With Monday post race testing slashed to a minimum as a cost saving measure, most riders were on hand for some vital testing.
The test is the first since the start of season and will be followed by a second one after the race in Brno.
Yesterday’s test at the Catalunya circuit saw Honda HRC rider Andrea Dovizioso take the top of the chart with a best time of 1.
42.
230.
Dovizioso was testing a new and modified chassis that helped the Italian rider improve his feeling in corner entry, while team mate Dani Pedrosa returned home to rest and try to recover from his cracked femur.
Yuki Takahashi also sat out Monday’s test after breaking a finger during the first lap of the race, as did Yamaha Tech 3 team who decided not to join the test.
Marco Melandri suffered a massive highside trying to improve his Hayate performance since his team will not receive any new parts and upgrades.
Melandri was diagnosed with a partial break of the 5th metacarpal in his right hand and a heavy hit to the head and some leg damage, but is expected to be fit for Assen.
Valentino Rossi was second with 1.
42.
438.
Hitting the track only in the early afternoon and without his crew chief Jeremy Burgess, who flew home to Australia to attend his mother’s funeral.
The winner of the Catalunya race did 58 laps trying out new electronics and new spec engine that will be needed for the second half of the season, when engines will be only 5 for the remaining 7 races and new Bridgestone tires.
Rossi’s team mate Jorge Lorenzo was third getting edged out by 0.
012s, After Sunday’s race the Spanish rider did another 80 laps trying out the new electronics package, different suspension settings and testing a dual compound tire that will be used a Philip Island, but did not appear to have tried the new engine spec.
The biggest surprise of this test was in fourth place.
Pramac rider, Mika Kallio who bettered his race lap time by more that one second trying out the carbon fibre swingarm and finding front end set-up improvements.
Casey Stoner still unfit after his stomach problems on Sunday, was fifth but was unable to do more that 38 laps, finishing his evaluations on the carbon fibre swing arm that he abandoned for the aluminum one the Mugello and Catalunya races, also tried a new rear shock and general set-up.
Rizla Suzuki riders Loris Capirossi and Chris Vermeulen were testing engine management and suspension parts, but were unable to use the new engine they received this weekend.
Only Nicky Hayden, Ducati’s other factory rider, did not improve his times after being the first on the track and turning in 98 laps around the Catalunya circuit.
The American also lost one tenth on his best time which left him puzzled and worried.
Hayden was counting heavily on this test to try to better his understanding of the Ducati.
New Scot Racing rider Gabor Talmacsi was the only rider slower than Hayden, but improved his best race lap time by five tenths.
Final Catalunya Test Times:1.
Andrea Dovizioso 1.
42.
230 sec (69 laps)2.
Valentino Rossi 1.
42.
434 sec (58)3.
Jorge Lorenzo 1.
42.
446 sec (80)4.
Mika Kallio 1.
42.
637 sec (98)5.
Casey Stoner 1 42.
763 sec (38)6.
Loris Capirossi 1,43.
188 sec (83)7.
Randy de Puniet 1.
43.
247 sec (76)8.
Chris Vermeulen 1.
43.
299 sec (83)9.
Alex de Angelis 1.
43.
360 sec (69)10.
Niccolo Canepa 1.
43.
391 sec (90)11.
Marco Melandri 1.
43.
506 sec (89)12.
Toni Elias SPA 1.
43.
708 sec (60)13.
Sete Gibernau 1.
43.
819 sec (45)14.
Nicky Hayden 1.
44.
157 sec (98)15.
Gabor Talmacsi 1.
45.
056 sec (53)