Friday Morning MotoGP Practice Results: 1. Troy Bayliss, Honda, 1:24.547 2. Nicky Hayden, Honda, 1:24.639 3. John Hopkins, Suzuki, 1:24.785 4. Sete Gibernau, Honda, 1:24.889 5. Colin Edwards, Yamaha, 1:24.922 6. Valentino Rossi, Yamaha, 1:24.969 7. Alex Barros, Honda, 1:25.048 8. Max Biaggi, Honda, 1:25.193 9. Kenny Lee Roberts, Suzuki, 1:25.265 10. Carlos Checa, Ducati, 1:25.763 11. Shinya Nakano, Kawasaki, 1:25.779 12. Loris Capirossi, Ducati, 1:25.967 13. Alex Hofmann, Kawasaki, 1:26.203 14. Marco Melandri, Honda, 1:26.344 15. Ruben Xaus, Yamaha, 1:26.392 16. Toni Elias, Yamaha, 1:27.263, crash 17. Roberto Rolfo, Ducati, 1:27.323 18. Makoto Tamada, Honda, 1:27.511 19. Shane Byrne, Proton KR, 1:27.857 20. James Ellison, Blata, 1:28.809 21. Franco Battaini, Blata, 1:30.207 More, from a press release issued by Ducati Corse: DUCATI MEN GET TO KNOW LAGUNA SECA Ducati Team riders Carlos Checa and Loris Capirossi reacquainted themselves with the rollercoaster Laguna circuit this morning. Both riders took part in an extra-long first Friday session of almost two hours, to allow themselves time to relearn the complex, undulating venue. CHECA TENTH Carlos Checa rounded out the top ten. “This circuit isn’t so easy with all this horsepower, but it’s a lot of fun,” he said. “So far it doesn’t seem dangerous, just quite difficult at a few points. Things are okay so far, and once I feel better on the bike, so I’ve got more confidence and can keep rolling into the corners faster, they’ll be even better.” CAPIROSSI 12TH Loris Capirossi was a cautious 12th quickest in his first outing on his Ducati Team Desmosedici. “I’m not as quick as I want to be, but we are only getting used to the track at the moment,” he said Capirossi. “We still need to work on the gearing and set-up, and we are trying some different tyres which so far are a little hard, so I’m not getting a great feeling from them. In general, however, the whole package is working okay. This track is really nice but it’s not very suitable for MotoGP bikes, there are too many dangerous areas.” More, from a press release issued by Camel Honda: TROY BAYLISS START WELL AT LAGUNA SECA Getting away twenty minutes later than scheduled (several stewards still had to take their positions along the track and the entry to pit-lane had to be extended and a concrete guard-rail moved), MotoGP restarted their engines at the Laguna Seca circuit, eleven years after the last United States Grand Prix. There was a great deal of interest in finding out the riders’ first impressions of the Californian track and the modifications it has undergone, above all from those riders who have already raced at the track like the two Camel Honda team riders. Both Barros and Bayliss consider the track to be safer than in the past, even if several areas will still need further improvements. However both of them were quick from the off, above all Troy Bayliss, who rode fastest at a track which requires confident and aggressive riding, which the Australian evidently has in abundance. Sito Pons Camel Honda “I have done a lap of the track and I can see that a lot of important things have been done to improve safety, even though there are still things to be done. Also in terms of organisation we’re paying for over ten years of absence of Laguna Seca from the world championships: I mean for things like internet and intranet connections, the signals to the monitor and those kinds of things that help the day to day running of the team. I hope however that things will be sorted out over the coming hours. As for the rest I’m happy that such a great amount of interest has been awoken in America for MotoGP, in all my experience I’ve never seen it like this, and it’s evident not only from ticket sales but also from the coverage the national press is giving the event. It is so important for the world championship to race here and I’m satisfied that we can see both our riders amongst the quickest from the beginning. Both Troy and Alex have raced at Laguna before, and gone well, and I hope that they can keep their level of competitiveness throughout the weekend.” Alex Barros Camel Honda 1’25.048 – 7° tempo “Compared to eleven years ago this track is much safer. Although the asphalt seems the same, so it’s even more bumpy and undulating than before. Coming into the straight there’s a particularly big dip. In any case, this track requires you to ride very aggressively and be very physical, especially with the MotoGP bike compared to the 500cc. It’s not a circuit where you can get away with not riding a clean line. At the moment it’s hard to work out how to set the gearbox and the suspension; it’s dirty out there and there’s not a lot of grip but gradually as it cleans up things will become clearer and we can begin to think about tyres too. The times are sure to come down accordingly.” Troy Bayliss Camel Honda 1’24.547 – 1° tempo “I haven’t been to this track for three or four years now. The track is practically the same just with a few more bumps which seem to appear more every year. They’ve done a good job in improving the safety, they’ve moved several walls and the impression it gives is that overall it is much safer. It’s still a hard track though, where you have to be very aware, but it’s a track I really like, also because the last time I was here I got a good result. I’m feeling good on the bike, but it will be a long weekend and this is just a good start, my best so far this year. So, concentration, determination and hard work are what we need now.”