A FALL INTERRUPTS DANI PEDROSA'S TRAINING SESSIONS
The Repsol rider was taken to the USP Institut Universitari
Dexeus hospital, where he was diagnosed with a lumbar trauma,
and will need to rest during 48 hours. Hayden was able to
continue testing the new pneumatic-valve engine
Repsol Honda riders Dani Pedrosa and Nicky Hayden commenced
a two-day test session at Catalunya this afternoon, but yesterday's
race-winner Pedrosa ended the day in hospital after a heavy
tumble at the one/turn two chicane.
Both riders had planned to spend the day doing back-to-back
tests with the RC212V spring-valve and pneumatic-valve engines.
Pedrosa started with the conventional engine (best lap time:
1m 43.48s), then switched to the pneumatic-valve unit, but
that outing (best lap time: 1m 43.81s) was cut short by a
minor electrical problem, so the Spaniard swapped machines
again. It was during this outing that Pedrosa suffered a highside
tumble, landing heavily on his back. He was taken to Barcelona's
Dexeus hospital where x-rays confirmed that he has no broken
bones, but he has bruised his back and will need 48 hours
of rest and anti-inflammatory medication. Pedrosa will not
test tomorrow.
Hayden meanwhile evaluated both engines. The American was
happy with the pneumatic-valve engine's top speed and rideability
and spent most of his time working on set-up with that engine.
Tomorrow he will focus on race-distance tyre testing with
the same engine.
Julián Simón also trained on the Catalunya
Circuit today. The Repsol rider, who tried out the new chassis
during the Grand Prix's three days, rode with the old one
again while it was the turn for Mika Kallio, rider who receives
technical support from Repsol, to try out the new chassis.
Simón completed 45 laps and focused on testing tyres,
though mechanical problems cut his training session short.
Quotes
MotoGP
Nicky Hayden >> 1’ 42.721 secs, 73 laps, 345 Km.
"It went smooth today. We tried the new bike, my feeling
with it was good, it had some good points. But we need more
time to check the bike in a long distance situation.
We tried some general setting things with it, and we only
using race tyres, seeing what kind of endurance we could get
because we had some problems with set-up during the weekend
wearing the tyres more than we liked. We'll run with it more
tomorrow and maybe try a new chassis."
Dani Pedrosa >> 1’43.552 secs, 34 laps,
161 Km.
"The crash happened while I was changing direction in
the first chicane. It was a highside and I fell quite heavily.
My back and my shoulders hurt. I crashed at the start of my
second lap of that run, maybe because the tyres weren't fully
up to temperature.
When I fell I was doing some tyre testing with the standard
engine. I only did ten laps with the pneumatic-valve engine
so it's still too early to give any comments."
250cc
Julián Simón >> 1’48.7 secs, 45
laps, 213 Km.
“We've been using the old chassis, because we've been
using it throughout the whole weekend and today it was Kallio's
turn. We've gone back to the one we had before, with a similar
setup. Personally, I'm ready to ride with with the new one,
because I think it has great potential and with some work
it can be quite fast.
The bike was performing similar to during the race, though
the times were slower, because today it was windier and the
track wasn't in such good condition as yesterday. It was more
difficult, and on top of that we had mechanical problems with
both bikes. Overall however it was a positive day, as we've
tried out some tyres that I liked a lot. As for Donington,
we're looking forward to doing well there, because it's a
track that's easier for us and where the things we've tried
out today will come in handy.”
Results
MotoGP
1. C. STONER (DUCATI) 1:41.533
2. V. ROSSI (YAMAHA) 1:41.857
3. S. NAKANO (HONDA) 1’42.039
4. J. TOSELAND (YAMAHA)) 1.42.505
5. A. DE ANGELIS (HONDA) 1’42.699
6. N. HAYDEN (REPSOL HONDA) 1’42.721
13. D. PEDROSA (REPSOL HONDA) 1’43.552
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