Pedrosa leads Repsol Honda spearhead on first day

 In MotoGP, News

The first day of the Japanese Grand Prix, 15th round of the MotoGP World Championship, started early this morning at the Motegi Circuit, where the Repsol Honda Team riders took the top three places at the end of the free practice sessions. Dani Pedrosa was the fastest, with a time of 1 minute, 46 seconds and 790 thousandths. Together with the Spaniard, Casey Stoner and Andrea Dovizioso were the only riders able to set a time below the 1 minute and 47 seconds mark.

In the first free practice the Repsol Honda Team riders already showed their good level at the Japanese track. The golden wing bikes adapted themselves perfectly to the Honda-owned circuit and they led the times sheets, which after 45 minutes finished with Casey Stoner on top, followed by Andrea Dovizioso and Dani Pedrosa in fourth.

Their dominion was even clearer on the second session, despite it starting under the threat of rain, but it was finally held on dry tarmac, allowing the Repsol riders to continue working in the set-up of their bikes for Sunday’s race. Stoner and Dovizioso soon took the initiative, but after some adjustments, Pedrosa was the first rider to get under 1 minute and 47 seconds. The Repsol rider, who turned 26 yesterday, had a very good birthday present with this fastest time, and he was accompanied by his two team mates, who, together with the Spaniard, were the only riders able to set a time of 1 minute 46 seconds.

Dani Pedrosa FP1 – 1:47.836, 17 laps, 82 km. FP2 – 1:46.790, 20 laps, 96 km.
“We did a good job today; in the morning we took a good direction and this allowed us to improve a lot in the afternoon, by a second, and this is very important. Tomorrow we have to focus on the set up of the bike; maybe the weather will change a little bit, so we have to be aware of the conditions and try to be fast anytime. In case it does rain tomorrow and we cannot practice anymore in dry conditions, we already have a good set up for the dry. Everybody here at the Motegi circuit has done a very good job with the new surface, the grip is much better than before and this is one of the reasons why the lap times have improved quite a lot already from last year.”

Source: Repsol Media

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