1. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 1′35.520
2. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team (M) 1′35.552
3. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team (B) 1′35.659
4. Nicky Hayden USA Repsol Honda Team (M) 1′35.975
5. Randy de Puniet FRA LCR Honda MotoGP (M) 1′35.985
6. Colin Edwards USA Tech 3 Yamaha (M) 1′36.278
7. Jorge Lorenzo SPA Fiat Yamaha Team (M) 1′36.532
8. Chris Vermeulen AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 1′36.768

Repsol Honda riders Nicky Hayden and Dani Pedrosa made a solid start to this week’s Dutch TT at Assen today, placing fourth and ninth fastest after the first two practice sessions.

In sunny but blustery conditions Hayden and Pedrosa were second and third fastest this morning. Both riders improved their times this afternoon, though Pedrosa dropped several places while trying out different settings. Hayden is using the pneumatic-valve RCV engine for the second time this weekend while Pedrosa sticks with the conventional spring-valve engine.

This year’s Dutch TT is a particularly historic event. Assen is the only MotoGP track surviving from the World Championship’s inaugural year in 1949, making this the 60th consecutive World Championship event at the Dutch venue.

Nicky Hayden, 4th fastest, 1m 37.012s

1. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 1′36.087
2. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team (B) 1′36.819
3. Colin Edwards USA Tech 3 Yamaha (M) 1′36.931
4. Nicky Hayden USA Repsol Honda Team (M) 1′37.012
5. Alex de Angelis RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini (B) 1′37.126
6. Shinya Nakano JPN San Carlo Honda Gresini (B) 1′37.137
7. Randy de Puniet FRA LCR Honda MotoGP (M) 1′37.187
8. John Hopkins USA Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 1′37.251

1. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 25 points
2. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team (B) 20 points
3. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team (M) 16 points
4. Colin Edwards USA Tech 3 Yamaha (M) 13 points
5. Andrea Dovizioso ITA JiR Team Scot MotoGP (M) 11 points
6. Jorge Lorenzo SPA Fiat Yamaha Team (M) 10 points
7. Nicky Hayden USA Repsol Honda Team (M) 9 points
8. Chris Vermeulen AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 8 points

Repsol Honda riders Nicky Hayden and Dani Pedrosa today qualified fourth and ninth fastest for tomorrow’s British Grand Prix, round eight of this year’s MotoGP World Championship.

Following yesterday’s two dry sessions, rain dominated today. This morning’s practice outing was run in heavy rain while this afternoon’s qualifying session was run on a wet but drying track. Pedrosa and Hayden were second and third fastest in the morning but found the damp conditions more challenging. Hayden, using the pneumatic-valve RC212V engine for the first time at a race, was once again impressive, ending the day just a quarter of a second off the front row. The American is very much looking forward to racing the pneumatic-valve engine for the first time. Pedrosa could only manage a third-row start, though the Spaniard is confident he can ride a good race in the dry. Latest weather forecasts predict some overnight rain but a dry race day.

Nicky Hayden, 4th fastest, 1′39.270

1. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 1′38.232
2. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team (B) 1′38.881
3. Chris Vermeulen AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 1′39.018
4. Nicky Hayden USA Repsol Honda Team (M) 1′39.270
5. Colin Edwards USA Tech 3 Yamaha (M) 1′39.601
6. Andrea Dovizioso ITA JiR Team Scot MotoGP (M) 1′39.783
7. Anthony West AUS Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 1′39.995
8. Ben Spies USA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 1′40.244

Repsol Honda RC212V riders Nicky Hayden was second fastest in today’s opening two practice sessions at Donington Park.

Hayden had a positive day, using HRC’s pneumatic-valve engine at a race for the first time. The 2006 MotoGP World Champion worked hard at dialling in the engine, which has a 1000rpm higher rev ceiling than the valve-spring RCV engine, ending the day half a second off reigning champ Casey Stoner. Dry track time looks like it may be in limited supply this weekend, with rain forecast for tomorrow.

Nicky Hayden, 2nd fastest, 1m 28.829s

“Everything went relatively smooth today, though conditions were a little bit chilly, a little bit dirty. Honestly I’ve got to thank HRC. I told them that I really wanted to use the pneumatic-valve engine here, so they worked some on the electronics and the guys said I could use it, so long as I was going to be in the top three or four! I was second this afternoon and fifth this morning, so that kinda evens out, do the math.