Jerez MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo tops free practice

Home favourite Jorge Lorenzo has ended free practice for the Spanish MotoGP with the fastest time, despite compatriot Dani Pedrosa topping the timesheets in this morning’s third and final session.

Lorenzo’s best time of 1:40.321 was good enough to secure the best overall time, with Repsol Honda rider Pedrosa fastest this morning with a 1:40.337.

Fiat Yamaha rider Jorge Lorenzo was only fifth quickest this morning and was one of only five riders who failed to better their times from yesterday.

The double world 250 champion though wasn’t helped by an engine failure on his factory Yamaha YZR-M1.

Dani Pedrosa’s best time, which he set early in the session, thrilled a massive Saturday morning crowd in Jerez in a final session that saw the top 14 riders split by just 0.8secs.

It gave the triple world champion the second best lap on combined times, with Valentino Rossi third overall. The Italian was another who failed to better his opening day best lap, with the 29-year-old clocking a best of 1:40.731 this morning.

Impressive Tech 3 Yamaha rider Colin Edwards continued his fine form as he was second fastest this morning and fourth overall.

And 2006 MotoGP world champion also continued his return to prominence, as a 1:40.415 this morning was his best time of the weekend so far to give him the fifth quickest combined time.

British rider James Toseland, still trying to shake off a severe bout of bronchitis, clocked a best lap of 1:41.559. That was 0.5secs slower than his best of yesterday as he ended practice with the 12th best overall time.

Gresini Honda rider Alex de Angelis was the only crasher in the session, walking away uninjured after a tumble at the fast left-hand corner where reigning world champion Casey Stoner crashed yesterday afternoon.

The Aussie’s problems continued this morning as he clocked only the seventh best time, and was only eighth best on overall times with a fastest of 1:40.692.

Jerez MotoGP free practice three results:

1 Dani PEDROSA SPA Repsol Honda Team HONDA 1’40.337
2 Colin EDWARDS USA Tech 3 Yamaha YAMAHA 1’40.402
3 Nicky HAYDEN USA Repsol Honda Team HONDA 1’40.415
4 Loris CAPIROSSI ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP SUZUKI 1’40.423
5 Jorge LORENZO SPA Fiat Yamaha Team YAMAHA 1’40.488
6 Andrea DOVIZIOSO ITA JiR Team Scot MotoGP HONDA 1’40.617
7 Casey STONER AUS Ducati Marlboro Team DUCATI 1’40.692
8 Valentino ROSSI ITA Fiat Yamaha Team YAMAHA 1’40.731
9 Randy DE PUNIET FRA LCR Honda MotoGP HONDA 1’40.775
10 Chris VERMEULEN AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP SUZUKI 1’40.837
11 Alex DE ANGELIS RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini HONDA 1’40.944
12 John HOPKINS USA Kawasaki Racing Team KAWASAKI 1’41.042
13 Shinya NAKANO JPN San Carlo Honda Gresini HONDA 1’41.135
14 Marco MELANDRI ITA Ducati Marlboro Team DUCATI 1’41.188
15 James TOSELAND GBR Tech 3 Yamaha YAMAHA 1’41.559
16 Toni ELIAS SPA Alice Team DUCATI 1’41.975
17 Anthony WEST AUS Kawasaki Racing Team KAWASAKI 1’42.422
18 Sylvain GUINTOLI FRA Alice Team DUCATI 1’42.613