shin56jerezr.jpgThe morning humidity forced the riders present at Jerez to wait until one to start the test but the weather conditions remained good for the rest of the afternoon.

The KONICA MINOLTA Honda Team rider covered a total of 63 laps setting the fastest time in 1’42.528”. A more than positive performance considering that today was the real Nakano’s first working day on board the new Honda RC212V equipped with Michelin tyres.

The Italian-Japanese Team could start the new bike setting and also tested different front tyres. Nakano declared to be really satisfied with the good feeling already got with the new 800cc.

The KONICA MINOLTA Honda Team will remain on the Andalusian track even tomorrow, using the third day of the final 2006 test session preceding the winter break ordered by the rules and scheduled to finish for January 21st, 2007.

Gianluca Montiron – KONICA MINOLTA Honda General Director - “Today, Nakano could finally start to understand the characteristics of the package bike-tyres at his disposal. I like his working method bringing him to understand the different changes that, step by step, are made. Inside the box, our Team staff is trying to set a valid communication method and create some automatisms that will be useful in the short time available during the practice sessions of the race week end.”

Shinya Nakano – KONICA MINOLTA Honda Rider (1’42.528 – 63 laps) - “This morning when we arrived, the track was wet and we were forced to wait till the early afternoon before having it completely dry. The 63 laps I covered in the time left permitted me to better understand the Honda RC212V. My feeling is already good and I’m very happy to have obtained it only after a few kilometres with the new 800cc. Today, at the beginning, we tried to find a good bike balance and then check three different front tyres; the results obtained were positive. Tomorrow, we will still work to find the base setting, trying to adjust the gear box and the engine brake control electronic system.”

Giulio Bernardelle – KONICA MINOLTA Honda Technical Director - “Today we started taking contact with the new Honda RC212V starting from the research of the best suspensions set up. We could obtain a sufficient setting balance and made Shinya check several Michelin front tyres which permitted him to start realizing how the different combination of constructions and compounds work. Nakano’s approach is surely positive and the rider demonstrated to be very precise in his comments.”

Press release courtesy of Konica Minolta Honda.