The fortunes of the British riders matched the mixed match of weather that surrounded the Estoril circuit during the first day of practice for the bwin.com Grand Prix of Portugal.
James Toseland crashed at slow speed in the afternoon MotoGP practice session that was held in dry but blustery conditions around the 2.599 mile circuit. The Yorkshire man was in good company with five times Estoril winner Valentino Rossi crashing on the damp track in the morning and current World Champion Casey Stoner falling on the first lap of the afternoon session.
Both Bradley Smith and Danny Webb crashed in the first 125 cc practice session when the track was cold and slippery.
Pedrosa Continues Where He Left Off Championship leader Danny Pedrosa continued where he left off from his victory in Jerez a couple of weeks ago by leading the way after two MotoGP practice sessions.
The Repsol Honda rider, who has never won in Estoril, led the way from the Yamaha duo of Rossi and American Colin Edwards in the afternoon session in which less than one second covered the first ten riders.
Toseland, who has finished sixth in his opening two MotoGP races, was 13th riding the Tech 3 Yamaha using the new Yamaha engine for the first time.
“I crashed on my first lap in the afternoon when on a cold tyre,” he explained. “I was perfectly OK and I’m really pleased with the new Yamaha engine which will make a great difference.”
World Champion Stoner also crashed on the first lap during the afternoon and seemed to be having problems with the front end of the Marlboro Ducati throughout the one hour session and eventually finished seventh fastest.
Alex De Angelis was another faller on that first lap while 2006 Estoril winner Toni Elias’s Alice Ducati expired in a cloud of smoke.
Tough Day For The Youngsters It was a tough day for the young British stars in the 125 cc class. Smith, who has started the opening two grands prix from pole, was uninjured in his morning fall but could only qualify a lowly 22nd in the afternoon due to handling problems which his Polaris World team are confident they can rectify in time for tomorrow afternoon’s final qualifying session.
Webb lost a toe nail in his morning crash but qualified one place in front of Smith, riding the Degraaf Aprilia while 15 year old Scott Redding was the fastest of the trio on his Estoril debut. He qualified 19th on the Blusens Aprilia.
In the 250cc class Ulsterman Eugene Laverty was 20th, riding the Blusens Aprilia.
