Marco Simoncelli has topped the first session of free practice for the MotoGP class at Assen, but all eyes were on Valentino Rossi and the new Ducati GP11.1. The first impression of the bike is that it works well, Rossi being either at or near the top of the timesheets all session, but given the soaking nature of the track, it is hard to tell how much of that is Rossi and how much is the new Ducati. Rossi did at least finish ahead of his bitter rival, Casey Stoner, the Repsol Honda rider being a little over a tenth slower than the Italain, while Stoner's Repsol teammate Andrea Dovizioso clocked the 4th fastest time. Jorge Lorenzo was the last man inside a second of Simoncelli, over a third of a second slower than Dovizioso.
The chance of rain during this afternoon's session of free practice is much lower, offering the tantalizing prospect of some dry track time. But this is Assen, and with nothing between the track and the North Sea but a few rows of trees and miles and miles of flat fields, the wind brings rain showers in fast here, so that could all change.
Results:
Pos | No. | Rider | Bike | Time | Diff | Diff Previous |
1 | 58 | Marco SIMONCELLI | HONDA | 1'49.036 | ||
2 | 46 | Valentino ROSSI | DUCATI | 1'49.396 | 0.360 | 0.360 |
3 | 27 | Casey STONER | HONDA | 1'49.527 | 0.491 | 0.131 |
4 | 4 | Andrea DOVIZIOSO | HONDA | 1'49.640 | 0.604 | 0.113 |
5 | 1 | Jorge LORENZO | YAMAHA | 1'49.995 | 0.959 | 0.355 |
6 | 35 | Cal CRUTCHLOW | YAMAHA | 1'50.386 | 1.350 | 0.391 |
7 | 17 | Karel ABRAHAM | DUCATI | 1'50.413 | 1.377 | 0.027 |
8 | 5 | Colin EDWARDS | YAMAHA | 1'50.968 | 1.932 | 0.555 |
9 | 69 | Nicky HAYDEN | DUCATI | 1'51.277 | 2.241 | 0.309 |
10 | 11 | Ben SPIES | YAMAHA | 1'51.590 | 2.554 | 0.313 |
11 | 8 | Hector BARBERA | DUCATI | 1'52.646 | 3.610 | 1.056 |
12 | 7 | Hiroshi AOYAMA | HONDA | 1'53.132 | 4.096 | 0.486 |
13 | 19 | Alvaro BAUTISTA | SUZUKI | 1'53.164 | 4.128 | 0.032 |
14 | 24 | Toni ELIAS | HONDA | 1'53.323 | 4.287 | 0.159 |
15 | 65 | Loris CAPIROSSI | DUCATI | 1'53.348 | 4.312 | 0.025 |
16 | 64 | Kousuke AKIYOSHI | HONDA | 1'53.353 | 4.317 | 0.005 |
17 | 14 | Randy DE PUNIET | DUCATI | 1'53.562 | 4.526 | 0.209 |
Comments
Rossi looked very comfortable
Rossi looked very comfortable and surefooted, circulating at ease with Simoncelli, contrast this to Karel wringing the GP11's neck for his time.
It got very wet in the middle of the session when Casey was out, he did go out again at the end when the pooled water looked less, but didn't leave enough time for more than one hot lap.
Body language at the end told plenty, Valentino dead serious but happy inside, he knows he is back on track, Jorge is not cool, it's going to take more than go faster red stripes, and Casey was very relaxed and full of smiles. Didn't see Simoncelli, but he must be stoked, reeled off a whole batch of 1.50 laps.
I am really not looking forward to trying to predict my MotoGP Fantasy Finishing order this time round, it has all been turned on it's head!
What's the weather going to do?
In reply to Rossi looked very comfortable by Alastair58
Weather
Improve I hope.
The pressure is on.
I agree, Alastair58. Already at the press conference yesterday, Lorenzo said the pressure was now off but looked quite the opposite. And now he not only has a Honda missile in front of him, but possibly also a Ducati storming from behind? Rossi certainly looked very comfortable, can't wait to see what happens the coming sessions. Exciting stuff!
What about the engine?
Did anyone check that Ducati remembered to put an 800 back in that GP12?
(Yes, I'm joking). Good to see him hopefully competitive again, even if I'm not entirely comfortable with how they did it. Should be good for the racing. Stoner will be nervous... Rossi could be close enough to take him out again now!
very curious to see what
very curious to see what happens in (the drying) FP2 session....
as soon as they get (hopefuly all) the oil off the track.
We could be seeing Rossi back at the front. Meanwhile, are the Yams
still using the 2010 chassis?
In reply to very curious to see what by Brodovitch
Or have they returned to the 2010 one yet?
.
In reply to Or have they returned to the 2010 one yet? by Nostrodamus
Is that the VR 2010
Is that the VR 2010 yamaha??.. Only day one for Ducati and not a bad start, though unquestionably early days, but it is better to start in the top 3 and go forward that to start in the top 12 and go forward...
ps they are having zero luck this year, with rain, drizzle and cold every weekend since rossi got anywhere near half fit and now a session cancelled. They must be wondering what they have done..
the weather
I think the forecast for Saturday is good. So its doubtful if anyone was really trying. I will wait for tomorrow before thinking anything. Its not like he was pushing the front hard.
In reply to the weather by proc
Not trying?
I'm pretty sure that at least Karel Abraham was really trying. Impressive riding again by that Czech 'rich kid'.
And yet again Spies' attitude
And yet again Spies' attitude astounds. 2 1/2 seconds back and he declares himself happy! Contrast that with Lorenzo's disappointment with coming in at 5th place. Huh?!