The factory, Michelin-shod Honda MotoGP team has avoided direct confrontation with the other teams during the off season, until now. On March 15 and 16 at the Circuit de Catalunya, the IRTA tests will include all of the major factory teams, including the Rossi/Hayden duo.
This will be the one true chance to see how the various MotoGP teams have prepared for the opening round of the 2003 championship series at Suzuka scheduled for April 6.
The 2003 MotoGP championship promises to be the most interesting in a long time, with all of the major manufacturers competing, including Ducati and Kawasaki. At this point, testing has indicated that Honda, Yamaha, Ducati and Aprilia will all be competitive at the first round, while Suzuki and Kawasaki are still striving to match the pace set by their rivals. We will provide results and commentary concerning this weekend’s testing.
