Eric Bostrom, Jamie Hacking and Jason DiSalvo of the factory Yamaha Supersport/Superstock/FX team wrapped up a two-day test at California Speedway last Wednesday. The trio tested R6 and R1LE machinery with different levels of results. All three seemed pleased with the test.

Hacking will race the 600 Supersport class and Superstock; DiSalvo will race FX and Superstock, as will Eric Bostrom. Yamaha will not compete in AMA Superbike in 2006.

For Hacking and Bostrom, this was the first time that they had "really ridden" in months. While Hacking did test the new R6 at the not-so-secret Daytona test some weeks back, and the Atlanta test, he said that he has not really ridden a big motorcycle in seven months since his bicycle crash. "I feel good," Hacking said. " I'm now one hundred percent released to start building my strength up. I've still got some nerves that aren't healed all the way in my elbows, but I'm doing pretty good. I need to get some strength to help me turn the bike and hold myself up."

Hacking commented on the test itself, held at California Speedway under great weather. "It was a good, early test. We're coming along on all fronts—the 600 development is a little slow because we're waiting on parts, but the R1, which is basically an all-new machine, is unbelievable. It's awesome, with the new slipper clutch, Ohlins forks and other improvements. We're already as fast as we were last year—faster—so it's encouraging.

Both DiSalvo and Hacking said that the new R6 is the fastest-turning motorcycle they'd ever ridden. "It's almost too quick," said Hacking.

DiSalvo commented, "I rode the 1000 and the R6 back-to-back a few times and it's then that you can really see how fast the 600 changes direction. Man, that 600 steers well. It steers better than any 250 I ever rode. It flicks side to side like a 125—it's almost scary when you flick it hard—you think that the front wheel is almost going to come off the ground. I can't believe that they sell the bike to the public—the FX bike with wheels brakes and just a Supersport motor in it—it feels like a Superbike."

Eric Bostrom comes off fourth and fifth place finishes at the California Speedway round this year (he qualified on the front row); he's also coming off two seasons on the Ducati Superbike and a three-month riding lay-off after having shoulder surgery after the season ended.

"The test was good," Bostrom said. "Good weather and a really nice vibe, mellow and casual; it's the best test I've ever been to, maybe. I didn't go fast, which doesn't bother me, but I did get a good acquaintance with the bikes and the team, which is important at this stage.

"Having not ridden and being a bit soft from not being able to ride for a few months made it hard in my body. My hands are like hamburger—I have blisters on top of blisters."

Bostrom will race FX and Superstock in 2006, said he was most impressed with the R1LE machine thus far. "The 1000 is so much fun to ride, so much torque. Initially, the bike was a bit hard to ride and I thought it was going to buck me off but a few minor changes and it was so much better. The thing has incredible torque. It'll just spin the tire like mad if you let it."

As for the R6 600 Bostrom said, "I found it a little difficult to ride. It's been years since I rode a 600 (Bostrom is a former 600 Supersport champion) so it was a little strange to get on a little bike again. It seemed a little slow, but any 600 bike is going to seem slow after two seasons of (only racing) Superbike, I suppose. It steers fast—like a knife. I think the 600 is going to have the highest corner speed of any bikes this year.

"We've done four and a half days on the 600 now," DiSalvo said, "and in a half a day we're right where we need to be on the R1. We're under our race times from last year. We've surpassed where we are on the R6 with the R1 in terms of progress. I'm going to go into the Thanksgiving holiday really at peace because instead of being behind and hoping we can catch up, for once, we're on target.

DiSalvo continued, "The new R1LE is so much easier to ride—and not just for one lap. I mean, you could probably see that the old bike was sort of a one-lap machine—it could do one really good lap and then it sort of fell apart. The new LE, I mean, is so much more stout. So much easier to ride."

Both Bostrom and DiSalvo's R6 FX bikes were outfitted with aftermarket brakes and suspension but only had Supersport-spec engines in the chassis.

Is a Daytona 200 win in the cards for the Yamaha R6 FX machines? DiSalvo wasn't giving odds, but did say, "I think that we're looking really good. I mean, Honda is only racing the FX class once (Daytona, with factory riders) so I assume that means that they have stopped development on their 600 FX bike for Jake and Miguel. I view them as the main competition for the 200, and Eric of course. I guess the (Dunlop) tire test at Daytona next month will really show everyone what each team has right now. I'm looking forward to it. I'm looking to scare some people."

Yamaha's new signing, Eric Bostrom, used the California Speedway/Fontana test to bed in with his new crew chief, Jim Roach, who previously worked with Canadian Pascal Picotte. Bostrom said that the two work together well and he was pleased, even if his crew chief didn't seem to have all the answers right away. "That's really the way I want it," Bostrom said. "Jim is young and he listens well. We have some things to sort out, but it's good when a crew chief doesn't come in with (a lot of preconceived notions) on how things should work. He has no bad habits, has a real willingness to listen and learn. That's a lot better for a rider than a crew chief that says 'this is the way it's going to be'.

Jamie Hacking's crew has been swapped around as well with Jefferson Burkes and Tony Roma on the 600, and Geoff Cesmat on the R1—the biggest change is he won't be sharing crew people with Jason DiSalvo. "It's the best crew crew I've ever had on the Graves team," Hacking said. "It'll work out really well."