[theophil]

Carlos Checa was the talk of the Qatar test after finishing his Tech 3/Dunlop debut with the third fastest lap time - behind only factory Yamaha riders Valentino Rossi and Colin Edwards - as the Spaniard closed to within 0.42secs of the reigning world champion... despite suffering a concussion on day two.

Checa set a best lap time of 1min 58.22secs on day one, improved to a 1min 57.94secs on day two - despite having to halt testing at midday after hitting his head - and then finished his desert outing with a superb 1min 59.65secs circulation.

To put that lap time into further perspective, the fastest race lap from last October's Qatar Grand Prix was a 1min 57.903secs - set by Repsol Honda's Nicky Hayden - while pole was a 1min 56.917secs by Ducati's Loris Capirossi.

"I am satisfied with this first test although of course we have many improvements to make. It's important to be realistic, even though the times have been good, and to keep focused and working hard," said Carlos, who was handed a late MotoGP lifeline with tech 3 after the withdraw of Honda Pons. "Obviously one of the main areas we need to work on is the tyres. They work well in these conditions and I am happy with the front, but we need to work a lot on the rear. We need to do as much testing as we can during the next days in Sepang to find the right mix and to find a better situation for the rear.

"I really want to say thank you to Yamaha, Dunlop and all the other people who helped to make this possible given me the chance to be back on the grid. In January my situation was not so good and I have had to fight hard to come back, but now I have this chance and I am happy for it. I think this new M1 is definitely the best Yamaha I have ever ridden so this is very exciting," he declared.

"Now we need to go to Sepang and continue to work in the same way. Everyone will make comparisons and look at the times but at this time that should not be our focus. We have started work and we have a lot more to do. We must not hurry to be in front at the moment, but focus on development. For myself I have finished to think about my previous situation and now I just want to focus on my sporting activities for this season," concluded the 2005 Ducati rider.

But despite Checa's words of caution, team director Herve Poncharal was a happy man after seeing the MotoGP veteran outpace the likes of Bridgestone shod Team Suzuki MotoGP riders John Hopkins and Chris Vermeulen.

"It's been great to come here with a full team and with Carlos. It's been a good three days. The performance of Carlos has been better than anyone expected for his first outing on the Dunlops, so this is encouraging. There were three Yamaha's at the front today and this makes me very happy."

Checa's team-mate James Ellison set the seventh fastest time at the test as he continued to learn the YZR-M1.