Yamaha riders fastest at Jerez

From Yamaha Racing

The Fiat Yamaha Team's young Spanish rookie Jorge Lorenzo, who boasts an outstanding record of two pole positions and two podiums from his two MotoGP starts, put in more impressive work Monday during a one-day test in Jerez.

After joining his teammate Valentino Rossi as part of a Fiat Yamaha double podium Sunday, he posted the fastest time of the day and completed a total of 94 laps. The Mallorcan continued to show his ability and fast rate of progress, not only topping the time sheets on a qualifying Michelin tire but lapping consistenly fast on race tires. His best time on a race tire was 1:39.59, over half a second faster than the fastest lap record recorded in Sunday's race and he was the only rider to dip under the 1:38 mark on a qualifying tire, winding up with a time of 1:38.679.

After claiming his 100th premier-class podium with a strong second place in the Spanish Grand Prix Sunday, it was straight back to work for Valentino Rossi and the Fiat Yamaha Team as they undertook a full day's testing at Jerez Monday.

With just two races under their belts since joing forces with Bridgestone, the primary focus of Rossi's crew still remains developing the union between the 2008 Yamaha M1 and the Bridgestone rubber.

Setting was improved in general and Rossi was pleased with some of the new compound tires he tried, both front and rear and including qualifying tires. He completed 85 laps in total and his best lap, set with a qualifying tire, put him second in a time of 1:39.117.