Motorcycles and news

MotoGP: Fortuna Honda riders adapt to tricky American track July 23, 2006

FORTUNA HONDA riders Marco Melandri and Toni Elías completed the first free practice session for the USGP at the Laguna Seca circuit this morning in perfect weather, using it to simply adapt to the modified track. Marco, who finished second in the last round at Sachsenring, has arrived in confident mood and spent the session finding a good feeling for the track whilst his team-mate Toni Elias took things steadily as he continues his recovery from injury. Alongside his new crew chief Fabrizio Cechinni for only the second Grand Prix the Spaniard worked out the points he needs to spend time on with the Honda RC211V machine in the afternoon.

MARCO MELANDRI (6th, 1′24″698, 29 laps):
“I am satisfied with the first session. I got a good feeling and I’m optimistic about the weekend ahead because I think we have started off on the right foot. I like this track a lot and I think they’ve done a great job with respect to improving the security.”

TONI ELIAS (15th, 1′26″699, 26 laps):
“I like Laguna Seca a lot it’s a legendary place. My physical condition hasn’t improved a lot and this circuit layout is hard on my left shoulder. The session was just a first point of contact with the track alter only previously riding here last season and I used it to find my reference points.”
MotoGP: Fortuna Honda riders adapt to tricky American track
FREE PRACTICE
1. Kenny Roberts (USA) Team Roberts 1′23.859;
2. Nicky Hayden (USA) Repsol Honda Team +0.266;
3. Dani Pedrosa (SPA) Repsol Honda Team +0.335;
4. Marco Melandri (ITA) Fortuna Honda +0.364;
5. Chris Vermeulen (AUS) Team Suzuki MotoGP +0.394;
6. Colin Edwards (USA) Camel Yamaha Team +0.461;
7. Makoto Tamada (JPN) JIR Konica Minolta Honda +0.480;
8. Toni Elias (SPA) Fortuna Honda +0.635;
9. Casey Stoner (AUS) LCR Honda +0.664;
10. John Hopkins (USA) Team Suzuki MotoGP +0.804;
11. Valentino Rossi (ITA) Camel Yamaha Team +0.963;