Rossi leads way at Laguna Seca

Eurosport - Sat, 04 Jul 20:58:00 2009

Fiat Yamaha rider Valentino Rossi, looking for a third consecutive victory at Laguna Seca this weekend, set the fastest lap of the American GP opening practice session.

valentino rossi - 0

The Italian was the only rider to go under the one minute, 22-second barrier, setting a fastest lap of 1:21.981.

His team-mate Jorge Lorenzo was second quickest in 1:22.093, while Ducati Marlboro's Stoner ended third after leading the way for most of the session.

The trio were in a class of their own, relegating Dani Pedrosa to fourth place a whole six-tenths of a second behind.

Having received a chassis update this weekend, San Carlo Honda Gresini rider Toni Elias set the fifth-fastest lap of the session.

Andrea Dovizioso was sixth ahead of Marco Melandri, while there was disappointment for Chris Vermeulen and Colin Edwards, eighth and ninth fastest respectively.

Britain's James Toseland, team-mate of Edwards at Yamaha Tech 3, was down in 13th.

Those top three riders - Rossi, Lorenzo and Casey Stoner - are also covered by just nine points in the world championship standings and the only riders to win races this season, setting up the prospect of an exciting weekend.

"I am happy with the session today, it was a good performance and at the end, with the harder tyre, we did an especially good job and I was able to make the best time, said reigning six time MotoGP champion Rossi.

"We got a lot of data about the track, which we will use tomorrow in order to improve things further.

"We need to work a bit to improve the front feeling because we can still make the bike a bit easier to ride in one or two corners and then we will also look at the electronics in order to control the wheelie, because there are a lot of bumps and jumps on this circuit.

"Once again me, Lorenzo and Stoner are very close so we can expect another big fight this weekend, but we are confident that our M1 is working well," added Rossi, who claimed one his greatest victories by beating Stoner in last year's event.

THE RACE LIVE at 9.30pm on Sunday on British Eurosport (Sky 410 / Virgin Media 521); Also available on your PC via the Eurosport Player - click on the link under the picture to subscribe

Moto-Live.com / Eurosport

Comment 1 - 18 of 58

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  1. At the end of the day, Rossi is a LEGEND! Stoner is a­ wimp!And his wife is just as bad!!! Oh please get her­ off the grid!!

    From tracyhindmarsh, on Sat 4 Jul 4:39PM

  2. Hmm Stoner hates not being no.1? so what racers enjoy­ being no.2?

    From D R, on Sat 4 Jul 4:37PM

  3. Good luck Rossi for this weekend roll on Donnington­ though cant wait!!! Look out for me and my fellow Goat­ Bangers wavin the big yellow flag for you!!We hope to­ get ourselves and our flag on Eurosport givin it large­ for Rossi!!!

    From Goat Bangers M-C-C, on Sat 4 Jul 4:34PM

  4. Oh greeneyedchell! Howm many riders complained of their­ tyres in 2007? Rossi was just 1 of them! Didn't­ see him complaining about moves in the race! As Stoner­ does! Stoner just hates the fact he's not Number 1!­ Oh dear

    From tracyhindmarsh, on Sat 4 Jul 4:32PM

  5. Tracyhindmarsh i think you have a very short memory or­ look at life through yellow coloured spectacles. Rossi­ whinged his butt off in 2007 about his tyres all season­ long. Stoner hasnt got the media savvy or charisma of­ Rossi so he is perceived differently, but to say he­ doesnt complain is foolish, he just does it in a more­ subtle way.

    From D R, on Sat 4 Jul 4:25PM

  6. Go Rossi ur our number 1 Xx

    From Michelle, on Sat 4 Jul 4:17PM

  7. Oh Please Pipanddawn! Do u ever hear of Rossi­ complaining about another bikers race, and dodgy moves?­ Stoner has an excuse every single race he loses! Tummy­ upsets etc, only seem to happen when its a race­ weekend! I think the nerve as a racer have left him­ struggling! He lost the championship to Rossi last­ year! But did you hear Hayden complaining when he lost­ his championship to Stoner in 2007????? He's a­ wuss!

    From tracyhindmarsh, on Sat 4 Jul 3:34PM

  8. GO VALE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From Katrina O, on Sat 4 Jul 3:17PM

  9. So Rossi would be winning on the Duke would he? True­ Bike fans should have an appreciation for Stoner even­ if they do not like him. Take Rossi, I don't­ paticularily like him or his band of sheep like­ followers, but I do not feel the need to slate him at­ every opportunity, and I certainly don't doubt his­ obvious ability. Why does everyone have to get so­ nasty? Problem is sooner or later one of these young­ talents in GP will start to beat Rossi and that is just­ a fact you will have to face.

    From pipanddawn, on Sat 4 Jul 2:53PM

  10. Here Casey Moaner goes again..... stomach cramps but­ only when racing...!!!! its because you are $41ting­ yourself mate....... Moaner is now on volume 6 of the­­ "WHAT TO SAY NOW MY BIKE ISNT THE FASTEST­ ANYMORE"­ Book of excuses.....!!!!!!

    From Alan, on Sat 4 Jul 2:44PM

  11. well the king on 2 wheels has talent casey stoner can­ only sit and weep boo hoo go kick @#$% rossi give us­ a rerun of last years race

    From SHAUN, on Sat 4 Jul 2:14PM

  12. im sure IF Casey Moaner wins he will be fine ..... But­ when Rossi and Lorenzo open a can of whoopass on him­ the excuses will flood out !!

    From barnzie, on Sat 4 Jul 12:56PM

  13. Hope the ozzi moaner does'nt get another­ ''upset tummy I want my mummy' ­ aaaaaahhhhhhh!!!!!!
    should be a cracker again. Vale to­ show 'em how to do it with a smile and less effort

    From howard2010, on Sat 4 Jul 12:41PM
  14. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    GO CASEY STONER 57 kilograms of raw talent!!!! Show em­ what you can do without an M1.

    From Sally, on Sat 4 Jul 11:31AM

  15. I wonder what will be Casey Moaner's excuse if he­ does not do well this week.........!!

    From Alan, on Sat 4 Jul 10:42AM

  16. I love this race more so after the Rossi and Stoner­ battle last season what race that was. Hat's off­ to Valentino Rossi what talent what a career he's­ had over the last decade the guy rocks.

    From stacey.davis07, on Sat 4 Jul 4:07AM

  17. kin right he will !!!

    From terryrooney69, on Sat 4 Jul 3:56AM

  18. the doctor will do the biz.

    From Burt, on Sat 4 Jul 2:18AM
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