konica56.jpgThe low temperatures of this morning obliged the new KONICA MINOLTA Honda Team rider, Shinya Nakano, to take the first contacts with the new Honda RC212V equipped with Michelin tires only around midday.

The Japanese rider entered the track three times and covered seventeen laps in total, then, a rain shower led the Team technical staff to stop the session in advance and postpone the working programme to the next two days hoping in the forecasted weather improvements. The first day of test had to permit Shinya to get a correct position on the new 800cc bike and make comments on the technical package but, the seventeenth laps covered, are not sufficient to give an unbiased opinion. At this point, Nakano and the KONICA MINOLTA Honda Team staff will remain in Spain until November 30th and use the third day of test.

For the debut of Nakano, the KONICA MINOLTA Honda Team presented the Honda RC212V with the new, almost finalized, 2007 livery generating favourable comments among those present.

Gianluca Montiron – KONICA MINOLTA Honda General Director - “Apart from the few laps covered today, we are really satisfied with the first contact we had with the 2007 reality even if we wanted to remain longer on track to get a clearer idea of our potential. I’m grateful to all sponsors for their support throughout the past season and for their will to stay with us for the next championship challenge. Nakano joined our family and we immediately appreciated his professional approach to this new adventure. This represents a great motivation for our working group and incites us to try to make further efforts to obtain remarkable results.”

Shinya Nakano – KONICA MINOLTA Honda Rider (1’46.200 – 17 laps) - “Early this afternoon, the rain shower did not allow me to carry out the programme of work we planned; anyhow, the seventeen laps I covered permitted me to realize that the new Honda RC212V is very compact and suits my size perfectly. The engine is smooth and easy to control. I was also impressed by Michelin tires positively. I hope in good weather conditions for the coming two days in order to make all we planned to do here.”

Press release courtesy of Konica Minolta Honda.