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--Last edited by admin on 2008-02-11 23:22:52 --

Pedrosa starts strong in Barcelona practice
Friday, 06 June 2008

Dani Pedrosa was the fastest rider in the opening morning session for his home race, the Gran Premi Cinzano de Catalunya.


The local favourite at the Circuit de Catalunya, Dani Pedrosa took the early psychological advantage with the fastest time of the first MotoGP free practice session. The Spaniard stopped the clock at 1´43.691 on his quickest lap, undertaken on a tricky surface after overnight rain and morning sun combined.

Current World Championship leader Valentino Rossi was second fastest, less than two-tenths of a second down on Pedrosa´s time. The Italian was running a special livery and leathers combination designed to celebrate his national team´s participation in the Uefa European Championships this month.

Second home hero Jorge Lorenzo, Rossi´s Fiat Yamaha teammate, also showed early promise, as did Rizla Suzuki´s Chris Vermeulen and Tech 3 Yamaha satellite man Colin Edwards in a tightly-bunched top five.

The first ten minutes of the session were strewn with problems for satellite team riders. JiR Team Scot´s Andrea Dovizioso was the first to come into difficulty, running off track just five minutes in. That incident was followed by a crash for Toni Elias, who hit the rumble strip and lowsided his Ducati Desmosedici GP8 Sat, causing a headache for his Alice Team mechanics as the machine suffered damage. LCR Honda´s Randy de Puniet then hit the deck.

Dovizioso came back with the seventh fastest time, just behind Alex de Angelis and faster than World Champion Casey Stoner. The latter suffered two run-offs and a crash during the one hour session, indicating that he won´t have things easy in his quest to repeat his 2007 victory.

Loris Capirossi and James Toseland completed the top ten.

Pedrosa disappointed by gap to Stoner

By Matt Beer Saturday, June 28th 2008, 13:29 GMT


Dani Pedrosa believes his second place in the Dutch TT was a vital result for his championship bid, but admitted he was concerned about his deficit to dominant winner Casey Stoner in the race.

Although Honda rider Pedrosa managed to get into the lead at the start, his advantage was short-lived as Stoner rapidly overtook him and then pulled away to win by 11.3 seconds.

"I'm a little bit disappointed because we were so far from Casey," Pedrosa told BBC television.

"I couldn't even see him at the end of the straight, so he was really fast."

But despite being perturbed about the gap to Stoner's Ducati, Pedrosa was comforted by the fact that his second place moved him back into the points lead.

He had trailed Valentino Rossi by 11 points at the start of the weekend, but with the Yamaha rider only finishing 11th after a first corner crash, Pedrosa is now four points ahead in the standings, with Stoner a further 25 points adrift in third.

"I am very happy about this second place," said Pedrosa. "For us, second place is perfect.

"It's 20 very important points and we get back in the lead of the championship, which is very important."

ewww.. second place for Dani is perfect. I hope he tries harder to challenge for a win!

I don't  

  he is really a nice boy

I know you have a soft spot for him..  

Quote :

Maree wrote :

Awww so cute!
He hasn't grown much has he

  he is still a baby    oh i read that he loves the german track, he is confident for thi weekend too  Make way for Vale please, do bring down KC when necessary  

Yeh good luck Dani, bringing down KC!!  

i'll drink to that CHEERS!!!

I was hoping for that in the last race that he would knock Casey off but he pulled away.
I wouldn't wish injury on anyone but a little run into the gravel so it puts him further back would be good

Mak mentioned thise before the start of the season that he suspect Dorna will make Dani the champion this year, what do u guys think?

No I dont think that will happen. How can they stop other people from winning it?. Actually change that how can they stop Vale!! from winning it.

Even Steve Parish thinks the title will go to Dani !!! .

I agree with you to a point.. fishy things go on that we don't know about.. it's all about the marketing, if Dorna wants Dani to win, then Dani just might.. it could all be riged.. money under the table.. Jorges bad luck, Vale's bike not performing.. KC's duc miraculously turning into rocket and Marco struggling at the back.. I dunno you guys, maybe I watch too much Hollywood.. there are lots of ppl in the paddocks who would sell their soul for some extra cash..
 

but then again they can't stop Vale from winning and us from cheering him on the best way we know how..  

yes.. the people in paddock..can be quite sneaky..