MotoGP : Rossi recovering speed and strenghts at Donington
Round: 9 - British Grand Prix
Circuit: Donington
 After
five days of intense physiotherapy on cracked bones in his
right wrist and left foot, Camel Yamaha Team rider Valentino
Rossi returned to MotoGP action for the first true test of
his fitness since the Dutch TT in today's free practice sessions
for the British Grand Prix. Rossi took to the Donington Park
circuit with heavy strapping on his wrist but was able to
complete 43 laps over the two sessions, running consistently
at the top end of the timing screens before settling for the
seventh fastest lap overall.
With Rossi focusing on adapting the bike both to the demands
of the circuit and the diminishing limitations of his physical
condition, his team-mate Colin Edwards worked diligently beside
him on the set-up of his own YZR-M1 machine. With his last-corner
battle for victory at Assen still fresh in the mind, today
represented a perfect opportunity for the Texan to turn the
page and focus on another podium assault in Sunday's ninth
round of the season. Edwards lapped fourth fastest in the
morning session and slipped to sixth in the afternoon, but
after completing 53 laps he has plenty of crucial data to
work from ahead of tomorrow's single qualifying session.
COLIN EDWARDS (6th - 1'29.379; 53 laps)
"To be honest my pace today wasn't quite as good as I
had expected but we're still looking for a few things from
the set-up that we'll work on tomorrow. We had a couple of
problems today but by the end of the second session it was
starting to come. Basically we need to get it turning into
the corners a little better and there are some sections of
the track where we're getting some vibrations, but it is nothing
major. We played around with the tyres a little today but
we've got plenty still to do and need to get our heads down
in the morning before chasing a lap time in qualifying."
VALENTINO ROSSI (7th - 1'29.416; 43 laps)
"I'm happy to be riding again and enjoying myself on
the bike. Assen was a very tough weekend for me but my physiotherapist
has done a good job and I feel better, although still not
at 100%. I still have some pain, especially under braking,
but the mobility is much better and this is important. There
are three hard braking areas at this track where I am struggling
and to be honest I don't know how this will be in the race;
I was losing strength towards the end of the afternoon session
today and this could be a problem. As far as the lap time
is concerned we need to make up a few tenths in certain areas
but I think we can do this with a few changes to the bike.
I will get some more treatment tonight and keep some ice on
my wrist and we will see tomorrow."
DAVIDE BRIVIO - CAMEL YAMAHA TEAM DIRECTOR
"We're still working with both riders on the setting
of the bike and it has been good to have a 'normal' first
day - gathering data without anything spectacular happening
and no dramas to worry about either. The good news is that
Valentino can ride without too much pain or discomfort and
he is trying his best to manage his condition and set fast
laps. We know we have to be faster but we are still fine-tuning
the set-up and have plenty of room for improvement tomorrow.
The only question mark is how Valentino can hold up over the
course of a race but we can't know that until Sunday. We'll
just set up the bike and let the Clinica Mobile set up the
rider!"
|
