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Gibernau sets Jerez pace, Rossi close
Sete Gibernau opened the new MotoGP season by setting the fastest times in the first two practice sessions for the Spanish Grand Prix.
Sete Gibernau opened the new MotoGP season by setting the fastest times in the first two practice sessions for the Spanish Grand Prix on Friday with world champion Valentino Rossi close behind.
The boost for the Spanish Honda rider will be merely psychological, however, as under a new qualifying format this season the starting grid for Sunday's race will be decided by a single one-hour session on Saturday.
In the first of Friday's two sessions, Gibernau scorched around the 4.423-km track in a record time of 1:40.800, just 0.086 seconds faster than Rossi's Yamaha, while Nicky Hayden on another Honda was third fastest overall with his time of 1:40.894 set in afternoon practice.
Hayden's fellow American John Hopkins set the fourth quickest time in the morning and his flying lap as the seconds ticked away in the second session was third fastest as he continued Suzuki's recent resurgence.
"It was a good Friday, nothing more than that," said Gibernau. "I'm too mature to be too excited by a good Friday. It may be the best way to start the season but we have won nothing yet."
After finishing second behind Rossi in the title race for the last two seasons, Gibernau should be pleased to have an edge, however small, over his Italian rival in the run-up to the first of the 17 races in the championship.
"This morning was good but this afternoon ... we had a few problems so I'm not entirely happy," said Rossi, who is looking to win a fifth successive world crown in the top class of grand prix racing this year.
"However, there was no qualifying today so Friday's lap time is not as important as it used to be."
Rossi's arch rival Max Biaggi, who had a terrible time in testing at the track last month, said setting the sixth fastest time in the afternoon session promised some progress.
"Positive signs -- we could be on the right way," said the Italian Honda rider. "The terrible week we had here 15 days ago was not worthless. I hope to improve tomorrow, I want to be positive."
