But after today I'm confident we are working in the right direction."

"Although I know the Suzuka circuit well, today we were slow to find good🌃 settings for the RCV. After discussing everything with Valentino we both understand the direction we should take wi🌃th this machine.

"At the end of the day I was﷽ satisfied with my lap times and with tꩲhe settings I found," said Ukawa. "I am sure that tomorrow we will progress further and I will set better times."

Team Fortuna Honda Gresini, also attended the Suzuka test. Team rider Daijiro Katoh, the reigning 250cc Champion, was testing the team NSR 500cc ᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚ-four cylinder- two stroke for the first time at the 5.859 km long Japanese circuit. Daijiro Katoh set a time of 2m 07.3s