Former America Superbike Champion Hayden, 23-years old from Kentucky set a blistering pace around the 5.403km Czech circuit. Hayden tested a range of Michelin tyres and various machine settings eventually posting a brilliant lap time of 1m 57.717s, on race tyres. A time that easily bettered his best lap time of 1m 59.100s in Sunday’s MotoGP race at the circuit on his way to a fifth place finish.

We’ve improved the machine, found some good tyres and I think I’ve improved my riding as well over these past two days, Said a delighted Hayden at the end of the day.

Hayden’s Repsol Honda team-mate Max Biaggi tested his race machine and the evolutionary RC211V HRC are preparing for the run in to the 17-round MotoGP World Championship. HRC developed the new RC211V to help the riders steer the machine into the corners faster. Biaggi set his fastest time of the day aboard the new machine and pronounced himself satisfied with his new GP mount. In what was basically his first 20-lap shake down test on the machine Biaggi set a surprisingly fast lap time just 0.130s off his best lap in Sundays race.

The Italian said: The new machine has lots of potential and I can feel it is a little bit better than my 2005 machine in lots of areas.  We found a lot of positive points for HRC to develop – especially the feel of the machine under braking and turning into corners.

The Movistar Honda team riders were also content with their work over the two-days at Brno. Vice World Champion Sete Gibernau spend his time running test aimed at finding solutions to the fuel management system problem that sidelined him in the Czech GP. Spaniard Gibernau was 4/10ths of a second faster today than on Sunday. The Movistar team engineers providing HRC with sufficient data to address the problem in time for the Japanese GP.

Gibernau briefly tested the new RC211V but decided his cause would be best served by working on the 2005 machine in preparation for Motegi. He said: It’s a little early for me to comment on the performance of the new machine but it is clear that Honda are making a big effort.

Italian Marco Melandri, on the second Movistar Honda, was running in close order with the race leaders in the opening laps of Sunday’s race but could not hold them over the closing stages eventually finishing in sixth place. Melandri spent the day working with his mechanics and Michelin in a bid to improve consistency over the entire race distance. Melandri shaved a few tenths of a second off his best time ever at Brno.

Konica Minolta Honda Rider Makoto Tamada slashed a one whole second off his best ever lap time at the circuit and goes into his ‘Home GP’ at Motegi in a more confident frame of mind. Tamada won at Motegi last year and hopes the hard work he and his team have done over the last two days will give him a fighting chance of a repeat victory.

Honda rider quotes and best lap times:

Nicky Hayden: Best lap: 1m 57.717s - 81 laps.
It’s been a really worthwhile test and we’ve achieved a lot. We’ve got the machine much better turning into corners and the Michelin race tyres I tried today were superb. To lap in 1m 57s on race tyres is a massive step forward and much better than I could have ever expected. We’ve improved the machine, found some good tyres and I think I’ve improved my riding as well over these past two days. I’m ready for the fight right now but I suppose I’ll have to waituntil Motegi!

Max Biaggi: Best lap: 1m 59.399s - 47 laps.
It was good to get out on the new machine today. I managed about 20 laps and recorded my fastest lap of the day on the new machine. The new machine has lots of potential and I can feel it is a little bit better than my 2005 machine in lots of areas. We found a lot of positive points for HRC to develop – especially the feel of the machine under braking and turning into corners. I’m looking forward to racing the machine as soon as it’s available.

Makoto Tanaka, Repsol Honda Team Manager:
Nicky has had a really good day, especially with the performance he showed on the race tyres. His times would have been good enough to win Sunday’s race here comfortably. Nicky also improved the setting of the machine, which will help him in the remaining six races. Max tried the new machine and found many positive areas and gave us some idea of the areas of the machine which need attention. During the next few days we will decide a further test programme for the new machine and make a plan for its race debut.

Sete Gibernau: Best lap: 1m 58.441s - 37 laps.
It's a shame we haven't had more time to test the new bike - in the end I only managed four laps with it. That's why it seems a little early for me to comment on its performance but it is clear that Honda are making a big effort.

Marco Melandri: Best lap: 1m 58.977s - 99 laps.
The two days of tests have gone really well for us. We concentrated fully on improving the performance of the bike in race conditions, particularly in the second half, and I'm satisfied with the result. We've tried a few different set-up solutions and I felt comfortable.

Makoto Tamada: Best lap: 1m 59.392s.
My lap times have been really constant over both of the days of the test. We have tested many tyres provided by Michelin and I have confidence with them has surely improved also thanks to the good condition of the track today. I leave for home tomorrow and I am really looking forward to Motegi where I hope to have my best race of the season in front of my fans.

UNOFFICIAL LAP TIMES
1.Loris Capirossi (Ita/Ducati) 1:57.568
2.Nicky Hayden (USA/Honda) 1:57.717
3.Sete Gibernau (Sp/Honda) 1:58.441
4.Colin Edwards (USA/Yamaha) 1:58.584
5.Valentino Rossi (Ita/Yamaha) 1:58.654
6.Carlos Checa (Sp/Ducati) 1:58.730
7.MarcoMelandri (Ita/Honda) 1.58.977
8.Alex Barros (BR/Honda) 1:59.221
9.Makoto Tamada (Jap/Honda) 1:59.392
10.Max Biaggi (Ita/Honda) 1:59.399
11.Nobuatsu Aoki (Jap/Suzuki) 159.658
12.Shinya Nakano (Jap/Kawasaki) 1:59.766