British GP. First practice session
NICKY HAYDEN SECOND IN ENGLAND & DANI PEDROSA SIXTH,
IN SPITE OF A BAD FALL
The Spanish rider in the Repsol Honda Team fortunately came
to no harm in the incident. Nicky Hayden set the second fastest
time using the engine with pneumatic valves
Today the first practice sessions were held at the Circuit
of Donington Park in preparation for the British GP, the eighth
race this 2008 season but with all eyes on the sky, rain is
expected tomorrow according to the forecast. In the top category,
two sides of the coin for the Repsol Honda Team at the end
of the first day, with Nicky Hayden setting the the second
fastest time and Dani Pedrosa the sixth best, but this was
after a bad fall on curve number one, at the end of the British
track`s main straight.
Pedrosa was thrown off his bike after suddenly losing tyre
adherence on the rear wheel. After the fall the Spanish rider
was hit several times by his motorbike but even though it
was a very spectacular accident he only suffered minor bruising
on his back, his right-hand and left foot. This incident did
not stop him riding back to the pits, getting on his second
motorbike and returning to the track to carry on testing.
The possible cause of the fall could have been the hard tyre
compound, a tyre that he had gone out to test and he fell
when he was about to start his second lap.
The good news this time was for Nicky Hayden, the American
rider in the Repsol Honda Team, who made his debut on the
bike that has the engine with pneumatic valves fitted after
testing it to his satisfaction in Barcelona on the Monday
and Tuesday after the recent Catalunya GP. Hayden did a total
of 60 laps on the British track today, setting the second
fastest time at the end of the second session, behind Casey
Stoner, who was the fastest today in the the MotoGP free-training
sessions. The American rider was more than satisfied with
his engine`s performance and the handling on the new chassis
which he also tested today at Donington Park.
In 250cc Julián Simón was able to improve on
his performances in the last two races in spite of using the
standard chassis again. The Repsol rider finished 7th in the
definitive timed session, at 1.229 secs. behind Álvaro
Bautista. However, the Repsol rider is aware of what is needed
to put the finishing touches to the set up and most of all
improve on the second section, which is where he lost most
time. One place above him was Hiroshi Aoyama, a rider with
technical support from Repsol, whilst his teammate, the Finn
Mika Kallio, was 14th today.
In 125cc the surprise was called Marc Márquez, as
he got the provisional pole with five minutes remaining. What
is becoming a habit is for the Repsol rider to improve each
time he goes out on the track. With his final set of new tyres
and a good wheel to follow, Márquez moved into 6th
position with seven minutes left, before setting a 1’38.044
that provisionally put him at the top of the leaderboard.
He then came across a lot of other riders on the track and
could not improve on his time, but was overtaken by others
who were able to put in a final lap. Márquez in the
end was in a positive 8th position on his first visit ever
to the British circuit.
His teammate, Esteve Rabat, was also satisfied at the end
of the day, setting the 13th best time. The Repsol rider,
who returned to racing after his bad accident in the recent
Catalunya GP, progressively improved his times, blaming a
slight lack of adherence on his tyres in the free session
because the track was still a little dirty. Rabat was complaining
of aches and pains in his legs owing to fatigue perhaps because
he has not trained in the last two weeks having had to rest
completely, but fortunately, when he was on his bike he was
in good physical shape.
Quotes
MotoGP
Dani Pedrosa >> 1’29.207 secs, 57 laps, 229 Km.
“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.”
Nicky Hayden >> 1’28.829 secs, 61 laps,
245 Km.
“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.”
250cc
Julián Simón >> 1’33.063 secs, 51
laps, 205 Km.
“This was a day of training with good weather, and that
is something positive in the UK. We used the standard chassis,
the one we have been using all year. We have been evolving
it and setting it up for this circuit. We are in a better
position than in the last two races and we will carry on working
hard so as to be better tomorrow.
For the time being we are on the second row, and we will
see what happens with the weather, but if it is dry tomorrow
the objective will be to get on the first row. We will be
very motivated since the bike is responding better than in
other races and we will have to take advantage of this circuit
to get higher in the classification. We have to improve a
bit on the second section, and finally get the set up that
we need on the bike and I myself can improve as I can go faster
on some curves.”
125cc
Esteve Rabat >> 1’38.355 secs, 38 laps, 153 Km.
“The objective today was to get out on the track and
see whether we were ready to race or not. Things went well
and I made some good progress because in the morning I was
left behind a bit.
The idea was to take things step by step, improve my times
progressively and climb in the classification so as to get
the best start on the grid in the race on Sunday. Points are
won in the race, so we are concentrating on trying to start
on the front row, and then give it our all so as to be up
with the leaders and so improve even more.”
Marc Márquez >> 1’38.044 secs,
37 laps, 149 Km.
“This morning the track was dirty and I could not get
the confidence necessary to ride comfortably. In the afternoon
I noticed that I felt better and had a lot more confidence.
What is more I found a good wheel to follow and set a good
time. As a rider I am making progress bit by bit, but we have
to take things calmly, because tomorrow the times will be
faster and I will have to progress some more. I still have
to improve some details, so I prefer no rain and to carry
on with my work at this circuit.”
Official Results
MotoGP
1. Casey STONER (DUCATI) 1:28.253
2. Nicky HAYDEN (REPSOL HONDA) at 0.576
3. Valentino ROSSI (YAMAHA) at 0.656
4. Colin EDWARDS (YAMAHA) at 0.716
5. Alex DE ANGELIS (HONDA) at 0.739
6. Dani PEDROSA (REPSOL HONDA) at 0.954
250cc
1. Álvaro BAUTISTA (APRILIA) 1:31.834
2. Marco SIMONCELLI (GILERA) at 0.170
3. Héctor BARBERÁ (APRILIA) at 0.519
4. Thomas LUTHI (APRILIA) at 1.001
5. Yuki TAKAHASHI (HONDA) at 1.019
7. Julián SIMÓN (REPSOL KTM) at 1.229
125cc
1. Simone CORSI (APRILIA) 1:37.488
2. Gabor TALMACSI (APRILIA) at 0.032
3. Sergio GADEA (APRILIA) at 0.161
4. Scott REDDING (APRILIA) at 0.278
5. Pol ESPARGARÓ (DERBI) at 0.461
8. Marc MÁRQUEZ (REPSOL KTM) at 0.556
13. Esteve RABAT (REPSOL KTM) at 0.867
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