ROSSI STRAIGHT BACK ON THE PACE WITH STRONG SECOND IN BRNO
The MotoGP paddock returned to action at Brno in the Czech
Republic today, the first in a final run of seven races across
four continents. Fresh from a well-deserved holiday following
his stunning Laguna Seca victory, Rossi finished the day a
close second behind Casey Stoner.
With the newly surfaced track adding an unknown factor to
the day’s proceedings, the Italian was pleased to find
his Yamaha-Bridgestone package working well from the start
this morning and he finished the morning session first. With
rain a possibility tomorrow the team were keen to get through
as much of their tyre programme as possible today and so Rossi
tried several different combinations this afternoon, which
saw him improve his pace by half a second. He finished the
day 0.179 seconds off Casey Stoner.
Jorge Lorenzo had a more difficult time on his return from
injury and was only able to manage 11th in the combined standings.
Valentino Rossi
Position: 2nd Time: 1'57.410 Laps: 44
“I’ve had a good holiday but it’s fun to
be back on the bike again! Today has started very well and
I am very happy with my bike and with our tyres, it seems
the Bridgestones are working very well here so far. The new
asphalt is good, much better than last year and the grip improved
throughout the day so I think that they have done a good job.
Casey is strong again here so it looks like being a hard race,
but we have made a good start. Tomorrow it seems it could
rain, which is a pity, but we have found a good setting today
so hopefully, even if it is wet, then we will be in good shape
on Sunday. We have some small engine modifications here to
try but mostly we will wait until Monday to try the new parts,
when we will have an important test.”
Davide Brivio
Team Manager
“It’s good to be back in action; we’ve made
a good start and been fast all day. We’ve tried quite
a few different things and some different tyres with the aim
of collecting as much information as possible, in case it
rains tomorrow. Of course we hope it doesn’t but there
is a chance it will be wet and so we wanted to make as much
of today as we could so that we are prepared. It’s been
a positive day and we hope that we can continue like this.”
Combined Free Practice Times
1. Casey Stoner (AUS) Ducati Marlboro 1'57.231
2. Valentino Rossi (ITA) Fiat Yamaha Team 1'57.410
3. Loris Capirossi (ITA) Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1'58.000
4. Shinya Nakano (JPN) San Carlo Honda Gresini 1'58.228
5. Alex De Angelis (RSM) San Carlo Honda Gresini 1'58.264
6. Chris Vermeulen (AUS) Rizla Suzuki 1'58.462
7. Colin Edwards (USA) Tech 3 Yamaha 1'58.672
8. John Hopkins (USA) Kawasaki Racing 1'58.830
9. Toni Elias (SPA) Alice Team 1'58.881
10. Sylvain Guintoli (FRA) Alice Team 1'58.923
11. Jorge Lorenzo (SPA) Fiat Yamaha Team 1'58.977
12. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA) JiR Team Scot MotoGP 1'59.094
13. James Toseland (GBR) Tech 3 Yamaha 1'59.328
14. Randy De Puniet (FRA) LCR Honda MotoGP 1'59.405
15. Marco Melandri (ITA) Ducati Marlboro 1'59.943
16. Dani Pedrosa (SPA) Repsol Honda 2'00.540
17. Anthony West (AUS) Kawasaki Racing 2'00.621
Brno: Record Lap
L. Capirossi (Ducati) 2006, 1'58.157
Brno: Best Lap
V. Rossi (Yamaha) 2006, 1'56.191
|
