World‘s second visit to Japan, the high temperatures in the day today have surprised everyone at the Motegi circuit. Valentino Rossi, recently crowned MotoGP World Champion 2002, has trained today suffering from gastroenteritis, which is not prevented him taking up positions in the first line of the grid after setting the third fastest time behind Kato and Biaggi. His teammate Tohru Ukawa, immersed in the development of his Repsol Honda RC 211 V, ended the session in eighth place.
The presence of the new four-stroke Kawasaki ridden by Yanagawa (12 °) in the premier class, and the premiere of Alex Barros on a Honda RC211 V, were the keynotes of this first day of practice. In 250cc, Marco Melandri was fastest in the path Japan followed by a very active and Toni Elias quickly throughout the day. First, in some stages of the qualifying session, the Repsol rider was finally overcome by the rival teammate Fonsi Nieto in the race for the title. Nieto, now suffering from the effects of jet lag and disruption caused by the sudden change in schedule, could not perform 100%, having to settle for fourth place provisional. In 125cc, Dani Pedrosa want to forget quickly fall in Brazil, and the best way is getting the best time, as it has achieved this afternoon at Motegi. With a lead of over half a second over second-placed Pedrosa is optimistic on a circuit that is very comfortable and last year took third place on the podium. His teammate Joan Olive, with tire problems, marked the twenty-fourth position
