USA GP - Free Practice 1
STONER MAKES ANOTHER GREAT START, CAPIROSSI GETTING
UP TO SPEED
 Ducati
Team rider Casey Stoner got another great start to the weekend
at Laguna Seca this morning, ending the first free practice
session fastest. Team-mate Loris Capirossi, fresh from his
brilliant podium result at last Sunday's German Grand Prix,
was 12th quickest.
In warm Californian sunshine, World Championship leader Stoner
was in masterful form around Laguna, a tortuous, undulating
and bumpy racetrack that rewards riding finesse and commitment.
Capirossi was also quick through the first two sections of
the track but needs to refine his GP7's set-up to improve
his pace through the crucial final split.
Although the new Laguna track surface is even bumpier than
before, the track seems faster, with Stoner's best lap already
less than one tenth of a second outside the existing lap record,
established in last year's race.
CASEY STONER, fastest, 1m 23.410s
"This morning we had a few difficulties getting used
to the track. For sure, the conditions feel a lot worse than
they did last year. The surface is maybe a little better but
the bumps are worse, the track is really bumpy now. Anyway,
about halfway through the session we found a little bit better
setting and we just slowly improved from there, and we ended
up quite happy with the set-up we've got. This afternoon we
will do some more tyre testing in hotter conditions and we'll
see where we are. We will work at finding a bit more traction
and improving the turning. Overall, we are fairly happy with
everything, we just need to test the tyres some more."
LORIS CAPIROSSI, 12th fastest, 1m 24.786s
"Compared to last year the track is still full of bumps
but the asphalt is a bit better, even if it's still quite
dirty. We are working hard on the bike set-up, because while
I'm not so bad in the first two splits I'm quite slow in the
third split, above all through the changes of direction. First
of all, we need to set up the gearbox better and work on the
rear weight balance. But I'm confident because I know we can
improve. The tyres are okay, I used the same rear all through
the session, and it looked not so bad after 30 laps."
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