Spies Fastest In MotoGP First Practice
Ben Spies on top early in Estoril. (Photo: MotoGP)
ESTORIL, Portugal — In a similar vein to the first practice session in Jerez, the Portuguese MotoGP weekend started with a part-wet circuit, which was drying out throughout the session under partial sun. Only a handful of riders started the practice on wet tyres, until almost the entire field went out on slicks with ten minutes to go.
In the dying seconds, Spies set the fastest lap with a 1.40´813, stealing first spot from Ducati Team´s Nicky Hayden, who looks to be continuing his practice form from Spain. His teammate Valentino Rossi will be buoyed by his third place finish at the mostly-dry track, after struggling in such conditions at the previous round.
Repsol Honda´s Casey Stoner was just under a second off the pace in fourth, followed by San Carlo Honda Gresini´s Álvaro Bautista. Monster Yamaha Tech 3´s Cal Crutchlow was a further three tenths behind Stoner, and once again outpaced his team mate Andrea Dovizioso.
Behind him, Repsol Honda´s Dani Pedrosa finished eighth fastest, ahead of surprise inclusion Yonny Hernandez aboard his Avintia Blusens CRT bike. Rounding out the top ten was Cardion AB Motoracing´s Karel Abraham.
Yamaha´s current championship leader Jorge Lorenzo and Pramac Racing Team´s Hèctor Barberá opted not to set a time in the session.
Much like at Jerez, this session gave very little indication of actual form, as many riders will not have been pushing for a competitive lap.
Pos. Rider Team Bike Time
1 Ben Spies Yamaha Factory Racing Yamaha M1 01:40.8
2 Nicky Hayden Marlboro Ducati Team Ducati GP12 01:41.1
3 Valentino Rossi Marlboro Ducati Team Ducati GP12 01:41.5
4 Casey Stoner Repsol Honda Team Honda RC213V 01:41.9
5 Alvaro Bautista Honda Gresini Honda RC213V 01:42.2
6 Cal Crutchlow Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha M1 01:42.3
7 Andrea Dovizioso Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha M1 01:42.3
8 Dani Pedrosa Repsol Honda Team Honda RC213V 01:43.1
9 Yonny Hernandez BQR BQR-FTR 01:43.3
10 Karel Abraham Cardion AB Motoracing Ducati GP12 01:43.3
11 Randy De Puniet Aspar Team MotoGP ART 01:43.3
12 Michele Pirro Honda Gresini FTR 01:43.5
13 Stefan Bradl LCR Honda MotoGP Honda RC213V 01:43.5
14 Colin Edwards Forward Racing Suter 01:44.9
15 Danilo Petrucci Ioda Racing Project Ioda 01:45.1
16 Akeix Esparago Aspar VART 01:45.6
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Posted by NSSN Staff
on May 4 2012 Filed under Latest Headlines, MotoGP, Motorcycles, Top Stories.
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