Misano MotoGP: Marco Melandri fastest, Aussie trio crash at rain-soaked Misano

Marco Melandri topped the timesheets in a rain-soaked first free practice sessions at the Misano circuit this morning, as MotoGP world championship leader Casey Stoner escaped injury in a crash.

The 21-year-old factory Ducati wasn’t the only Australian in the gravel trap this morning as Chris Vermeulen and Anthony West also escaped injury.

Casey Stoner and Chris Vermeulen both lost the front-end in the same left-hand corner, though Stoner’s GP7 was extensively damaged when he crashed in the opening 10 minutes.

Stoner still finished this morning’s session with the third best time, though his quickest lap of 1.48.852 was a massive 1.904s behind Marco Melandri.

The Gresini Honda rider made an impressive return to action today after neck and left shoulder injuries forced him to withdraw from the Czech Republic MotoGP race in Brno earlier this month.

Marco Melandri, who is moving to join Casey Stoner at Ducati in 2008, first topped the timesheets after 18 minutes had elapsed when a 1.52.280 moved him 0.989s clear of Anthony West.

That was shortly before conditions were at their worst. Heavy overnight rain appeared to be abating when the circuit was hit by torrential rain and huge lightning bolts shortly before the 20-minute mark.

Conditions worsened to the extent where at one stage only returning German Alex Hofmann was out on track. Hofmann was back in action having completed an amazing recovery from the serious left hand injury he suffered last month in Laguna Seca.

Conditions improved significantly and Melandri returned to the top of the timesheets with just 10 minutes remaining after Randy de Puniet and Colin Edwards had briefly held top spot.

Marco Melandri put in a series of fast laps and a 1.49.906 moved him a massive 1.678s clear of Fiat Yamaha rider Colin Edwards.

Edwards closed the gap back down to 0.481s on his next lap, only for Melandri to stretch his advantage back to over a second when he logged a 1.49.315 with seven minutes remaining.

He then posted a 1.48.625 to leap a massive 1.762s clear of Edwards, who continued to peg back the Italian.

Colin Edwards clocked a 1.49.219 in the final minute to get back to within 0.594 of Marco Melandri, but he eventually only finished fifth quickest.

Melandri’s best of 1.46.948 set on his 19th and last lap saw him finish a massive 1.684s clear of compatriot Valentino Rossi. Rossi, who chose not to run Yamaha’s new pneumatic valve YZR-M1 motor this morning, clocked a best of 1.48.632.

Chris Vermeulen walked away from his spill and was only 11th quickest in conditions he normally revels in. 

Anthony West had been top of the timesheets as he quickly found his form in the wet conditions but he had to settle for the ninth best time after he crashed out at the first corner with 23 minutes remaining.

Spaniard Toni Elias didn’t take to the track this morning, preferring to wait for improved conditions later on today. Elias is still recovering from the broken left femur he suffered in Assen at the end of June.

There will be a further two MotoGP practice sessions today, with riders given an extra hour of track time to acclimatise.

 

Misano MotoGP free practice one results:

1 Marco MELANDRI ITA HONDA 1’46.948
2 Valentino ROSSI ITA YAMAHA 1’48.632
3 Casey STONER AUS DUCATI 1’48.852
4 Loris CAPIROSSI ITA DUCATI 1’49.167
5 Colin EDWARDS USA YAMAHA 1’49.219
6 Nicky HAYDEN USA HONDA 1’49.591
7 Randy DE PUNIET FRA KAWASAKI 1’49.724
8 John HOPKINS USA SUZUKI 1’49.957
9 Anthony WEST AUS KAWASAKI 1’50.389
10 Alex BARROS BRA DUCATI 1’51.072
11 Chris VERMEULEN AUS SUZUKI 1’51.164
12 Dani PEDROSA SPA HONDA 1’51.177
13 Carlos CHECA SPA HONDA 1’51.312
14 Alex HOFMANN GER DUCATI 1’53.171
15 Shinya NAKANO JPN HONDA 1’53.297
16 Kurtis ROBERTS USA KR212V 1’53.428
17 Sylvain GUINTOLI FRA YAMAHA 1’56.352
18 Makoto TAMADA JPN YAMAHA 1’59.146