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Melandri makes 2009 test debut with Hayate Racing
Sunday, 01 March 2009

The very first rider out on track at the MotoGP Official Night Test at Qatar on Sunday evening was Marco Melandri, testing with the newly formed Hayate Racing Team.


Wasting no time whatsoever as the Qatar test commenced it was Marco Melandri who undertook Sunday evening’s first lap of the floodlit Losail International Circuit.

After a period of uncertainty and having missed the first test of the year at Sepang in February it was perhaps no surprise that Melandri would be the first out of his pit-box, notching up eight early laps before a surprise rain interruption.

Keen to get his 2009 preparations underway Melandri headed out onto the track on the Kawasaki ZX-RR under the watchful eye of Ichiro Yoda, the veteran Japanese engineer who will direct the newly formed Hayate Racing Team, for whom the Italian 26 year-old will be the sole rider.

Giving his very first thoughts on his initial 2009 outing Melandri commented on his return to the pit-box, “It was difficult getting used to being on a MotoGP bike again at first after a few months away, but the key thing is I am already feeling good on the Kawasaki.”

Assisting Melandri this season under the management of Yoda, the Hayate Racing Team Manager will be Andrea Dosoli, whilst Jasja Bos will undertake the role of Team Co-Ordinator.

Dosoli told motogp.com, “This is an important test for us in order to assess our potential. The chassis is completely new and so is the engine. The rain is not helping us early on, because we need to see exactly where we are as a team in normal conditions. It is improtant for us to have Marco on the bike as he is a talented rider who has great experience.”


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MotoGP Official Night Test at Losail, Qatar
Session 1 - 01/03/09
Pos Rider Team Fastest lap Prev. Gap Lead. Gap Laps
1 Nicky Hayden USA 2:00.717 - - 31
2 Marco Melandri ITA 2:00.867 +0.150 +0.150 35
3 Mika Kallio FIN 2:01.020 +0.153 +0.303 29
4 Alex De Angelis RSM 2:01.074 +0.054 +0.357 15
5 Niccolo Canepa ITA 2:01.328 +0.254 +0.611 26
6 Chris Vermeulen AUS 2:01.843 +0.515 +1.126 6
7 Yuki Takahashi JPN 2:03.221 +1.378 +2.504 18
8 Andrea Dovizioso ITA 2:03.233 +0.012 +2.516 15
9 James Toseland GBR 2:03.417 +0.184 +2.700 7
10 Randy De Puniet FRA 2:03.580 +0.163 +2.863 18
11 Colin Edwards USA 2:03.652 +0.072 +2.935 8
12 Toni Elias SPA 2:08.637 +4.985 +7.920 3
13 Jorge Lorenzo SPA 2:24.832 +16.195 +24.115 1
14 Valentino Rossi ITA 1:12:31.872 +1:10:07.040 +1:10:31.155 1
15 Dani Pedrosa SPA -.--- - - 0
16 Casey Stoner AUS -.--- - - 0
17 Loris Capirossi ITA -.--- - - 0

Happy ndays, you can put the bike back in the loungeroom again Mars

pics ?

This is just farken fantastic news

Its good to see the green bike up the top but when you look at the laps completed by all the riders it isn't realy any indication. The four fastest guys last year completed two laps between them. Malandri completed 35 laps and Hayden 30 the next best was 26. The rain must have pissed down for some time to lose the rest of the day.

Melandri seems to be 2 seconds of the pace in the latest timings
Guess we'll wait and see.
ty

Tuesdays results. Not as good as day one for Marco. Its going to be a loooong year

Qatar Night Test, Day 3
1. Casey Stoner, Ducati Marlboro Team - 1'55.744 (31)
2. Jorge Lorenzo, Fiat Yamaha Team - 1'56.733 (82)
3. Valentino Rossi, Fiat Yamaha Team - 1'56.972 (75)
4. Chris Vermeulen, Suzuki MotoGP - 1'57.224 (70)
5. Nicky Hayden, Ducati Marlboro Team - 1'57.225 (53)
6. Loris Capirossi, Suzuki MotoGP - 1'57.253 (42)
7. Randy De Puniet, LCR Honda MotoGP - 1'57.401 (77)
8. Andrea Dovizioso, Repsol Honda - 1'57.449 (74)
9. Colin Edwards, Monster Yamaha Tech3 - 1'57.515 (46)
10. Alex De Angelis, San Carlo Honda Gresini - 1'57.591 (61)
11. Toni Elias, San Carlo Honda Gresini - 1'57.804 (66)
12. Mika Kallio, Pramac Racing - 1'57.938 (54)
13. Niccolo Canepa, Pramac Racing - 1'57.946 (50)
14. Yuki Takahashi, Scot Racing Team - 1'58.412 (61)
15. James Toseland, Monster Yamaha Tech3 - 1'58.786 (51)
16. Marco Melandri, Hayate Racing Team - 1'58.851 (73)

3 seconds there now

3 secs yes, but right behind a consitant performer from last year in JT.....

There may be hope.......

I haven't seen any pics of the 09 bike, is it still running in Kwaka colours and branding? Or something else?

triway wrote:3 secs yes, but right behind a consitant performer from last year in JT.....

There may be hope.......

Unfortunately that consistent performer is coming back from a 200+kph highside that he says has severely dented his confidence.

triway wrote:3 secs yes, but right behind a consitant performer from last year in JT.....

There may be hope.......

I think the Toe is still shaken and stired. from his recent off.

2ndclasscitizen wrote:I haven't seen any pics of the 09 bike, is it still running in Kwaka colours and branding? Or something else?

Melandri's running a black bike atm - see http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2009/Mela ... est+return
'Cos it's not a factory team it probably won't run factory colours - but I'm just guessing and they may change.
ty
PS. I actually prefer it in black

mick_dundee wrote:Happy ndays, you can put the bike back in the loungeroom again Mars

Seems the excitment was short lived Marz!