GAULOISES YAMAHA TEAM SEPANG TEST
Sepang, Malaysia
Monday, January 24, 2005
Ambient temperature: 40 degrees
Track temperature: 52 degrees
Humidity: 40%

ROSSI AND EDWARDS PLEASED WITH PROGRESS AT MALAYSIAN TEST

Gauloises Yamaha Team riders Valentino Rossi and Colin Edwards completed a
second day of testing in hot and humid Sepang today on their new
2005-specification YZR-M1s, both improving on the times they set yesterday. It
was hard work for the entire team, as temperatures reached a maximum of 40
degrees during the day, but both riders finished the day satisfied with the job
they had done and now look forward to making more progress during tomorrow's
final day of testing.

Rossi and Edwards continued from where they left off yesterday, once again
spending the day refining settings on their M1s and trying to find the best way
to develop the new version of the bike, as well as testing a variety of Michelin
tyres. According to the unofficial lap times, Ducati rider Loris Capirossi was
the fastest man on the track for the second day running, setting a time of
2'01.99, whilst Rossi was second fastest once again, completing 55 laps with a
best time of 2'02.16. He was followed by Alex Barros (Honda, 2'02.30), Max
Biaggi (Honda, 2'02.35), seemingly well recovered from a broken leg sustained in
November, and Kenny Roberts (Suzuki, 2'02.38). Rossi's Yamaha team-mate Colin
Edwards completed 62 laps and was sixth fastest with a time of 2'02.48.

Valentino Rossi, (2'02.16, 55 laps)

"I am quite happy with the work we've done today. We worked on suspension and
set-up and the bike gave us some good data and a good feeling. Yesterday we went
the wrong way with some things but today we've made some modifications and we've
found the right way forward. We've worked mainly on making the bike more agile;
trying to make it more like the 2004 bike in this area, and we had a really good
run of improvements this morning."

Colin Edwards (2'02.48, 62 laps)

"We sorted out our first-day teething problems and I'm feeling much happier
about everything. I'm so tired tonight, but we knew we'd have to work hard!
Overnight we had some ideas and they seem to have worked; now it feels like
we're going in the right direction. The most important thing is confidence in
the front of the bike and I had more today. Overall now it doesn't feel so
different from the old bike and the whole package is good. Tomorrow we'll play
around some more, probably do a race simulation and hopefully make some more
improvements." 

Davide Brivio, Gauloises Yamaha Team Director

"It was a productive day for both riders. We spent a lot of time testing tyres
for Michelin and we made a good job of this. Before that we were able to improve
the bike settings compared to yesterday, so we are on the way. Tomorrow is the
final day so we hope that we can continue this work and finish on a good note."

Unofficial Lap Times:

 1. Loris Capirossi (Ducati)  2'01.99
 2. VALENTINO ROSSI (YAMAHA)  2'02.16
 3. Alex Barros (Honda)       2'02.30
 4. Max Biaggi (Honda)        2'02 35
 5. Kenny Roberts (Suzuki)    2'02 38
 6. COLIN EDWARDS (YAMAHA)    2'02.48