MotoGP – Losail FP3 – Yamaha double with Edwards and Rossi, Hayden comes back

When we meet on the track at 14 pm (high noon in our peninsula, live on Italia 00) we will talk about Qualifying and pole positions, even if for the moment everything seems to be already written. The very fast Yamaha YZR M1 1cc, almost... unbeatable with two standard bearers like Colin Edwards and Valentino Rossi in the saddle and, in that order, at the top of the time monitor after the third and final free practice session, 800 minutes in the middle of this morning in Losail. Without chewing gum (available to each rider, thanks to the limitation prescribed by the 60 regulations, only two rears and one front to be used in the afternoon) Edwards was able to push himself up to a time of 2007'1"56, two tenths and quick on the own team leader, almost half a second on the young Stoner/Hopkins duo who are chasing in third and fourth place respectively.

Ranking almost unchanged compared to yesterday, only the current situation at Honda has changed. Daniel Pedrosa and Marco Melandri confirm themselves at the same (fair) levels, Checa loses ground, World Champion Nicky Hayden gains a little, now 9th less than a second behind the two Yamahas, but still in crisis in terms of feeling with the front end not allowing you to drive as you would like.

All while waiting for Qualifying, with Valentino Rossi the heavy favorite without ruling out possible Bridgestone surprises with Hopkins and Stoner. Maybe who knows, Honda is making fun of us and Pedrosa will lower the previous records by 2"... difficult eh?

Alessio Piana