Repsol Honda’s Nicky Hayden set the third fastest time today as practice for this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix got under way at Phillip Island near Melbourne. The 25-year-old world championship leader continued to make progress with the latest chassis on his evolution RC211V, improving from ninth in the morning session to third overall. In the afternoon Hayden was one of several riders to make a late test run on a qualifying Michelin, in preparation for tomorrow’s one-hour qualifying session where the American hot-shot will be looking for a repeat of last year’s pole position.
Still affected by injuries sustained in a practice crash in Malaysia a week ago, Dani Pedrosa took his time working up to speed at the picturesque 4.448km (2.764 miles) Australian track. With his injured right knee healing but far from comfortable, the 20-year-old reigning 250cc World Champion worked on achieving a comfortable riding technique, preferring to ease into the pace rather than go for the fastest possible lap-times today.
The qualifying session tomorrow begins at 2pm local time (6am CET) with the lights going out for Sunday’s 27-lap race at 3pm (7am CET.) As well as holding first and second places in the riders’ world championship, the Repsol Honda Team, with 406 points, enjoys a clear lead in the MotoGP Team World Championship, 122 points ahead of its nearest rival. With points from both riders counting, a total of 14 points from the Repsol Honda stars this weekend would clinch the title with three rounds remaining.
Nicky Hayden 3rd – 1m 30.471s “It’s been a reasonable start to the weekend compared to the last few races which is good. We made a bit of an improvement this afternoon and tried a few settings that worked better on the bike. The biggest thing right now is to try to find some more traction and get the bike to transfer weight without hurting the front too much. We’ve definitely got some ideas about how to improve it and right now Turn 10 is my worst point – getting out of that slow corner and into the next left. The bike feels ok in a few spots, though we’ve definitely got some work to do – I need to be able to get into the 1m 30s consistently tomorrow. So all the boys in my team will put their heads together and come up with something to keep it going in the right direction tomorrow.”
Dani Pedrosa 17th – 1m 32.304s “Today I was really just checking my physical condition and also the conditions of the track because the temperatures here are very different to the last race in Sepang. From being away from racing for four days I felt pretty good – but now to be back on the bike is pretty difficult – it feels really sore. I had some painkillers this afternoon to ease it a little – but no injections. It’s going to be important to step up my current pace, and we’ll see if we can do it tomorrow. I ran off the track this afternoon because I touched the brake on the downhill section and lost the front – it went completely straight on, and I released the brake but it was too late to stay on track. I will just keep taking things step by step this weekend – hopefully they will be big steps!”
Makoto Tanaka - Team Manager “Today’s first practice was quite high-paced compared to last year, and Nicky had a good start. We need more work to improve the acceleration from the last corner, but he finished the first day with a good feeling from the bike. Dani is still feeling the affects of his Sepang fall and is going to work on his bike set-up carefully. He is obviously very keen to avoid any more falls right now so it was normal steady progress today. He is going to resume the set-up of the bike gradually tomorrow. The rivals looks quite strong here so we have to continue to concentrate totally and work hard.”
Combined Free Practice Times: 1, Randy de Puniet - Kawasaki Racing Team - 1m 29.745s
2, Loris Capirossi - Ducati Marlboro Team - 1m 30.310s
3, Nicky Hayden - Repsol Honda Team - 1m 30.471s
4, Sete Gibernau - Ducati Marlboro Team - 1m 30.693s
5, Shinya Nakano - Kawasaki Racing Team - 1m 30.716s
6, Casey Stoner - LCR Honda - 1m 30.768s
7, Marco Melandri - Fortuna Honda - 1m 30.863s
8, Valentino Rossi - Camel Yamaha Team - 1m 31.045s
9, Kenny Roberts - Jr Team Roberts - 1m 31.077s
10, Carlos Checa - Tech 3 Yamaha - 1m 31.137s
11, Makoto Tamada - Konica Minolta Honda - 1m 31.346s
12, John Hopkins - Rizla Suzuki MotoGP - 1m 31.496s
13, Colin Edwards - Camel Yamaha Team - 1m 31.514s
14, Chris Vermeulen - Rizla Suzuki MotoGP - 1m 31.846s
15, Alex Hofmann - Pramac d’Antin MotoGP - 1m 31.978s
16, Toni Elias - Fortuna Honda - 1m 32.034s
17, Dani Pedrosa - Repsol Honda Team - 1m 32.304s
18, J L. Cardoso - Pramac d’Antin MotoGP - 1m 32.998s
Free Practice Conditions: Weather: Sun
Temp: 18º C
Track: Dry / 28º
Humidity: 28%
Circuit length: 4.448km – 2.764 miles
Lap Record: Nicky Hayden: 1m 30.332s (2005)
2005 Race Result:1, Valentino Rossi - Gauloises Yamaha Team 41m 08.54s
2, Nicky Hayden - Repsol Honda + 1.007s
3, Carlos Checa - Ducati Marlboro Team + 4.215s
4, Marco Melandr - Movistar Honda MotoGP + 4.232s
5, Sete Gibernau - Movistar Honda MotoGP + 14.088s
6, Colin Edwards - Gauloises Yamaha Team + 33.200s
7, Shinya Nakano - Kawasaki Racing Team + 45.055s
8, Makoto Tamada - Konica Minolta Honda + 45.103s
9, Toni Elias Fortuna - Yamaha Team + 45.104s
10, John Hopkins - Team Suzuki MotoGP + 50.260s
11, Chris Vermeulen - Camel Honda + 50.697s
12, Ruben Xaus - Fortuna Yamaha Team + 1m 08.324s
13, Roberto Rolfo - Pramac D'Antin Team + 1m 31.737s
14, James Ellison - Blata WCM + 1 lap
15, Franco Battaini - Blata WCM + 1 lap
16, Olivier Jacque - Kawasaki Racing Team + 2 laps
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