Japan GP. First practice. Driver´s comments

Rossi: ‘We had a good set-up from the beginning really following on from all the work we did in the tests here’.
MotoGP. Valentino Rossi, 2.06.838. 1st: This morning in the dry situation the bike felt good. We had a good rhythm and managed to make some good lap times. We had a good set-up from the beginning really following on from all the work we did in the tests here where the team worked well and we found a good solution for the feel of the bike. This afternoon we were lucky with the strange conditions as we made a good time and the rain started to come at the right moment! For tomorrow I’d like to get some good conditions again’.MotoGP. Nicky Hayden, 2.13.588. 23th: This morning things were going pretty good – then I fell off! Pretty big crash really; 4th gear; shook me up quite a bit and I’m feeling a little sore. We lost a bit of time but we managed to get out again on the spare bike but it was difficult to get back into it. This afternoon it was pretty damp. I went out on intermediate tyres and didn’t really have such a good feel with the bike. I came in and put some slicks on and managed to get going quite well and my lap time were really coming down but then it started to rain again. Funny old first day. I guess I’ve got to start somewhere! It’s only Friday; I’ve got the whole of Saturday’.250. Fonsi Nieto, 2.22.457. 9th: We had a dry track in the morning. We are still focussed working on the new chassis, but it still isn’t working according to my riding style. We have improved a lot, but we have still a lot to do and a lot to test. The rain messed up the day, but we manaegd to finish ninth despite everything and if it rains tomorrow it won’t be a bad place on the grid. I could be a bit more in the front but the number one bike broke when I was starting to improve my times. I had to come back running from the other end to get my second bike, but it was raining stronger and I wasn’t able to improve’.250. Toni Elias, 2.29.312. Not classified: At the beginning of the session I chose to start with slick tyres and wanted to take things easy. I didn’t want to risk a crash. Once I decided to ride faster to improve my times it began to rain on the back side of the circuit and I went back to the pit garage. That was a mistake, because if I wouldn’t have stopped I would probably be classified, because I was very fast on that lap. When I went back on the track to try to improve my times with rain tyres, it was just impossible. I felt very comfortable this morning on the dry track, but I still have to get more confidence on a wet track. If it rains again tomorrow and we don’t manage to make the necessary time, I hope that the Race Direction takes a logical decision, letting us take part in the Grand Prix.250. Sebastián Porto, 2.20.285. 6th: The afternoon has been complicated, but despite the few laps we made I have quite a good position. We’ve been driving under unusual conditions but it’s been right to ride at the beginning of the session, before it started to rain. Let’s hope that the weather tomorrow gives us a chance to clear up more things’.250. Héctor Faubel, 2.25.496. 11th: The practice has been quite difficult, we started on a dry track and ten minutes later it began to rain; eventually only the times under dry conditions counted, there were not many riders who were able to improve their times later. I finished eighteenth, but at least I managed to qualify. I’m very happy with the bike, it works perfectly’.250. Joan Olivé, 2.33.222. Not classified: It’s been a very strange practice, half dry and half wet. I didn’t take advantage of the dry conditions, because I thought that the track was still wet. Now we have to hope for a clear day tomorrow in order to improve our times.125. Dani Pedrosa. Dani Pedrosa, 2.15.881. 2nd: This morning we’ve been testing some suspension settings, but we still have problems with the set-up and the handlebar was moving a lot. I hope to solve this things tomorrow. It hasn’t been bad in general, I was able to ride a bit and finished second.125. Pablo Nieto, 2.17.569. 11th: It hasn’t been bad after all. This morning we had a problem with the engine and in the afternoon we had to do running-in and carburation. I was only able to do one lap before it began to rain and I finished eleventh; let’s see if we can improve it tomorrow.125. Héctor Barberá, 2.17.224. 9th: We had problems with the engine during the morning’s free practice and I was only able to do four laps in the afternoon because it began to rain. I finally managed to qualify ninth; let’s hope things will be better tomorrow. On the other hand I’ve been riding faster than last year and I’m very happy both with the team and the bike.