MotoGP – Jerez Test Day 1 – Pedrosa precedes Rossi and Lorenzo

The first day of MotoGP testing in Jerez de la Frontera (characterized by cold and strong winds) saw Dani Pedrosa in great form. The Spanish rider from Team Honda Repsol set the best time with a time of 1'39.525. The former world champion of the 125cc and 250cc classes as well as "Rookie Of The Year 2006" of the MotoGP class was the only rider to go under one minute and 40 minutes. Behind him was the eight-time world champion Valentino Rossi ( for him 39 laps and best time of 1'40.135); the Pesaro native (who has both versions of the bike, the 2008 and the 2009, achieved the best time with the latter) and preceded his teammate Jorge Lorenzo (1'41.163 for him) and the Texan Colin Edwards, also 'he on Yamaha M1 but from Team Tech 3.

Fifth time for Alex de Angelis from San Marino, the Team Gresini rider who completed 53 laps (best time of 1'41.468 for him) and left behind James Toseland on the Tech3 Team Yamaha, Andrea Dovizioso on the Repsol Team Honda and teammate Toni Elias. To find the first Ducati we have to reach the ninth time set by the Genoese Niccolò Canepa. The new Team Alice rider set the ninth time with a time of 1'42.074, just ahead of the official Ducati of American Nicky Hayden and that of teammate Mika Kallio. Casey Stoner was also present at the tests, obviously as a spectator after the scaphoid operation.

The returning Sete Gibernau instead set the twelfth time ahead of Ducati test rider Vittoriano Guareschi and category debutant Yuki Takahashi. The tests will continue tomorrow.

MotoGP Test Jerez – Wednesday 26 November – The times

01. Dani Pedrosa (Honda) 1'39.525 (41)
02. Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) 1'40.135 (39)
03. Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha) 1'41.163 (51)
04. Colin Edwards (Yamaha) 1'41.390 (49)
05. Alex De Angelis (Honda) 1'41.468 (53)
06. James Toseland (Yamaha) 1'41.539 (50)
07. Andrea Dovizioso (Honda) 1'41.655 (48)
08. Toni Elias (Honda) 1'41.679 (74)
09. Niccolo Canepa (Ducati) 1'42.074 (50)
10. Nicky Hayden (Ducati)1'42.098 (69)
11. Mika Kallio (Ducati) 1'42.837 (58)
12. Sete Gibernau (Ducati) 1'42.943 (40)
13. Vitto Guareschi (Ducati) 1'43.642 (36)
14. Yuki Takahashi (Honda) 1'44.360 (64)