Aprilia's Private Barcelona Test

Further important private tests on the Barcelona circuit for the MS Aprilia Racing team, which has been out in force since yesterday. Regis Laconi with the RS Cube(the Frenchman has the second RS3 from the Racing Department of Noale) and Marco Melandri with his RSW 250. An intense day's work for Regis Laconi, who clocked up 200 precious kilometres and provided further input for the project. There were countless set-up tests designed to optimise delivery of the formidable poweravailable when opening up out of corners, which is just where the rider needs absolute precision in order to get all the horsepower there is down onto the ground. Intense research designed not so much to achieve sensational lap times, but to speed up development of the "Cube".

A good day's work for Marco Melandri too: he was concentrating entirely on testing new components and a number of different set-ups on his RSW 250. Marco was not assisted by the less-than-perfect track conditions, which changed so rapidly that the team found themselves with a doubly difficult task.

Marco Melandri - Today's time: 1'48.6 commented: "The set-up tests and the new components gave us a tough time: as soon as we'd got one thing right, the grip onthe asphalt changed and our choices were immediately that much more difficult. Even so, I'm happy: we got a good result, I was riding with a race configuration (fulltank) all the time and we got some excellent references".

Regis Laconi - Today's time: 1'47.7 "My feel for the Cube's getting better by the minute" said Regis "We're working in the right direction and progress is visible.Even the slightest modification has an immediate effect on the bike and lap times drop instantly. Sure, time's not the only thing: we've been focusing mainly on the set-up, front and rear, and we've got two gruelling days ahead of us: Saturday and Sunday, when we'll be out with all the contenders for the 2002 title".

Clear sky - Temperatures: air 17°C - ground 24°C

Thanks to Aprilia Racing Press for this release.