MELANDRI SETS THE EARLY PACE AT LE MANS
Marco clocks the fastest time with Toni just 0.499
secs behind
Team Honda Gresini made an ideal start to proceedings in
the Grand Prix of France at the legendary circuit of Le Mans,
host this weekend to the fifth round of the 2007 MotoGP World
Championship.
Marco Melandri, winner of this very race last season, started
in perfect fashion and after lapping well in the morning free
practice he went on to clock the fastest time overall in the
afternoon. The Italian was delighted with the performance
of his bike, in particular the handling, and is confident
about his chances in Sunday's race.
It was also a good day for Toni Elias, who was less than
half a second behind the pace of his team-mate in seventh
place. The Spaniard is happy with the base setting the team
have found today and is looking forward to improving his performance
tomorrow.
The weather forecast is typically unpredictable here and
a few raindrops fell throughout today, making for changeable
track conditions.
MARCO MELANDRI (1st, 1'35"319): "I'm
satisfied with this result. The team prepared a good base
setting for the bike and my feeling has been really positive
right from this morning. We've improved the feeling with the
front, thanks to the work we've done with the forks and the
new front tyre Bridegestone have brought here. The handling
of the bike is superb and that is important at a circuit with
so much hard braking. I'm very happy with the tyres. Tomorrow
I'll try and improve our performance on a qualifying tyre
because my target is to qualify on the front two rows and
fight for the podium."
 TONI
ELIAS (7th,1'35"818): "I'm happy with the
job we've done today at a circuit where we had so many problems
last year. Seventh place is a good result considering how
close we are to the front. There is room to improve so we'll
keep working hard tomorrow. The tyres are working really well."
FAUSTO GRESINI: "I'm happy for Marco,
this first place is important for his morale and I hope it's
a good sign for the rest of the weekend. From the free practice
this morning Marco's been able to make the most of all his
potential and that of the bike. Toni is also doing a great
job. Our objective is to continue improving and fight for
the top positions."
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