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Further progress for Tech3 at Malaysia
Jan 22, 2008

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The second day of action for the Yamaha Tech3 MotoGP team at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia revealed further progress for the French crew and their riders Colin Edwards, who was second quickest, and James Toseland, clocking in with the eleventh best time but shaving a second off his best, with their YZR-M1 machinery. A total of 105 laps were completed at the venue which will host the penultimate round of eighteen in the 2008 MotoGP world championship. Edwards recorded a lap-time that was less than two-tenths of a second away from the fastest effort. The Texan immediately felt at home with a new chassis on the M1 and was also full of praise for the Michelin tyres that enabled him to register his impressive circulation.

Colin Edwards
I am so happy right now. Yesterday I was confused after the crash and what the problem could be. We had been struggling with engine braking but after we found the cause we went at it again this morning and the difference was huge. We made a small change to the new chassis and things were much better. I was more comfortable and the bike was working just how I wanted. We burned a few laps and I have to say 'hats-off' to Michelin and a big thank you! We had problems last year, but without a doubt they have redeemed themselves and more; I am really pleased and we should know better than to doubt Michelin anyway. At tests you don't push, not at 110% anyway, but I felt good out there. I was calming down and putting in less effort but I was still doing 2:01s and that little series of laps we made was great.

Edwards, also running a new swing-arm, is planning on making a longer on-track stint tomorrow to collect further valuable data for the chassis of the M1 and also tyre information.

James Toseland, still getting acquainted with the M1 and the rigours of MotoGP testing, continued to cut his lap-times and today's efforts saw a decent full second sliced from his personal best.

James Toseland
To make that reduction in the lap-time was good even if I did more or less stay in the same position in the standings, but I am not looking at positions at the moment, just the fact that I am getting quicker and quicker. We have a problem with chatter at the moment, which is holding us back, but we have a few things to try in terms of engine braking, electronics and traction control and we will be going through that stuff tomorrows. The adjustments seemed to work for Colin and if you look at the telemetry data then my setting was three times worse than his. So I am quite pleased that we are still doing pretty good lap-times. I made a 2:03 yesterday and I said to the team last night that I was looking forward to being in the '02s today. I hardly dropped out of that bracket so I am happy, and will hope to get in the '01s tomorrow!

The third and final day of work takes place at Sepang tomorrow before Tech3 box-up and travel to the flowing Phillip Island circuit in Australia.