REPSOL HONDA’S HAYDEN SECOND FASTEST ON DAY ONE AT
DONINGTON
The British Grand Prix, Donington Park
First day of practice, Friday June 20 2008
Repsol Honda RC212V riders Nicky Hayden and Dani Pedrosa
were second and sixth fastest in today’s opening two
practice sessions at Donington Park.
Hayden had a positive day, using HRC’s pneumatic-valve
engine at a race for the first time. The 2006 MotoGP World
Champion worked hard at dialling in the engine, which has
a 1000rpm higher rev ceiling than the valve-spring RCV engine,
ending the day half a second off reigning champ Casey Stoner.
Pedrosa was also going well in the cool, blustery conditions,
running third fastest this afternoon before he highsided at
Redgate corner. The tough Spaniard, currently a close second
in the 2008 points standings, immediately returned to the
pits to continue riding with his other machine. Dry track
time looks like it may be in limited supply this weekend,
with rain forecast for tomorrow.
Nicky Hayden, 2nd fastest, 1m 28.829s
“Everything went relatively smooth today, though conditions
were a little bit chilly, a little bit dirty. Honestly I’ve
got to thank HRC. I told them that I really wanted to use
the pneumatic-valve engine here, so they worked some on the
electronics and the guys said I could use it, so long as I
was going to be in the top three or four! I was second this
afternoon and fifth this morning, so that kinda evens out,
do the math. Sure, Stoner’s going quick and we’ve
got some work to do to get with him but overall the bike is
working good, so thanks to HRC and the team for delivering.
The engine is pretty aggressive, but I like to go somewhere
when I open the throttle, I like something to happen. It’s
a little bit quicker, so it’s nice to be up near the
front of the trap speeds. I was fourth from the top today,
even though this is only a small, fifth-gear straight. I also
had a new chassis today which felt better, it’s a little
bit of an improvement stability-wise.”
Dani Pedrosa, 6th fastest, 1m 29.207s
“We were trying to concentrate our usual two days of
work on set-up and tyre choice into today because the weather
forecast says it may rain tomorrow. I felt quite sore when
I got on the bike this morning and I feel a bit sorer now!
I think maybe we were using a too-hard rear tyre when I crashed.
But I didn’t do anything serious in the fall, so I got
back out on the track as quickly as I could because I wanted
to do as much work as possible before the rain comes. We are
still struggling a bit here. We have some ideas for tomorrow,
so we hope we can get as much dry time as possible.”
Kazuhiko Yamano - Team Manager
“We were sorry to see Dani crash but we are happy that
he is okay. He is working hard on machine set-up and tyre
choice, which he will continue with tomorrow morning. Nicky
seems quite happy with the pneumatic-valve engine and so far
the result is quite good. It is a bit complicated for him
though, using the engine for the first time at a race and
working to find the best engine setting and so on. Maybe it
rains tomorrow, which could be a good thing, because then
we can be prepared whether it is wet or dry on Sunday.”
FREE PRACTICE 2 - LAP TIMES
1. C. STONER AUS Ducati Marlboro Team 1'28.253
2 N. HAYDEN USA Repsol Honda Team + 0.576
3 V. ROSSI ITA Fiat Yamaha Team + 0.656
4 C. EDWARDS USA Tech 3 Yamaha + 0.716
5 A. DE ANGELIS RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini + 0.739
6 D. PEDROSA SPA Repsol Honda Team + 0.954
7 S. NAKANO JPN San Carlo Honda Gresini + 0.954
8 J. TOSELAND GBR Tech 3 Yamaha + 1.088
9 C. VERMEULEN AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP + 1.157
10 R. DE PUNIET FRA LCR Honda MotoGP + 1.180
11 J. HOPKINS USA Kawasaki Racing Team + 1.188
12 A. WEST AUS Kawasaki Racing Team + 1.413
13 A. DOVIZIOSO ITA JiR Team Scot MotoGP + 1.469
14 M. MELANDRI ITA Ducati Marlboro Team + 1.603
15 T. ELIAS SPA Alice Team + 2.015
16 J. LORENZO SPA Fiat Yamaha Team + 2.037
17 B. SPIES USA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP + 2.513
18 S. GUINTOLI FRA Alice Team + 2.678
DONINGTON PARK – THE TRACK
Constructed: 1931
Latest modification: 1985
Length: 4,023m
Width: 10m
Pole position: Left
Right corners: 7
Left corners: 4
Longest straight: 564m
Race: 30 laps
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