A torrential downpour which ended just as the first free
practice session began at the Sachsenring today made for
a mixed opening to the German Grand Prix, with Valentino
Rossi finishing a promising third and his Fiat Yamaha
team-mate Jorge Lorenzo ending the day in 11th, but just
seven tenths off the lead.
The session began on a soaking track, which gave the
riders an opportunity to work on their wet settings for
the early part of the hour, before the tarmac rapidly
began to dry out in the warm conditions and a dry line
started to appear. Rossi was happy to find his M1
working well throughout the changing conditions,
finishing up with some fast laps at the end when the
track was almost completely dry. Lorenzo, who is still
recovering from the separated shoulder and fractured
foot he suffered at Laguna Seca, was content with his
start despite his position in the time sheets. The
22-year-old was able to complete an important test on a
dry set-up, which did not leave him enough time to set a
fast lap at the end when times were tumbling, but he
hopes to make more progress and feel stronger on the
bike tomorrow.
Valentino Rossi
“This was
quite a strange session because we had all sorts of track
conditions and then at the end it was basically dry and I
was quite fast. It was a good chance to work on the rain
setting and I am pretty happy because the bike felt good and
our times were also quick on the wet track. It seems we have
a good setting immediately here for all conditions, because
it continued to feel good as the track dried and the nature
of the asphalt changed. We have some things to improve,
especially the feeling and general balance in the faster
parts of the track, so we will concentrate on this tomorrow.
Right at the end we had a bit of traffic or we could have
been faster, but anyway we’re still third so I think we are
in good shape. It seems Bridgestone have brought good tyres
for this track, of course there is no intermediate tyre
which is always going to be a bit difficult in these sorts
of conditions, but I don’t think it was a big problem
today.”
Jorge Lorenzo
“I am not
at 100% and in fact my injuries don’t feel as good as I had
hoped on the bike, which is disappointing. I have decided
for the first time to use the leathers with the airbag and I
want to say that I feel much more safe! This isn’t the best
track for me, the slow corners don’t really suit my style
and when I am not at full fitness it makes it more
difficult, but today was okay considering the conditions.
During the early part when it was wet I was reminding myself
of the track, and then when it was dry later on I didn’t
really have enough time to go fast because we had some
things to check on the setting. But there are 12 riders all
very close together, within seven tenths of a second and I
am not worried because it was a strange day and not one for
making conclusions. The forecast tomorrow looks similar
tomorrow but let’s hope it is wrong!”
Davide Brivio
(Team Manager - Rossi)
“This was
like a double session because we had some of it the wet and
some in the dry. In some senses this was positive because we
were able to test both our settings and collect plenty of
information, which will help us whatever the weather on
Sunday. It seems like we’re fast in both the wet and the dry
so we’re feeling confident and will concentrate on the finer
details tomorrow to perfect the set-up.”
Daniele
Romagnoli (Team Manager - Lorenzo)
