MotoGP – Sachsenring FP3 – Capirossi surprises

Loris Capirossi set the best time in the third free practice session of the MotoGP class at the Sachsenring, where the tenth GP of the 2005 season will take place on Sunday. The Ducati rider surprisingly took the lead a few minutes from the end of FP3 by turning in 1'23"739. Great performance from Loris who brought his Desmosedici ahead of Sete Gibernau's Honda by just 57 thousandths.

The third time goes to Nicky Hayden (Honda – 1'24"369) who was the fastest yesterday in the first free practice sessions. Behind the Kentucky rider are the Hondas of Hayden and Barros. The latter yesterday, despite two crashes, had achieved the best time of the day. Behind him is the first Yamaha, that of the Texan Colin Edwards who in turn precedes the Ducati of the Spaniard Carlos Checa and the Honda of Troy Bayliss.

Eighth time for Valentino Rossi, the rider from Pesaro has narrowed his gap to the leaders compared to yesterday and seems to be able to be in the game. Behind him the first Kawasaki, that of the home rider Alex Hofmann.

Only 13th time for Max Biaggi (811 thousandths adrift), the Roman rider is unable to find, together with his team, that setting which allowed him to achieve pole position and victory last year with the Pons team. Behind the Honda Repsol rider is Marco Melandri from Ravenna on a Team Gresini Honda.

Roberto Rolfo's performance was very good (16th) who put Jacque (Kawasaki), Ellison (WCM), Elias (Yamaha), Xaus (Yamaha), Battaini (WCM) and Byrne (Proton KTM) behind him.