Bushiee46
26-02-2007, 21:20
http://www.gixerjunkies.net/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=7899&stc=1&d=1172521177
After two days spent outside the top ten, MotoGP world champion Nicky Hayden responded to the challenge of Sunday's 40-minute 'qualifying session' at Jerez by setting the fourth fastest lap time - but admits he'll head to the season-opening Qatar Grand Prix still 'missing something'.
"It was definitely fun to get out there again with the boys with something on the line - the timed session gave it a bit of an edge today and was a little bit of a tease before the first race," said the competitive American. "The position is not too bad but my time is quite a long way from the front. I haven't spent much time on qualifying tyres at the winter tests so it was good to get that time here and put in a few quick laps.
"Some of the other riders really put in some hot laps today so credit to them," added Nicky, who lapped 1.2secs slower than BMW winner Valentino Rossi. "The conditions towards the end of the session were dodgy because there was a fine mist of rain falling which made it interesting - and riding on qualifiers is always exciting enough anyway. I feel like perhaps we're still missing a little something to get the speed I want but I'm excited to go racing - I'm really looking forward to it."
The first race of the new season will take place at Jerez on March 10, before returning to Jerez for round two. In preparation for that race, Hayden put in a 'competitive' 27-lap race simulation at the end of the day, taking his lap total for the day to a mammoth 101.
Repsol Honda team-mate Dani Pedrosa was second fastest to Rossi at the test and one-second faster than Hayden
After two days spent outside the top ten, MotoGP world champion Nicky Hayden responded to the challenge of Sunday's 40-minute 'qualifying session' at Jerez by setting the fourth fastest lap time - but admits he'll head to the season-opening Qatar Grand Prix still 'missing something'.
"It was definitely fun to get out there again with the boys with something on the line - the timed session gave it a bit of an edge today and was a little bit of a tease before the first race," said the competitive American. "The position is not too bad but my time is quite a long way from the front. I haven't spent much time on qualifying tyres at the winter tests so it was good to get that time here and put in a few quick laps.
"Some of the other riders really put in some hot laps today so credit to them," added Nicky, who lapped 1.2secs slower than BMW winner Valentino Rossi. "The conditions towards the end of the session were dodgy because there was a fine mist of rain falling which made it interesting - and riding on qualifiers is always exciting enough anyway. I feel like perhaps we're still missing a little something to get the speed I want but I'm excited to go racing - I'm really looking forward to it."
The first race of the new season will take place at Jerez on March 10, before returning to Jerez for round two. In preparation for that race, Hayden put in a 'competitive' 27-lap race simulation at the end of the day, taking his lap total for the day to a mammoth 101.
Repsol Honda team-mate Dani Pedrosa was second fastest to Rossi at the test and one-second faster than Hayden