MotoGP Round 8 at Sachsenring – The Return of the Doctor
Valentino Rossi made an unexpectedly strong return to action after his six-week injury break, finishing just 0.020 off his Fiat Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo in seventh position on the opening German practice session today. Meanwhile Lorenzo finished sixth, slightly struggling to find front end grip at the twisty Sachsenring track.
After his early return to action Rossi was fully expected to be taking it gently today but he felt very comfortable to be back on his M1 and was soon looking like he’d never been away, sitting in the top four for most of the session.
He dropped down the order a little at the end but was more than happy to be just 0.723 seconds off Dani Pedrosa’s pace, who recorded the fastest time of the day on his factory Honda. After the session Rossi applied ice to his leg but he has no more pain than is to be expected and is looking forward to making more improvements tomorrow.
Pedrosa top the timesheet with commanding time, signaling to the Yamaha’s rider that he’s not willing to give up on the championship without a fight. Today’s practice was held in very warm conditions with bright sunshine raising air temperatures to 36ºC and ground temperatures to 55ºC.
MotoGP has one practice session tomorrow morning, with qualifying in the afternoon. Sunday’s 30-lap race gets underway at 14.00hrs local time (12.00hrs GMT).
Combined Free Practice Times :
1. Dani Pedrosa (SPA) Repsol Honda Team 1’22.521
2. Casey Stoner (AUS) Ducati Marlboro Team 1’22.795
3. Nicky Hayden (USA) Ducati Marlboro Team 1’22.983
4. Ben Spies (USA) Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1’23.189
5. Marco Simoncelli (ITA) San Carlo Honda Gresini 1’23.204
6. Jorge Lorenzo (SPA) Fiat Yamaha Team 1’23.224
7. Valentino Rossi (ITA) Fiat Yamaha Team 1’23.244
8. Randy de Puniet (FRA) LCR Honda MotoGP 1’23.260
9. Marco Melandri (ITA) San Carlo Honda Gresini 1’23.290
10. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA) Repsol Honda Team 1’23.400
11. Mika Kallio (FIN) Pramac Green Team 1’23.422
12. Aleix Espargaro (SPA) Pramac Green Team 1’23.430
13. Colin Edwards (USA) Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1’23.440
14. Loris Capirossi (ITA) Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1’23.589
15. Hector Barbera (SPA) Aspar Team 1’23.599
16. Alvaro Bautista (SPA) Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1’24.020
17. Alex de Angelis (ITA) Interwetten Honda MotoGP 1’24.101
Photo : Fiat Yamaha / Rizla Suzuki / MotoGP
