MotoGP news

Rossi confident after Misano Day 1

Valentino Rossi enjoyed a strong first day at home in Italy on Friday as the championship leader finished atop the timesheets in first practice ahead of the San Marino Grand Prix. The World Champion finished a tenth of a second quicker than Spanish team-mate Jorge Lorenzo.

After falling and retiring from the Indianapolis Grand Prix only five days ago, Rossi hopes that the power of a home crowd will help make amends this weekend, especially after finishing third in Italy's first race of the season at Mugello in May.

"This is more the weather for the beach than for the race track - today was unbelievably hot!" Valentino laughed. "The first session was much better than at Indy, though, and I am quite happy. We have made a few experiments with different settings and then at the end, when we put everything together with the right tyre, I was able to do three fast laps and finish first.

"It's a good sign to be in this shape already on Friday and now we just have to improve a bit more tomorrow because it's very important here to be on the front row. It's quite a tricky track, and you have to be quite careful in some places, but my bike felt good today."

more news

• 24 Nov.
  • Podium for Rossi in sports car race
  • Surgery successful for de Puniet
• 20 Nov.
  • Rossi and Newey to contest endurance race
• 18 Nov.
  • Lorenzo recovering after operation
  • Dovizioso: Progress being made
  • Finland expands television deal
• 17 Nov.
  • 2010 Czech GP brought forward
• 13 Nov.
  • Bulgarian Grands Prix now in doubt
• 11 Nov.
  • Photos: Wednesday in Valencia
  • Pedrosa: One thing at a time
  • Valencia Day 3: Stoner back at front
  • Scot Racing pulls out of championship
• 10 Nov.
  • Valencia Day 2: Lorenzo goes quickest
  • Photos: Tuesday in Valencia
  • Provisional 2010 calendar released
• 09 Nov.
  • Photos: Monday in Valencia
  • Valencia Day 1: Stoner on top
  • Champions pick up 2009 trophies
• 08 Nov.
  • Frustrating end of the season for Stoner
  • Pedrosa enjoys home victory
  • Small mistake dropped Lorenzo to third
  • Maximum result for Rossi at Valencia
  • Photos: Sunday in Valencia
  • Pedrosa dominates in Valencia
• 07 Nov.
  • Rossi struggles at Valencia
  • Lorenzo enjoys 16th front row of the season
  • Stoner confident at Valencia
  • Unbeatable Stoner grabs pole position at Valencia
  • Photos: Saturday in Valencia
  • Stoner also fastest in second practice Valencia
• 06 Nov.
  • Gusts affecting bike performance, says Pedrosa
  • Photos: Friday in Valencia
  • Rossi: Quite a lot of work to do
  • Lorenzo searching for home victory
  • Stoner leads Friday practice in Valencia
• 05 Nov.
  • Suppo to leave Ducati
  • Valencia extends contract to 2016
• 04 Nov.
  • Spies reveals special Valencia livery
• 03 Nov.
  • Canepa to miss season final in Valencia
  • Rossi: Now we can enjoy ourselves

Homepage