Repsol Honda RC212V rider Nicky Hayden dominated this afternoon’s soaking-wet second practice session at Phillip Island, lapping the high-speed seaside track three quarters of a second faster than his closest rival.
The American has been using his Michelin rain tyres to stunning effect recently, topping last weekend’s rain-hit opening session at Motegi and finishing second in the hurricane-hit Indianapolis GP two weeks earlier. The 2008 MotoGP season is proving to be the wettest in memory, with rain falling at the vast majority of events so far.
In this morning’s opening session, run in dry conditions, Hayden was 11th quickest, working hard to find more traction around this high-speed track.
Nicky Hayden. FP1 (dry): 11th fastest, 1’31.284. FP2 (wet): fastest, 1’38.820 Click here to read more
Results Free Practice 1
1. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 1’30.094
2. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team (B) 1’30.764
3. Alex de Angelis RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini (B) 1’31.043
4. Andrea Dovizioso ITA JiR Team Scot MotoGP (M) 1’31.051
5. Randy de Puniet FRA LCR Honda MotoGP (M) 1’31.070
6. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team (B) 1’31.161
7. Shinya Nakano JPN San Carlo Honda Gresini (B) 1’31.221
8. Jorge Lorenzo SPA Fiat Yamaha Team (M) 1’31.235 Click here to read more
Repsol Honda rider Nicky Hayden rode to a hard-fought fifth-place finish in today’s record-breaking Japanese GP at Motegi. This was the American’s first dry race in more than two months – he missed the Czech and San Marino GPs due to injury and scored a podium last time out at rain-soaked Indianapolis two weeks ago.
The 2006 World Champion started from the front row of the grid after a storming performance in yesterday’s qualifying session. He completed the first lap in third place, but didn’t quite have the pace to go with the leaders. He spent most of the race in fifth place. In the closing laps he was chased hard by a group of four riders but he kept his head to maintain his position. On the grid Hayden wore a hachimaki (Japanese-style bandana), given to him yesterday by a fan. The race was run in cool, cloudy conditions and was watched by 58,000 fans.
Nicky Hayden, finished 5th, 8th in World Championship Click here to read more
1. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team (B)
2. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team (B)
3. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team (B)
4. Jorge Lorenzo SPA Fiat Yamaha Team (M)
5. Nicky Hayden USA Repsol Honda Team (M)
6. Loris Capirossi ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B)
7. Colin Edwards USA Tech 3 Yamaha (M)
8. Shinya Nakano JPN San Carlo Honda Gresini (B) Click here to read more
Repsol Honda rider Nicky Hayden stormed to a front-row start at Motegi this afternoon, signalling his intention to play a leading role in tomorrow’s Japanese Grand Prix.
The American ended the qualifying session third fastest, just four tenths off pole position, despite having to ride two full-speed laps on his final set of Michelin qualifiers after he had been baulked by a group of slower riders at the start of his final run. A good grid position is vital at Motegi because the first corner is tight and close to the start.
This is Hayden’s third front-row start of the year, after Catalunya and Laguna Seca, Two weeks ago at Indianapolis he recorded his first podium finish of the year with a great ride to second.
Nicky Hayden, 3rd fastest, 1’45.971 Click here to read more
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