Bushiee46
13-10-2006, 17:50
Rookie Casey Stoner caused an upset in the second free practice session for the Portuguese Grand Prix at Estoril as he topped the timesheets - ahead of the championship contenders.
The 20-year-old Australian was quick throughout the session on his LCR Honda and eventually set the pace-setting time of 1:38.218 with a little over seven minutes remaining.
The man he knocked off the top spot was Nicky Hayden, but the American was determined not to be out-paced by much on his Repsol Honda, and ended up just 0.050 seconds off the pace.
In an incredibly tight session, Kenny Roberts Jr was less than a tenth of a second slower than the championship leader on his KR with Spanish veteran Carlos Checa, continuing to increase his worth to potential employers next season in fourth.
To underline the fact, Checa was 0.3 seconds faster than either of the works Yamahas.
Fifth was Dani Pedrosa – the highest-placed of the four riders that can still deny his team-mate Hayden the title, with Colin Edwards the top works Yamaha in sixth.
Sete Gibernau was the top Ducati in seventh on a day when their Bridgestone tyres failed to work properly, with defending world champion Valentino Rossi next up.
It was a terrible day for title contender Marco Melandri, who crashed his Fortuna Honda at turn six on his first flying lap and appeared to be unable to walk afterwards.
The 24-year-old Italian, who is third in the championship, had to be taken away from the scene on a stretcher and was still in the medical centre as the session ended.
His Spanish team-mate Toni Elias fell off a few minutes later on what was a terrible day for the team. Ducati's Loris Capirossi also went through the gravel on his way to 13th.
COME ON ROSSI!!!!
The 20-year-old Australian was quick throughout the session on his LCR Honda and eventually set the pace-setting time of 1:38.218 with a little over seven minutes remaining.
The man he knocked off the top spot was Nicky Hayden, but the American was determined not to be out-paced by much on his Repsol Honda, and ended up just 0.050 seconds off the pace.
In an incredibly tight session, Kenny Roberts Jr was less than a tenth of a second slower than the championship leader on his KR with Spanish veteran Carlos Checa, continuing to increase his worth to potential employers next season in fourth.
To underline the fact, Checa was 0.3 seconds faster than either of the works Yamahas.
Fifth was Dani Pedrosa – the highest-placed of the four riders that can still deny his team-mate Hayden the title, with Colin Edwards the top works Yamaha in sixth.
Sete Gibernau was the top Ducati in seventh on a day when their Bridgestone tyres failed to work properly, with defending world champion Valentino Rossi next up.
It was a terrible day for title contender Marco Melandri, who crashed his Fortuna Honda at turn six on his first flying lap and appeared to be unable to walk afterwards.
The 24-year-old Italian, who is third in the championship, had to be taken away from the scene on a stretcher and was still in the medical centre as the session ended.
His Spanish team-mate Toni Elias fell off a few minutes later on what was a terrible day for the team. Ducati's Loris Capirossi also went through the gravel on his way to 13th.
COME ON ROSSI!!!!