Pacific GP. Second practice. Driver´s comments

Toni Elias: ‘I only hope to be able to make a race like the one in Rio but without the final crash’.
Valentino Rossi, 148.030 sec,1st, starting grid position 1st: Things are coming better especially with the setting on the bike. We work a lot for the race set-up and we manage to get a good high rhythm. There are still small things to fix but we have an opportunity in the warm up tomorrow. At the end of the session we tried for the best lap time with the qualification tyre. Normally we are always in delay and run out of time. Today we had a little bit too much time and in the last five minutes I had used all the tyres! Anyway third position and on the front row is not too bad. We wait for tomorrow! Nicky Hayden, 148.618 sec,5th, starting grid position 5th: Quite a fun session. I did my best time quite early and went to P1 (12 mins from end). On the second attempt to go faster after Id had some time to think about it I went 2/10th secs slower on the first lap and on the second I got a red helmet then a blue then I guess Id just abused my tyre too much! Fifth place and really close to the front row is good. The race tomorrow is gonna be real difficult. Ive gotta get stuck in and give everything. Im real happy there seem to be so much Hayden support here. A lot of fans here a really into US dirt track, which is cool. I really hope to be able to give them something to shout about t9omorrow. 250. Toni Elias, 1.52´849 sec, pole, grid position 1st: The practices have been very good and once again, Im satisfied with the pole. Today weve been working with regard to the race. Weve found solutions for some of the problems we were having and I also think that Ive found a good rhythm. At the beginning of the session we made some changes in the engine that didnt have the results we had expected and it meant a step back in the settings. In the last minutes of the timed session, Battaini snatched the pole. I thought that it would be difficult to improve his time but in the end I managed to do so. Well see how things develop tomorrow, because things use to change on Sunday. For the moment I only hope it doesnt rain, because there were some drops falling at the end of the session. I think that Poggiali will surely be in the front during the race and I hope that De Puniet will be able to take the start as well. After what happened in Brazil, the Championship has turned a bit complicated. There are still hundred points at stake and Im going to fight until the very end. Im not going to give up, I have a good rhythm and Im very satisfied. Well see what happens tomorrow, I only hope to be able to make a race like the one in Rio but without the final crash. 250. Sebastián Porto, 1.53´650 sec, 3rd, grid position 4th: Im very satisfied, the practices have been good and the bike has worked well. Weve been working hard since yesterdays session and we could see the improvements already this morning. In the afternoon we made some changes that allowed me to do two very good last laps. Im very happy to have managed to get my first front row place here in Japan. Honda has its headquarters here and Im happy to be the first Honda in the time sheets. Ill give it all tomorrow in the race, for Honda and for everybody. I hope to have a good finish of the weekend and to make all the team happy. 250. Fonsi Nieto, 1.55´095 sec, 14th, grid position 15th: These have been the worst practice sessions of the year. We still have a lot of problems, I cant take the bike where I want to and were not able to find the right settings. Its difficult to take the corners and to open the throttle, and I loose a lot of time braking. I analysed the telemetry data yesterday and in the fast section I was even a bit faster than Toni, who set the pole today. But I loose a lot of time in the slow corners, which is actually the easier section. Well keep on working and Ill try a new setting tomorrow during the warm-up hoping to find a solution. Too bad its happening like this because Poggiali is seventh and it could be a good chance for us. Weve made some good races this year but now we just cant find the right way. 250. Héctor Faubel, 1.55´300 sec, 16th, grid position 17th: The truth is that this circuit is a bit complicated for me. Each time we race on tracks like this, where the layout has   heavy braking and acceleration areas, I have the same problem, the bike isnt balanced and thats exactly what is happening here. Ive found a set-up that is not the ideal one but it isnt bad either. We still have to work in order to find the perfect setting, but I hope to make a good start and to be lapping among the leading pack.                        250. Joan Olivé, 1.57´329 sec, 26th, grid position 28thº: We started the session improving the time set yesterday, in part because Ive slightly changed the riding style I used to have on this circuit. This is a circuit where you can really notice that this is my first year in the 250cc class. Riding here in the quarter-litre class is different than in the 125cc. But I hope to improve for tomorrow and adapt to this kind of riding style. Here you have to brake hard in the beginning and I still take the corners the way I used to do it on the 125cc. I hope to feel the changes during tomorrows warm-up and to be able to improve. Ill give it all in the race and then well have to wait for the next circuits, which I like very much. 125. Dani Pedrosa, 1.57´736 sec, pole, grid position 1st: Today, although weve had the same problems as yesterday, weve managed to make some improvements and the practice has been positive in general. Weve been able to set a good time and we have a good rhythm. Lets hope for a little luck for tomorrow and that the bike works well. Lets see if were able to escape from the group because the riders starting right behind me are very good as well. I hope to be able to get a good result in the race, not only for myself but also for the Championship. 125. Héctor Barberá, 1.58´684 sec, 4º, grid position 4th:Im very happy with this front row position, especially after the problems we had yesterday that hindered us from lapping during a large part of the practice session. However, Ive been able to lap fast this morning and I felt very comfortable on the bike. The timed session in the afternoon went very well too. I couldnt be fast in the beginning but the last two laps were very good and we managed to get a place on the front row. Weve found a good general set-up, the bike is working well and I already know which tyres to use for the race. Im not going to make any change in the bikes settings; I only hope that the tyres will resist the whole race. Its a twenty-lap race and the last laps will be critical for the tyres if it gets too warm. I hope to be lucky tomorrow and to be on the podium. 125. Pablo Nieto, 1.59´092 sec, 6th, grid position 6th: Today the practices have been much better. Im satisfied, because the position we got yesterday was too far in the back and weve managed to improve. Weve made some changes in the settings, weve found a good compromise with the bike and its working much better allowing us to move a big step forward with regard to the race tomorrow. Well only have to make some fine-tuning tomorrow during the warm-up. I want to thank Hector because I felt a bit lost in the beginning of the timed practice and he pulled me forward. Weve been doing teamwork and weve both managed to get a good place on the grid. The race tomorrow will be a hard one and Pedrosa, who set an excellent time today will be the one to set the pace of the race.