Amidst a backdrop of heavy rain and miserably cold conditions - fitting given the wet weather theme of this year's world championship - the American rider began his final weekend for Honda in dominant style.
Casey Stoner was second fastest for Ducati but was lucky to emerge unscathed from a nasty high-side at the top of the hill into the last corner.
Jorge Lorenzo was third fastest, sporting a new FIAT colour scheme on his Yamaha, while Malaysia poleman Dani Pedrosa was fourth fastest on the second Repsol bike.
Wet weather specialist Sylvain Guitoli was fifth fastest as he begun his last weekend with Alice Ducati well, ahead of Colin Edwards on the Tech 3 Yamaha.
The Texan was one of only a few riders to go on track late in the session, most having given up on the water-logged circuit long before the hour was up.
Newly-crowned world champion Valentino Rossi (13th), for example, spent most of the time in his garage talking to the Yamaha mechanics.
Anthony West was seventh for Kawasaki, with Chris Vermuelen, Shinya Nakano and Andrea Dovizioso completing the top ten.
Pos Rider Bike Time 1. Nicky Hayden Honda (M) 1:47.694 2. Casey Stoner Ducati (B) 1:48.469 + 0.775 3. Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha (M) 1:49.037 + 1.343 4. Daniel Pedrosa Honda (B) 1:49.580 + 1.886 5. Sylvain Guintoli Ducati (B) 1:49.887 + 2.193 6. Colin Edwards Yamaha (M) 1:50.077 + 2.383 7. Anthony West Kawasaki (B) 1:50.397 + 2.703 8. Chris Vermeulen Suzuki (B) 1:50.760 + 3.066 9. Shinya Nakano Honda (B) 1:50.879 + 3.185 10. Andrea Dovizioso Honda (M) 1:51.098 + 3.404 11. James Toseland Yamaha (M) 1:51.210 + 3.516 12. Loris Capirossi Suzuki (B) 1:51.251 + 3.557 13. Valentino Rossi Yamaha (B) 1:51.721 + 4.027 14. John Hopkins Kawasaki (B) 1:52.798 + 5.104 15. Alex de Angelis Honda (B) 1:52.960 + 5.266 16. Marco Melandri Ducati (B) 1:53.083 + 5.389 17. Toni Elías Ducati (B) 1:53.119 + 5.425 18. Randy de Puniet Honda (B) 1:54.199 + 6.505
No comments:
Post a Comment