MotoGP news

Hopkins tops second practicee

John Hopkins cemented his intention to get his first podium of the season at Shanghai this weekend by setting the fastest time of 2:01.204s in today's second practice session.

Marco Melandri also showed signs that Honda Gresini's strong showing at the Turkish Grand Prix was not a flash in the pan by posting the second fastest time and missing out on first spot by just a tenth of a second. Dani Pedrosa was third fastest for the Repsol Honda team but it could have been almost anyone with competition at the top being so fierce: only 0.254s separated the top eight drivers.

However, it was the American Rizla Suzuki rider who got top spot in the dying moments and celebrated his achievement with some elaborate wheelies on his in-lap. Pedrosa had looked like he would have the fastest time until Hopkins and Melandri knocked the Spaniard down the order with their last minute efforts.

2006 world champion Nicky Hayden meanwhile was fourth quickest as he looks to regain form. Loris Capirossi was the highest of the two Ducati riders in fifth with team-mate Casey Stoner ending up eighth, having topped the timesheets in the first practice session earlier this morning.

Sixth fastest was Valentino Rossi who had an off moment when his Yamaha ran off wide at the first corner. The only other riders to go off were the Kawasaki pair of Randy de Puniet and Olivier Jacque, otherwise the session was relatively accident-free.

more news

• 20 Aug.
  • Melandri confirms Kawasaki move
• 19 Aug.
  • Nakano wraps up positive test for Gresini
  • Stoner ends test with threatening pace
  • Rossi confident for final rounds after test
• 18 Aug.
  • Good test ends strong weekend for Rossi
  • Ducati top test with Stoner
• 17 Aug.
  • Dismal end to disappointing weekend for Pedrosa
  • Stoner rues costly mistake
  • Encouraging results for Gresini
  • Rossi celebrates crucial victory
  • Rossi storms to win as Stoner crashes
  • Stoner still ahead in warm-up
• 16 Aug.
  • Photos: Saturday in Brno
  • Pedrosa struggles in qualifying
  • Rossi hoping for dry race
  • Stoner storms to sixth straight pole
  • Stoner fastest on Saturday morning
• 15 Aug.
  • Stoner fastest despite stomach pain
  • Rossi in confident mood
  • Gresini upbeat after first day
  • Photos: Friday in Brno
  • Stoner bites back in second practice
  • Rossi leads Stoner in first practice
• 12 Aug.
  • Stoner ready to resume battle
  • Gresini riders hopeful for Brno
  • Injured Hayden won't race at Brno
• 11 Aug.
  • Hayden uncertain for Brno
• 08 Aug.
  • Capirossi to equal Barros' record
• 25 Jul.
  • FIM announces provisional 2009 calendar
• 23 Jul.
  • Metatarsal fractures confirmed for Lorenzo
• 21 Jul.
  • Rossi savours sweet taste of victory
  • Lorenzo rues yet another crash
  • Stoner not happy with second
  • Photos: Sunday at Laguna Seca
• 20 Jul.
  • Rossi overcomes Stoner to win at Laguna Seca
  • Stoner still on top in warm-up
  • Photos: Saturday at Laguna Seca
  • Rossi hoping to cause upset
  • Lorenzo improves to fourth
  • Stoner delighted with fifth straight pole

Homepage