Hayden tests headset.

Nicky Hayden has revealed that he tested a radio headset to communicate with his Repsol Honda team while out on track at Barcelona today (Friday).

Team KR are the only MotoGP outfit known to have an operational rider to team radio, which they usually restrict to practice use, but with the introduction of the flag-to-flag racing rule - which brings an end to race stoppages due to rain - a new era of tactics, requiring instant communication, has arisen.

However, it seems the Repsol Honda headset still needs a considerable amount of development: "Today we've been testing the headsets to communicate with the garage for the flag-to-flag thing, but the noise on the bike is just too loud and it's almost impossible to hear anything," said Nicky. "This system still has to be improved a lot."

Headsets aside, Hayden ended the day with the eleventh fastest time from 84 laps, the American suffering from a lack of confidence that left him a second behind pace setting team-mate Max Biaggi.

"It's been fantastic to be back on the track with everybody; it's fun and interesting," began Hayden, before admitting: "To be honest I haven't felt at a 100% today; I'm physically OK but I haven't found confidence enough to let me ride on my level. We'll make some changes tomorrow and we'll test some new things to get a bit more confidence.

"Fortunately we still have a couple of days ahead and I'm sure that we're going to do better. The new track surface seems to be really good, the asphalt is good and the bike is also working well; now I only need to get some confidence, especially entering some corners, where the rear end doesn't make me feel secure enough to ride at the limit. If we manage to improve this aspect I'm sure that we'll be in the front," he added.

Barcelona test times - Friday:

1.Max Biaggi ITA Repsol Honda 1min 43.158 secs
2.Sete Gibernau SPA Telefonica Movistar Honda 1min 43.254 secs
3.Makoto TamadaJPN Konica Minolta Honda 1min 43.347 secs
4.Marco MelandriITA Telefonica Movistar Honda 1min 43.433 secs
5.Valentino RossiITA Gauloises Yamaha 1min 43.518 secs
6.Colin Edwards USA Gauloises Yamaha 1min 43.882 secs
7.Alex Barros BRA Camel Honda 1min 43.902 secs
8.Loris CapirossiITA Ducati Marlboro 1min 43.974 secs
9.Carlos Checa SPA Ducati Marlboro 1min 44.102 secs
10.Kenny RobertsUSA Team Suzuki 1min 44.282 secs
11.Nicky Hayden USA Repsol Honda 1min 44.284 secs
12.Shinya NakanoJPN Fuchs Kawasaki1min 44.325 secs
13.Troy Bayliss AUS Camel Honda 1min 44.403 secs
14.Alex HofmannGER Fuchs Kawasaki1min 44.548 secs
15.Toni Elias SPA Fortuna Yamaha 1min 44.55 secs
16.Ruben Xaus SPA Fortuna Yamaha 1min 44.787 secs
17.John Hopkins USA Team Suzuki 1min 44.849 secs
18.Shinichi Itoh JPN Ducati-Bridgestone 1min 45.043 secs
19.Nobuatsu AokiJPN Team Suzuki 1min 45.727 secs
20. Roberto Rolfo ITA D'Antin Ducati 1min 46.331 secs
21.Shane ByrneGBR Team KR-KTM1min 47.152 secs
22.James EllisonGBR Blata WCM1min 47.663 secs
23.Vittoriano Guareschi ITA Ducati Marlboro 1min 48.217 secs
24.Franco BattainiITA Blata WCM1min 49.115 secs
25.Shimizu KazukiJPN Fuchs Kawasaki1min 56.136 secs

Comparative lap times:

Catalan Grand Prix - 13/6/2004:

Pole position: Sete Gibernau SPA Telefonica Movistar Honda 1min 42.596secs

Fastest laps: Honda: Sete Gibernau SPA Camel Honda 1min 44.641secsYamaha: Marco Melandri ITA Fortuna Gauloises Tech 3 1min 44.708secs Ducati: Ruben Xaus SPA D'Antin Ducati 1min 45.119secsSuzuki: Kenny Roberts USA Team Suzuki 1min 45.477secsKawasaki: Shinya Nakano JPN Fuchs Kawasaki 1min 45.532secsAprilia: Shane Byrne GBR MS Aprilia 1min 47.038secsProton KR: Nobuatsu Aoki JPN Proton Team KR 1min 47.739secs