Dani Pedrosa setting the pace after the summer break.
The Repsol rider sets the fastest time in the 250cc; Nicky Hayden seventh in MotoGP and same place for Héctor Faubel in the 125cc.
In an incident- and surprise-free first day of the Czech Grand Prix, the World Championship has gradually recovered activity. The 250cc class showed the best evolution as regards the interests of the Repsol riders, while both in MotoGP and the 125, today’s results lead to the conclusion that there is still a lot to do to be competitive on Sunday. Both Repsol Honda Team MotoGP riders, are, for the moment, quite behind the fastest riders of the class.
In the morning session, with Capirossi clocking the fastest time, Nicky Hayden was fourth fastest, 3 tenths from the Italian, while his team-mate Max Biaggi was eighth, almost one second behind. Hayden complained about lack of feeling and confidence in the front end, while Max is having problems with the lack of traction in the rear end and a bouncing front end. In the afternoon, during the second free practice session, the best clock was set by Valentino Rossi, with Hayden in a back seventh place, five tenths behind the Italian, and Biaggi eleventh, almost eight tenths behind.
The work of the Repsol Honda Team engineers this afternoon and during the remaining two practice sessions until Sunday should be enough to put the average Grand Prix start in order. In the quarter-of-a-litre class, the results were more favourable for the Repsol riders, showing themselves highly competitive in both practice sessions. Lorenzo was fastest closely followed by Aoyama, third, four tenths behind, Pedrosa, fourth and five thousands of a second behind his Japanese team-mate, with Porto seventh and De Puniet ninth. In the afternoon, Dani Pedrosa took over the lead of the class setting the fastest time, with Lorenzo second, a bit over a tenth behind, Aoyama third and Sebastián Porto sixth. Randy De Puniet, who suffered a light crash in the last minutes of the timed session while trying to clock his fastest time, was finally eighth.
In the 125cc Héctor Faubel was again the fastest Repsol rider, setting the seventh fastest time during the first qualifying practice. In the morning, Héctor had finished in a back eighteenth position, two places behind his teammate Sergio Gadea, who was sixteenth, two seconds behind Kallio’s fastest time. In the afternoon, Faubel managed to improve considerably the set-up of his bike, allowing him to cut his previous time by more than three seconds, moving up to the seventh place of the provisional starting grid. Gadea finished in a back eighteenth position. Young Julián Miralles, seriously injured during the practice session of the Italian Grand Prix, rejoined competition today after more than two months of recovery and surgery, showing himself in very high spirits.
Repsol rider´s comments:
MotoGP. Nicky Hayden
First free practice 4th, 159.942 , 23 laps
Second free practice 7th, 159.833, 23 laps
It definitely feels good to be back on the bike and it was good feeling good this morning. This afternoon I just feel were missing something through the infield. I just dont seem to have any real confidence with the front to steer into the turn or really through the corner. Unfortunately, a lot of the stuff we tried today didnt seem to work that well so were all going to have to get our heads together to come up with something. We seem to be getting tighter and tighter as a team every race and I have every confidence well be there tomorrow.
MotoGP. Max Biaggi
First free practice 8th, 200.554, 21 laps
Second free practice 11th, 200.058, 21 laps
Sometimes I find it very hard to say something positive after days like these. I come to a track I love and have had such good results at in the past I find that I cant ride to my full potential. We are losing time in many sections. We have tried many different solutions in a short time but have not come up with the best solution yet. We see tomorrow but I hope for better.
250. Dani Pedrosa
First free practice 4th, 204.665, 21 laps
First qualifying practice 1st, 203.184, 17 laps
I was looking forward to getting back to competition, but these holidays have been really good for us. We got a bit lost in the morning practice with both bikes and I wanted to take things easy, because the last time I was on a bike was quite long ago. Things went better during the afternoon timed session. It drizzled a bit in the beginning but we were able to do some good laps. The bike worked fine, although we should improve a bit further for tomorrow as regards the general setting, to feel more comfortable. Tomorrow well focus on chassis and suspensions, and also in the search for the best tyres for the race. All riders are being very fast and the times have been very close; Im sure that they are going to improve even further tomorrow. The track is bumpy, as always, but its a bit dirtier than usual. Itll get better as it gets more rubber, and it will improve and we’ll be able to be faster.
250. Sebastián Porto
First free practice 7th, 204.955, 17 laps
First qualifying practice 6th, 203.611, 14 laps
Things went much better in the afternoon then in the morning. We had many problems during the free practice, but in the afternoon, we managed to improve the settings. Im still quite far away from my best lap time of last year, so we have to keep on working to keep on improving. Weve made a big step forward and Im sure that well be able to improve our times tomorrow. Tomorrow well focus on the chassis, and, although the engine seems to be working fine, there are still some tenths to get.
250. Randy De Puniet
First free practice 9th, 205.343, 22 laps
First qualifying practice 8th, 204.291, 16 laps
Its been a difficult day; weve had several problems with the bikes configuration and I had to spend a lot of time in the garage. Bit by bit we managed to improve the setting and it seems that we finally found the right configuration. At the end of the timed session, we put on qualifying tyres and I crashed, without consequences, in the second lap, therefore couldnt improve my lap time. I hope to be able to close the gap to the guys ahead tomorrow and to have the chance to have a good race.
125. Héctor Faubel
First free practice 18th, 213.455, 16 laps
First qualifying practice 7th, 210.176, 11 laps
The day hasnt been bad, because weve managed to get a place on the second row of the grid. I wasnt happy at all this morning and we made some changes on the bikes configuration that improved its behaviour in the afternoon. Well keep on working and Ill try to close the gap to the guys ahead to see if we manage to be in the front row. Track conditions Air: 27ºAsphalt: 37º-38ºHumidity: 12%-18%Wind: 7 Km/h
