GOOD START FOR MELANDRI AND ELIAS AT SEPANG
Melandri sets front row pace with Elias sixth
Team Honda Gresini's two riders made the most of the first
day of freepractice in Malaysia, the penultimate Grand Prix
of the season, as theyworked on the set-up of their bikes
at a circuit that was resurfacedonly a few weeks ago.
Rainfall at the end of the morning session made track conditionsdifficult
for the afternoon, whilst further complications are expectedtomorrow
with uncertain weather conditions again the forecast.
Marco Melandri was on front row pace, lapping third fastest
- 0.7seconds behind Randy De Puniet, the fastest man of the
day.Toni Elias lapped sixth fastest and felt much more comfortable
than hedid a week ago in Australia, with this being one of
his favouritecircuits.
MARCO MELANDRI (3rd, 2.03.661):
"It has been a positive day overall forme. The new surface
is still a little bumpy but the grip is good. Thetrack conditions
changed a lot from the morning to the afternoon andhopefully
they should be better tomorrow. We worked well with the set-upand
our tyre choice seems to be right. We're satisfied to have
found agood feeling with the rubber on this surface and we
still have anothertyre to try tomorrow. The weather forecast
is uncertain tomorrow buthopefully it will settle down for
the race."
TONI ELIAS (6th, 2.04.031):
"I'm happy to be in sixth place but we stillhave a lot
of work to do on the set-up. The rain slowed us down and thedamp
track in the afternoon was difficult to ride on because it
seemsthe new surface doesn't drain very well. Anyway, I really
like thelayout here and we've done a good job today."
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