Pedrosa Leads Dry And Wet Friday MotoGP Practices At Sachsenring

By Anne Proffit

648 views Jul 6, 2012

Dani Pedrosa was fast in wt and dry conditions - MotoGP photo

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Stoner led early in the going and used his 1:22.444 to head the first session until Pedrosa pipped him at the end.

Third place went to Jorge Lorenzo's Yamaha Factory Racing motorcycle at 1:22.647, another 0.290 back of the leader as he nursed an extremely sore ankle after last weekend's collision.

Not content to be quickest in the dry, Pedrosa managed fast time in the afternoon wet session as well, easily showing his dominance at the Sachsenring racetrack where he's had five previous victories.

"The weekend has started pretty good for us; I felt comfortable in both the dry and wet conditions, but we only managed half our plan today," Pedrosa said. "i've been using the new chassis we received in Assen and the feeling was okay, but weather permitting, I would like to compare both chassis again tomorrow before qualifying."

Andrea Dovizioso continued his good form with fourth place on the day at 1:22.922, leading his Monster Tech3 Yamaha teammate Cal Crutchlow's best lap of 1:23.081. Crutchlow is still nursing his fractured left ankle. Hector Barbera had the top Ducati for Pramac Racing satellite team and was timed at 1:23.091, just one-hundredth behind Crutchlow.

Behind Barbera came the factory Ducati with Nicky Hayden up, followed by Alvaro Bautista's San Carlo Honda Gresini, rookie Stefan Bradl on the LCR Honda and Yamaha Factory Racing's Ben Spies, rounding out the top 10 and within a second of the leader. Power Electronics Aspar's Randy de Puniet was best of the CRT riders in 12th, just behind Valentino Rossi.

There was an unusual incident during the morning practice where Speed Master's Mattia Pasini fell awkwardly while trying to avoid a mechanic, hitting his head. Pasini was treated and released at the local hospital in Chemnitz and returned for the wet afternoon session, while complaining of shoulder pain. The only other crash during the morning practice session came when de Puniet's teammate Aleix Espargaro fell in the tenth turn.

The weather could be a problem for the balance of the weekend as storms stretch from the UK across the European continent.