800 MotoGP bikes already faster than last year’s 1000s

Olivier Jacque, Team Kawasaki (15th, 1m 40.551) "This afternoon's timed session was the first time I've tested the qualifying tyres from Bridgestone. I was surprised at just how much more grip they offer compared to the race tyres, which meant I didn't get the best from the rear qualifier first time out. On the second tyre my lap time was a second quicker and I'm confident I'd have been able to improve again with the third soft tyre, but then I noticed rain on my visor, so I abandoned the last flying lap and returned to the pits. Now I realise I could have carried on, but I wasn't sure how heavy the rain was at different parts of the circuit and there was no reason to risk everything for a fast time so close to the start of the season. Anyway, overall I'm pretty satisfied because I'm not so far off the top five. The bike definitely felt better today and the extra grip of the qualifiers helped to overcome some of the set-up issues we've had. The balance is still not perfect, but most important is that we've seen an improvement day by day."

Lap Times

1. Valentino Rossi (ITA) Yamaha 1'38.394 2. Dani Pedrosa (SPA) Honda 1'38.527 3. Colin Edwards (USA) Yamaha 1'39.300 4. Nicky Hayden (USA) Honda 1'39.556 5. Randy de Puniet (FRA) Kawasaki 1'39.832 6. Casey Stoner (AUS) Ducati 1'39.873 7. Loris Capirossi (ITA) Ducati 1'39.887 8. Chris Vermeulen (AUS) Suzuki 1'40.043 9. Kenny Roberts (USA) Team KR 1'40.083 10. Carlos Checa (SPA) Honda 1'40.100 11. Toni Elias (SPA) Honda 1'40.202 12. Shinya Nakano (JPN) Honda 1'40.242 13. Makoto Tamada (JPN) Yamaha 1'40.307 14. Marco Melandri (ITA) Honda 1'40.396 15. Olivier Jacque (FRA) Kawasaki 1'40.551 16. Alex Hofmann (GER) Ducati 1'40.681 17. Alex Barros (BRA) Ducati 1'41.038 18. Kousuke Akiyoshi (JPN) Suzuki 1'41.805 19. Sylvain Guintoli (FRA) Yamaha 1'42.215 20. Vittoriano Guareschi (ITA) Ducati 1'43.008 21. Andrew Pitt (AUS) Ilmor 1'43.026 22. Shinichi Ito (JPN) Ducati 1'43.073 23. Jeremy McWilliams (IRE) Ilmor 1'43.202