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MotoGP
2005 - Round 17 - Valencia MotoGP Second Practice - Repsol Honda Report November 4th, 2005 |
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MotoGP
2005 - Round 17 - Valencia MotoGP Second Practice - Repsol Honda Report November 4th, 2005 |
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| Repsol Honda's Nicky
Hayden and Max Biaggi finished the first day of practice for
Sunday's final Grand Prix of the season having posted the
fourth and eighth fastest times respectively at the tight
and twisty Ricardo Tormo circuit on the outskirts of
Valencia, Spain today. Both riders have much to aim for in the last race of the year. Hayden is nine points behind Honda-mounted Marco Melandri in the big fight for second place in the championship and Biaggi wants to end the year on a good point after a disappointing recent run of results. This morning, in relatively overcast conditions, Hayden ended the session fifth fastest with Biaggi just behind in eighth place. Both riders had issues with front end chatter on their Honda RC211Vs and the overall balance of their machines. The afternoon, in very similar conditions to this morning, Hayden circulated the 4.005km track consistently and was rarely out of the top-four. The 24-year-old American had a big moment when he saved his machine on his elbow, as big scuffs on his Alpinestars leathers testified. His team-mate, Biaggi concentrated hard today and was never out of the top 10 giving good hope for the all-important qualifying session tomorrow afternoon and 30-lap race in front of a sell-out crowd on Sunday. Max Biaggi "All I wanted to do today was put my ear plugs in and my helmet on and ride the bike at a track I know well and have done well at in the past. Today we are not so far away. For sure we have some areas we need to improve in but we have a pretty good package at the moment and have a good base setting. We need to work on the balance of the machine but I'm hopeful and confident that we can find the answers and tomorrow we can improve." Nicky Hayden "It was okay today but not quite as solid as I would have liked. Course I would have liked to be a little bit quicker. We're not that far off on the time but for the last race of the year I don't like the sound of fourth fastest. I'm lacking a bit of confidence in the front on some of these slow corners. There was one time in mid-session I nearly had the bike on its side but saved it with my elbow. Pretty scary stuff! I've got some great boys around me here and I know we'll come up with something for tomorrow." Makoto Tanaka - Team Manager "A good first day overall. Six Hondas in the top nine is good to see and both Nicky and Max have had a solid day. The surface is still quite dirty and I'm sure tomorrow - if it all stays dry - the times will fall with improved grip levels. Nicky has started well and is putting together some good, consistent fast laps and Max did what he said he would do at the press conference yesterday he has concentrated on riding and is not so far off the pace already." |
MotoGP Championship
2005
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