Brno MotoGP: Fiat Yamaha dominate first practice

Fiat Yamaha duo Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi dominated the opening Czech Republic MotoGP practice session in Brno this afternoon.

Lorenzo, who will definitely stay at Yamaha in 2010, was in sparkling form at the top of the timesheets with the Spaniard clocking a best time of 1.56.595 on his 19th lap.

Only Rossi could lap inside of 0.9s of that stunning pace, with the Italian’s best of 1.56.994 on his last lap securing him second place ahead of Dani Pedrosa.
Rossi, who goes into Sunday’s 22-lap race holding a comfortable 25-point lead over Lorenzo, ended up 0.399s slower than Lorenzo, but he was 0.590s clear of Spaniard Pedrosa in third.

Pedrosa, who agreed a new two-year Repsol Honda contract earlier today, clocked a best time of 1.57.584 to just beat Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider Colin Edwards for a top three slot.

Fresh from his first podium in over 12 months at the British GP, the Texan looked in good form again this afternoon to clock a best time of 1.57.741. That edged British GP winner Andrea Dovizioso out in fifth spot, the Italian logging a best time of 1.58.172 to finish 0.431s slower than Edwards. Dovizioso also agreed a new two-year factory Honda deal earlier today.

Casey Stoner might be missing from action but his factory GP9 was still the quickest Ducati on track. In the hands of Finn Mika Kallio, who will replace the absent Aussie for at least the next three races, the Marlboro Ducati was seventh quickest.

Kallio clocked a best time of 1.58.302 to finish 1.707s off Lorenzo’s best pace.
British rider James Toseland was 11th fastest with a best lap of 1.58.764, which was just 0.057s faster than factory Ducati rider Nicky Hayden.

Ducati World Superbike frontrunner Michel Fabrizio, who is replacing Kallio at Pramac Ducati, was slowest in 17th with a best lap of 2.00.423.