MotoGP Jerez test: Nicky Hayden fastest on day one

Former world champion Nicky Hayden has topped the timesheets on the opening day of the three-day IRTA test session at a blustery Jerez today.

The American posted an impressive best of 1.39.200 on a soft Michelin qualifying tyre to finish 0.244s clear of LCR Honda rider Randy de Puniet.

• Get all the latest from the Jerez test here

Hayden was still using the conventional spring valve Repsol Honda RC212V but tested a new chassis with revised stiffness ratios as most riders used qualifying tyres on the opening day.

That was largely preparing for the televised 40-minute qualifying shootout tomorrow afternoon, with a BMW Z4 M Roadster going to the fastest rider.

But dire weather forecasts for the remaining two days, predicting heavy rain, meant most riders evaluated qualifying tyres, while British rider James Toseland also completed a full race simulation.

Hayden again failed to produce any scintillating laps on race tyres, though he did produce a fastest race tyre time of 1.40.828 on his 74th lap of a marathon 107-lap stint.

The 2006 world champion said: “It was a pretty positive day. I would definitely say this is the best first day of testing I’ve had so far this year. And we knew it was important, because the weather experts are saying there’s a really good chance of rain for the next two days. I tried a different chassis and it felt slightly better with a little more feel on the front.

“We went through a few other things, not making big changes because we’re getting closer to the season now, just a few little settings changes, and when I thought things felt better the stopwatch normally went along with it, which is always good.”